Doctor rant

Three months ago, I got a letter from Worker's Comp. I am due for my redetermination. I was instructed to fill out the 2 forms and have my doctor send an updated report regarding my diagnosis and ability to work.

I made the appointment with the doctor, brought the paperwork with me which instructed him on everything they required in the report. He insisted I be seen by the Pain Management doctor first so they could consult about me before writing the report.

I made the appointment with the PM. We determined that I needed another round of epidural injections and he also agreed to write my pain meds for me. I had the epidural injections done the first week of May.

Today, I should have gotten my W.C. direct deposit, but it didn't post. In the mail, was a letter from W.C. telling me that they still haven't received the report from the doctor. So, I call the doctor's office, only to find he is on vacation and won't be back for another 2 weeks! I explained the situation and whoever it was that answered the phone puts me on hold for almost 10 minutes, comes back on the line and says, "So, you need a doctor's note?"

ARGH!

I replied, as calmly as I could that, no, I don't need a note I need a report! She says they have to type one up and that I can pick it up on Tuesday. I restated that I had left the paperwork which states what needs to be in the report. I just hope it's all in there!

Meanwhile, I've also received his bill for $116.00 for the original visit! Probably a good thing I haven't paid it yet!

I'm so sorry you're going through this. I absolutely understand where you're coming from. I always wonder why they act this way when it's a healthcare profession. Aren't they supposed to be caring? It was the same way when I was filing for SSDI for my sister who has a mental illness. Her psychiatrist's office staff wouldn't talk to me about it and were just nasty to her. Even when she would tell them it was okay to talk to me. I understand that forms need to be signed and what not, but they wouldn't even fax them to us. It's was an hour drive to their office. Soooo frustrating. It's not like a report for your car insurance. It's you're life and you don't deserve to be treated that that way.

I'm sure there are some healthcare providers or office staff in this group. Could they explain why this happens?
It shouldn't have to be this hard.

Hang in there. Many hugs your way.

Post Edited (Laker7491) : 7/2/2016 11:13:59 PM (GMT-6)

Lol I will likely get trashed for this response but here goes. Ever wonder why Drs are well off financially? Your Dr office look well staffed? Seems like adequate staffing sure but then think about this for a minute. Most Drs arrive somewhere in the vicinity of 9 am and see patients until at least 5 an average of 4 days a week and in the range of about 4-5 patients an hour. So anywhere from 30-40 patients a day along with referrals from other Drs,ER,calls from pharmacy,insurance companies,other drs regarding abnormal labs,scans,Xrays,tests,etc. Many of which cannot be relayed but must be directly given to the Dr and even if relayed he has to be approached,situation explained and a response or direction given and usually or more likely hopefully after he's took a few minutes to look at your chart to try to jog his memory as to who you are,your history and situations since his reply and response may be effected by those things. Ex: order a med that may interact with another,or a test you just had done. Time consuming minutes while the entire waiting room is getting behind schedule.

Every patient he sees generates massive amounts of "paperwork" or data entry,the law,the DEA,or his malpractice insurance requires and demands this. All the data and paper is ultimately handled by a staff member and every staff member in that office is somehow contributing to each patient. Medical records locates and pulls your chart,billing has to ensure everyone gets paid,nurse triages and forwards his orders,reception checked you in, appointment setter gets your follow-up appointment as well as any tests or procedures your to have scheduled. Then of course the Dr and every single contact with you every single person in the office had must be entered,transcribed,or written. Time consuming yet again.

I hope by now you get where I am going with this and how things get delayed,misplaced,or literally lost. If you were the 25th WC patient seen this week then he has 24 other reports somewhere that need filed and your thinking thats too many he couldn't have that many. Well considering the numbers I gave you in the beginning he's seen anywhere between 120-160 patients that week not counting the hospital referrals and admits or those patients who have been to the ER. 25 Insurance forms waiting for attention out of the close to possibly 200 patient contacts he's had is a very real possibility. Now even if he's got around to his part in handling the form you have other staff thats also going to have to reply to something on this form,if it's asking for test results then medical records is going to be involved,if its asking about medication than pharmacy,if its asking about billing information then the business office,in the end whomever in his office is in charge of mailing or faxing the forms has to be involved. Lots of levels,lots of hands and every step has to be copied to chart.

Now back to the financial laughter in my first line. Today they schedule far too many patients squeezing in every possible one they can and losing sight of good patient care. You know the care where when you call with a problem they aren't hustling for 15 minutes or calling you back hours later while they were looking for your chart so the Dr could at least know who he's dealing with an what your circumstances and health is? Gone are the days where everyone from the person answering the phone to the Dr himself recalls who you are without having to look. There are a few old die hards left out there but they're rare and unfortunately a dying breed.

I have worked the environment like you and some days at the end of the day all the way home y minds going in reverse and I'm trying to recall if I went back and did this or that,did I follow through with this deed or that one. Like trying to checklist the entire day making sure one of those interruptions didn't sidetrack me. The whole ordeal is multitasking! There's so many instances I recall shoving something under my doc's nose to sign and him multitasking as well and I know he has no idea what he signed. This is the norm in almost every single office in every single patients contact with the medical community. There's absolutely no way the Dr would have a clue what to do or where to go next without the staffs direction at all times. He like Shell said is bound by so many of those models and regulations that his 15 minutes with you is in actuality about 2 minutes of one on one and the rest on the covering all that which is required by someone else just to treat you.

Most Drs dont like practicing this way,many retire early every year because they feel their contributions to patients care is below the standards in which they set for themselves. Many opt to employ PA's and NPs and that frees them up to actually spend more quality time with their patients history and situations although less time with the patient. It's a tradeoff that they are forced to make.

Wow, so very sorry your going through this, with what Vickie said, you probably are going to have to wait until the doctor gets back from vacation. I know not what you wanted or needed to hear.
Hopefully once you can get the paperwork things will get better.
Sorry this has happened to you.