Now I Have NO Clue What I'm Going To Do!!!

Hi! Everyone,

Well as you all know I have a great rhuemy which took me forever to find and I'm on chemo (MTX) for it. I was to have an appt. Tues. the 25th at my rhuemy. Well, late afternoon a message was left on my ans. machine from his nurse telling me my appt. for the 25th had been cancelled now at first I thought no biggie.... BUT the message went on to say "it won't be re-scheduled as dr. Marbach is no longer part of Oak  maybe you can find a doctor somewhere else, maybe closer to where you live there in Indiana, I just don't know, I know this happened rather suddenly, not sure where that leaves us either, I think maybe you will be getting a letter, good luck, bye"!!

Needless to say I am in SHOCK!!! My new labs were just faxed to him on the 10th here I am left hanging with lupus on MTX and NO explanations nor any idea of where to go or what to do next??? This was my important 2 months appt.

I can't believe a good doctor such as he would up and leave his patients hanging and I was told by means of ans. machine?? The nurse sounded pretty final by wishing me "Good luck".... I called them back within 15 mins but it was an ans. service they normally close at 5:30 this was 5:15 and they were closed and service could give me no info. either.

I went to him in first place because I couldn't find any good ones in my area or state and they knew that. I'm just sick and worried by all this...

Any ideas??

Thanks! and Hugs!

Cathy

Oh Cathy . . . I'm so sorry. I hope you can reach a live body tomorrow to get more information. Lynwood and I both lost our rheumy too and someone else here who was also seeing Lynwood's rheumy. Its a real bummer having to find another caring doc. My heart goes out to you. Blessings!

Cathy,

I'm so sorry that this happened. Its very curious and its awful that you lost a rheumy that you trusted. Is he affiliated with any particular hospital? I would try and call that hospital and see if they can give you some insight or at least let you know who his patients are being referred to. They didn't handle that well at all. (((HUGS)))

I found more info. out this am. The place where he was practicing without warning Let him Go!! He was actually there in the middle of seeing patients when this happened!! He was the ONLY rhuemy in that whole practice in fact only rhuemy for many, many miles around. Reason Admin. gave was "There wasn't a great need for him" UNBELIEVABLE!!! Dr. Marbach is beside himself to say the least he don't know what he's going to do at this time. This is a very well educated man and very kind!! I will post a link so you can read about him. At this point all his patients are in panic and so is his nurse Karen. He also has treated lupus patients for 30 yrs.

http://www.zoominfo.com/search/PersonDetail.aspx?Personid=196524784
Hugs!
Cathy

Hi, Cathy. I'm SO sorry you have this to deal with. I know all too well about "The Search" for a really good, caring rheumy; I am on my third and hopefully last one! Those particular docs seem to be in short supply...good ones that is. Good luck in trying to get a referral or more info. about another quality one not too far away from you. Take care,

Hi Cathy,
I thought it was standard practice for a medical office to reassign a doctors patients to another physician, in fact, I think they are negligent in not doing so. Also, I believe they have to assign you to another doctor that is the same type of doctor or can provide appropriate treatment. I would definitely complain to the office manager, and possibly call patient advocate at thepatientadvocate.org and have someone call the office to explain to these airheads in the office that you are on medicines that cannot be abruptly discontinued and that you need special care and find out what thepatientadvocate suggests you do. I would also talk to your insurance company and/or the state medical board. I really don't think they can legally just do that. It may be a case of patients rallying together to get him back at least part time or to see him at another practice.
I hope you find your rheumy and support him. Good docs are hard to find. Sometimes just having an outside agency calling a doctors office and talking to the office manager is all it takes to make them realize that there may be legal repercussions to the way they handled things. I wish you the best.