HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

VINDICATION!!! A diagnosis!!!

Support Forums
>
Chronic Pain
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/24/2013 5:26 PM (GMT 0)
LC as much as you say you like to research and know how to get information, I am shocked that you do not know what is available to you at this hospital/clinic you go to. Is it an actual hospital with clinics in-house? I know some hospitals will have what is called in-house clinics. Do they have PM drs or was this one of the things cut, I cannot remember? I am with Lexie, maybe you need to check into finding a different primary dr to care for you if that is an option.

I think its awesome they have an arthritis clinic, I wonder if this is where the rheummie is located? That may be something for you to check into. At least by getting in with a rheummie he can run the appropriate tests to determine if there are any AI conditions going on and you can get proper treatment. Even if AI conditions are ruled out, the rheummie would be an excellent dr to treat your arthritis since that is one of their specialties.

Whenever your Medicare kicks in you can find yourself a whole new set of drs to take over your care. At least you will have time to scope out a good primary care dr and have time to find out what kind of a dr he is.

Yes, I do believe that it is easier to get SSD in some states than others.

Take care.....Susie
Posted 2/24/2013 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
There is a major upheaval going on at this particular facility. Entire departments (like OB/GYN) which existed 6 months ago are now shuttered, some are offsite, and it's a full hospital with about 20 inpatient beds, but was built for a little over 100 inpatient beds. And at one point was a level one trauma center.

Even the cafeteria hours change almost weekly. Any information on it's website is almost a month old, if it's been updated at all, and I've been transferred by phone from the main switchboard to departments that don't even have voicemail, or a simple announcement that the department is closed or relocated to another facility in another city. When the switchboard operator does not even know what departments exists anymore, how the heck am I supposed to know?

It is still an actual hospital, with some inpatient beds, but most patients are treated in outpatient clinics in the building, or through the ER, which is still in the building.

It's a mess, and I'm secretly afraid that the new clinic I'm supposed to go to will not be open or will have moved, or something else, by the time my appointment comes up.
Posted 2/25/2013 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Well LC I'm not sure how much help a place such as your describing is going to help you. The best care in medicine is continued and consistent and that place spend seem like they know if they will be there next week or next month. Any scans,tests,etc,they do?are you confident that whatever they do you will be able to access the films and reports when the time comes?

I know from your posting you are waiting to get Medicare so you can get new drs. You will obviously need those.

I don't understand how any hospital gets by operating like that whether they are treating inpatient versus outpatient. All of them,non-profits,for profit,teaching or university hospitals,they all have to answer to not one but several commissions and powers that be to retain their funding.

If their as bad as your coming across here they could have their doors closed anytime and patients removed.

I would be looking diligent for another Dr.And steer clear of that place.

Vickie
Posted 2/25/2013 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I would, but having no insurance, no medicaid or medicare, and working completely out of pocket, I'm thankful to have that.
Posted 2/25/2013 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
It can be such rough going without insurance. I've got my fingers crossed for you that this place stays open and can help you until you can get going with Medicare.

Maybe try to get copies of test results etc so that if something does get lost in the shuffle over there you'll still have your copies to show future drs.
Posted 2/25/2013 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
That is one thing I'm staying on top of. Keeping my med records. At least they don't charge from here for copies, so I have everything from lab results to xrays/MRIs. It's an extra step, but definitely worth it, as they can't even seem to keep my med list current between departments. So I keep my own, and bring a hard copy, and email it to myself so I can pull it down on my phone in a pinch. Dosages, dates, prescription #s, pharmacies, prescribing physician, and I keep ones that I have completed (like antibiotics) for like 6 months with a note when I completed them.

It's so much easier just handing them a piece of paper. Also, whenever I see a new doc, I have a short (1 page) version of my medical history for him to read, since the little forms are never enough. Makes things so much smoother when you have to see multiple docs in a clinic setting. Give them a summary and your current meds in writing, and start questioning from there.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12