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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Lupus / December 2006Rant Long.
Okay, I need to rant and I'm sure that after the string about who can get medical care and who can't...this is a good place to get it off my chest and hopefully lower my blood pressure. My son's girlfriend has not been well for a few weeks and just keeps getting worse. Fortunately she doctors at the same doctor/PA that I did for over 20 yrs. So Paul asked me to call and get her in. She does not have insurance....I called explained the medical problem and said she needs to be seen today! They asked for a call back number mine and hers....I gave them both. Because she is over 18 and I am not related they called her (which was fine) but they called and told her that they could not see her today or any other day as they were no longer taking "cash paying" patients. So now she is crying her eyes out and all upset as she has doctored there since she was 12 yrs old. I tell her to hang on and I will go down there and make sure that she gets in. (Now let me tell you you don't want to see me when someone is messing with someone I love and care about <g>) Believe me the whole waiting room full of patients, all the people in the front and back offices (possibly even in the office next door) knew that I was there and that I was on a mission against their "not taking cash paying patients" who were ill and who have doctored there for years and yrs! I paid the small balance owed on her account and said that I wanted her seen and I wanted her seen today and in that office by either of the "doctor" or the PA that she always sees...they knew I wasn't going anyplace...I was already making plans in my brain to go home and get a sign made up. After a "wait" they came and told me that they could not discuss anything with me but they had talked to Tammi and that I could call her for the details. I went to the hallway and called her and she said that Jim (the PA) would be coming in (his day off) and see her at 2:45. I told her that I would go back in and pay for her appointment and would see her after she was done. Now, will someone please tell me what happened to the "Hippocratic Oath"? "...The practice of medicine is a privilege which carries important responsibilities. All doctors should observe the core values of the profession which centre on the duty to help sick people and to avoid harm. I promise that my medical knowledge will be used to benefit people's health. They are my first concern. I will listen to them and provide the best care I can. I will be honest, respectful and compassionate towards patients. In emergencies, I will do my best to help anyone in medical need..." Sorry, but I just can't and don't deal well with someone trying to refuse medical care to someone in need of it!!!!!! Hugs, Sherry The not accepting cash paying patients bothers me.... I am just hoping it was a new receptionist and she is not clear about the policies the doctor has. in place. Otherwise I am sure there are other doctors out there that would gladly accept cash paying patients..:o) > Okay, I need to rant and I'm sure that after the string about who can get > medical care and who can't...this is a good place to get it off my chest [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] > Hugs, > Sherry Oh, no there was no mistake....their reasoning is that someone who does not have insurance, Medi-Cal (State of California medical program), Medicare and is paying "cash" might and probably will need more medical care ($$$$$$$$) than they can afford or pay for and therefore need to be seen at a clinic that is set up to deal with those less fortunate, uninsured etc. Wish I had taken a tape recorder as I was really having trouble dealing with what they were saying....but they were saying it and no mistaking what they said. They are seeing her today but will not see her after this and it was made clear to her!!!!! Hugs, sherry Hugs, Sherry > The not accepting cash paying patients bothers me.... > I am just hoping it was a new receptionist and she is not clear about the > policies the doctor has. in place. Otherwise I am sure there are other > doctors out there that would gladly accept cash paying patients..:o) That's just disgusting, Sherry! I would be ticked too. In fact, I AM!!! I'm not sure at what point doctors stopped helping people and started helping themselves, but it's obvious this particular doctor is doing just that. You would think with all a doctor has to go through with insurance companies, that they would welcome cash-paying patients with open arms. WHY DON'T THEY see their cash-paying patients for the same charge the greedy ins. co.'s pay them and then they wouldn't have to WORRY about not getting any money & they wouldn't have to hire extra help just to file all the ins. papers. Most people could AFFORD to pay what an ins. co. pays a doctor!!!!!!! I hope she feels better soon and I sure hope it's nothing serious. Hugs, Maggie We are afraid that it is something that needs attention....her mom also has Lupus and other AI illnesses and Tammi is showing same and similar signs that we all know too well. The current problem looks like it is her gallblader (also family history) and she is in so much pain almost all the time. She is going to school full time (Vet Tech) and does clinical rotations so is busy and trying to maintain her high B average and deal with her health. Thanks for your concern!!!!!! I just needed to vent and really haven't managed to calm down yet! I also know that Jim (who I have doctored with for 20 yrs) knows I am ticked....and he knows that when I am that it is not a good thing. Hugs, Sherry > That's just disgusting, Sherry! I would be ticked too. In fact, I > AM!!! I'm not sure at what point doctors stopped helping people and [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Hugs, > Maggie Another reason about no seeing cash payments is THEY (the doc and staff) know that they can charge MORE to the insurance company then private pay. They honestly do that. They figure "hey" we will get a little more out of the insurance then the patient. Thus bigger bucks. So why take up front payment for patients when they can CHARGE More the other way. And the HippO oath? Well that left us when the bed side nursing left along with home doc visits and taking your time with patients. Let's see, was that in the late 70's. Seems about right to me. LOL Got to tell you a little story. I have a foot doc who is out of this world and I mean that. He did surgery on a friend of mine also, like myself. First day of surgery all went well till late at night and the patient woke to find that her dressing was saturated with blood. So she called his pager and he called her right back. Told her "where do you live? She says OH right in the same town you do, do you want me to meet you at your office? HE says. NO NO, just tell me and I will be at your home ASAP. He came and fixed the area, redressed and all. It was nothing to worry about but she was scared and HE came to her home. A PODIATRIST!!!! Believe that and YES it was this year just last July. She was closer to his office than he was to HER!!! But he made the trip to see her. What does that tell you. YES some docs are still out there, you just have to speak up and give em "(H) ( you all know what I mean LOL) janers Janers, When I first came to this little town in CA I was pg with my son and only one dr in town was taking new pts. I want to tell you that no one could have asked for a better doctor. He too would make house calls (many a times to give me a shot to knock me out when I had one of my migrains), never did his pts have to see the ER doctor as they had orders anytime one of his pts came in he was to be called, the stories could go on and on. He also was way ahead of his time in the field of medicine....things that he talked about then and did then and was laughed at by other drs are now common practice. What a disaster it was for us when he quit practicing (motorcycle accident/head injury)...such a loss when the "old fashioned pioneer" type doctor was no longer ours! I know we all need to earn a living and deserve an honest day wage for a honest days work....but when one can put his finacial gain over the care and health of his patient...that is just wrong and also a good reason to find another doc! Hugs, Sherry > Another reason about no seeing cash payments is > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > janers > Another reason about no seeing cash payments is > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > janers *******Plunk************* I just fell out of my chair..wow I can not believe that..what an awesome doc I was hoping that it was..wow thats just not right... Time to find a doc who will gladly take cash! > Oh, no there was no mistake....their reasoning is that someone who does > not have insurance, Medi-Cal (State of California medical program), [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> policies the doctor has. in place. Otherwise I am sure there are other >> doctors out there that would gladly accept cash paying patients..:o) Sherry, Sounds like somone should make a call to a few television news stations to me. It would make a good story and might give the doctor something to think about. :) Take care of yourself and Tammi and best wishes! (((hugs))) Krista > Okay, I need to rant and I'm sure that after the string about who can get > medical care and who can't...this is a good place to get it off my chest and [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > Hugs, > Sherry Thanks Krista...We shall take care of her. Hugs, Sherry > Sherry, > [quoted text clipped - 72 lines] >> Hugs, >> Sherry Sherry, Don't rule out pancreatitis. Often AI if not alcohol-genic (is that a word? ;)) and hard to dx because docs just aren't trained to look for it if the person isn't alcoholic or doesn't have cystic fibrosis (the fibers form in the pan., making probs with proper absorption of nutrients). And not often seen in young folk. I mention this because I've had AI sx since I was a baby though not dx'd until I was 48 and am now 66. SLE dx'd first in 1989, then Sjogren's Syndrome in 2000, then at last my long standing GI porbs dx'd as AI pancreatic insufficiency in 2004. In following discussions on 2 Panc. mailing lists it seems apparent that is is very common for people with recurring Acute Pancreatitis and Chronic Panreatitis to spend a long time suffering before dx and many of the adults are wrongly accused of abusing alcohol. The whole reason for this screed is that you mentioned in an earlier post that Tammi has gallbladder probs and is in horrendous pain. Well, yes, of course it could be simply GB. But many people present this way and only after they have the GB out and the sx continue do the drs look for other possible things in that region. After literally decades of pain my GI tract is now at peace once I started Rx digestive enzymes. I now take them with literally everything that I eat to replace the ones I'm not making in my pan. So I guess I'm a bit of a preacher about it, but it's just another bit of info to consider. I hope she feels better and is dx'd soon, and "Good on yer!" for raising Hippocrates with that office!!!!!!!!!! Nancy F, SoCal Christ, Chorus, Cats, Computers > Thanks Krista...We shall take care of her. > [quoted text clipped - 85 lines] >>> Hugs, >>> Sherry Nancy, Thanks for mentioning the possibility of pancreatitis. I will check it out and see if her symptoms are similar and then have a discussion with her about it. We will get her well and help one way or another! Hugs, Sherry > Sherry, > Don't rule out pancreatitis. Often AI if not alcohol-genic (is that a [quoted text clipped - 114 lines] >>>> Hugs, >>>> Sherry Sherry, Here in Oklahoma we have a news station that does a segment that is called "In your Corner"...The man that did that segment got ill this year and died, but they decided to continue his work...Sounds like a perfect story for them.. So I was thinking...Maybe one of your local stations has a segment like that...They would probably fall all over themselves to do a segment about a Doctor who won't accept "CASH"...of course that might mean that you would have to find a new doctor;) That is outrageous...but you know...the thing you said about charging more to the insurance companies..is not intirely true..I know that the insurance companies make deals with the providers. If they will be In Network...the insurance companies get a discount...I have seen huge write offs on my hospital bills. So no wonder the average joe gets charged so much...The insurance companies get huge discounts... My daughter was seen in the ER at the hospital last year without insurance...The Business office came in and said that if she paid so much that day...They would take a big percentage off her bill... So the medical profession has become very creative in the finance department... Cindy > Okay, I need to rant and I'm sure that after the string about who can get > medical care and who can't...this is a good place to get it off my chest and [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > Hugs, > Sherry |
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