Pre-op aggravation

Ok, I'm a bit pissed off.

My surgery is set for 1/25 with Dr. Menon at Ford Hospital (a 3-hour drive).

Anyway, I have a whole bunch of lab tests/chest x-ray/EKG to do.

I checked with our local hospital's lab a few days ago. I brought in the paperwork and they said no problem, they do all that stuff.

This morning I went to get it done (new flexible spending account replenishment as of 1/1/10 so I cleverly waited until today).

Well, you know where this is going. One of the many tests is some kind of comprehensive profile that includes a ton of tests, including: globulin and A/G ratio. Well, the comp. test done here does not do those and they have no idea where to send it out (or IF it can be sent out).

Anyway, I had them do everything else (7 vials of blood). I'll be checking with Ford Hospital. Hopefully, they will say don't worry about those two tests. If not, I'll be calling around to see if there is a local lab that can do it or if they can draw my blood and send it to Ford.

Pisses me off. Hopefully, it turns out to be a minor inconvenience (anything short of having to drive to Ford to get it done would be just an annoyance).

Mel

Compiler,

Those two can be done at HFM prior to surgery. Shouldn't be a problem.

I had to threaten to take my surgery elsewhere and literally walk out of the exam room into the hallway before M. D. Anderson would accept certain basic pre-op test results (EKG, basic bloodwork, etc.) from another well-respected hospital in town.

Zen9

Mel,

Take this one off your worry list IMMEDIATELY. I came home from my first visit with Dr. Menon with the same list of test, xrays, ekgs and so on. Took the list to my GP and gave it to them. Some of the tests they did in house (EKG, Xray, etc.) some of the blood work they sent out.

NO PROBLEM. The whole purpose of the testing is for the anesthesia and other surgical pieces of the process. They just want you to do them ahead of time to save you time hanging around HF waiting for the results to come back.

Carl Arletta first thing Monday and let her know what's going on. I am sure she will have suggestions on a "work around" for you.

They (HF) will accept all of the tests results you get back, from wherever you get them. It is just a part of the process.

DON'T WORRY----BE HAPPY---as the song goes. No sense getting worked up about this one. It is just a bump in the road. Take your foot off the gas and the bump won't seem so big. LLOOLL

Call me if you want to talk about this more. Now kick back and enjoy the weekend,

Sonny

We've had the pleasure of off site tests more times than I can count...thank you managed care!
Like Zen said; occasionally ya gotta practically threaten em. IMO, it's all about keeping money in house and less about computerized charting.

A/G ratio might be either standard practice for HFM (not necessarily HFH) or, for someone who has an auto immune disorder or, has received blood transfusions in the past. I can see it either way.

Compiler, if you can, have all results faxed over to you and to your surgeon's office as soon as they are available. Give it oh, maybe two days, then do a follow up with Menon's office to make sure they received them. Works for us to manage the distribution of off site tests. After a couple of times, it isn't so bad.

Swim:

The test orders from Ford request that the results be faxed to them. I will absolutely be following up (but I'll give them a week; I think some of the tests have to be sent out).

I also am having the results sent to my family physician. I can then go into his office and they will make the copies for my own records. Then I'll have them and I can fax any missing results myself.

This stuff could become a real problem if left to the last minute!

Mel

Compiler,

Sounds like you got the orders all set to fax labs. Now, if only they actually read them :>) We do a follow up for the simple reason, U of M is huge. The right and left frequently gets stuck in the middle and of course, no one knows a dog-gone thing. We run into it all the time because our kids have to go to the U but our insurance hasn't always done the same.

I understand your aggrevation. When I went in for my tests, I was stresed out. Matters only got worse when they asked me to confirm that I was having a kidney removed. I basically broke down.... Hope it is all over for you soon. You haven definitely stayed on top of things.

Gee Whiz, Mavica:

Why do you think I am fighting my doctors? I have no clue as to how you would come to that conclusion.

On the contrary: as I posted, when I went for my consultation at Ford they indicated that I could do the tests locally. In fact, the lab forms instruct that the results be faxed to them.

I THOUGHT I MADE THAT CLEAR!

Mel

Compiler,
You and the other uninformed members here need to listen to mavica and stop questioning your medical team and/or primary care physician's instructions and opinions. After all their only interest is your well being.
Bill

Mel, I'm not sure why Mavica and Billy are on your case.  It seems to me that you have pretty much done everything right.  You have been very organized and thorough with great follow through.  And, you have taken the initiative to take responsibility for your own situation without blindly accepting advice from either the medical community or "the uninformed members here" (to quote Billy and Mav).  IMHO, it's ok to vent a bit about the medical bureaucracy which, after all, is all you really did with your post....

Keep going man...and good luck in a few weeks.

Tudpock

Seems as tho everyone has some kind of pet peeve in thos game.

From unclear responses from the myriad of lab and heath care workeres to uninformed HW responders.

Mine was the pre-op interviews at the hospital. After writing out all my medical history, I then had to repeat it to the nurse, and PA.

It was all forgiven when the doctor said it was gone, and the margins were clear, and he even left me some nerve fibers.

It will be OK !

Goodlife

Mel, think you are doing fine with this whole process. You have done your homework well, and have asked a million good questions, and got a good range of opinions.

David in SC