Re: What to expect of docs?

[Guest guest]

This is my first time receiving care in a place where I'm not working. I'm used

to being able to check my labs on the computer or talk to docs in the cafeteria.

Can you tell me if this is typical?

I had a consult this week with a group I'd like to have treat me. They

prescribed Enbrel and took lots of x-rays. I had to chase the fellow to do my

Enbrel pre-authorization for insurance, but that seems to have happened, so I

can fill the Enbrel soon. However, when she left a message, she didn't make

mention of my other x-ray results.

My follow up appt is 12/26. Should I expect a dr to follow up with me by

phone for x-ray results, or is that a wait until the next appointment kind of

issue?

I think I like this team, but I want to make sure I don't get lost in the

shuffle. Since I'm newly diagnosed, I feel vulnerable and rather

high-maintenance. I don't want to have unrealistic expectations either.

Thanks everyone,

Kate

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

This is Steph in VA. Sadly, this is rather typical from my experiences.

However, most of the time it is due to lots of patients and very few doctors.

Also, some doctors do not like to give results over the phone, especially when

you have another appt coming up fairly soon. My doctors do not call me with

results unless there is something wrong.

For me, my rheumy of 6 years, Dr. Lawson, (and I've had RA for 7 years)

died at the age of 48 this past March. He & I had worked out a fairly

predictable routine -- if I called him by 9am, he would call me back by

lunchtime. When he died, 2 other rheumys in the practice took over his patients,

on top of their own patients. Now, unless I tell the receptionist or nurse I

need a same day call back, sometimes it takes several days for him to call me

back. I grumble about it, but I know it isn't his fault.

I strongly urge you to talk to your rheumy about your concerns in your

next visit. I only see my rheumy every 3 months. During 2nd visit with my new

rheumy, Dr. Wolfe (I cried all the way through my first visit), I brought a list

of all of the things that I need in a rheumy (that I had received from Dr.

Lawson). Dr. Wolfe & I went through the list. He, like Dr. Lawson, actually

appreciates the fact that I'm very aware of what I need to keep myself well.

Regarding the insurance pre-auth, talk about that too. Dr. Lawson was

reminded by his Palm Pilot when he needed to send a new prescription to my

insurance. Dr. Wolfe does it after each appointment with me.

Sorry for the long winded answer.

Take care,

Steph in VA

I had a consult this week with a group I'd like to have treat me. They

prescribed Enbrel and took lots of x-rays. I had to chase the fellow to do my

Enbrel pre-authorization for insurance, but that seems to have happened, so I

can fill the Enbrel soon. However, when she left a message, she didn't make

mention of my other x-ray results.

My follow up appt is 12/26. Should I expect a dr to follow up with me by phone

for x-ray results, or is that a wait until the next appointment kind of issue?

I think I like this team, but I want to make sure I don't get lost in the

shuffle. Since I'm newly diagnosed, I feel vulnerable and rather

high-maintenance. I don't want to have unrealistic expectations either.

Thanks everyone,

Kate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- We're Still Getting Things Done

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate.

Don't know if this will help or not, but besides being inflicted with both RA

and OA, and having a lifelong chronic back condition, I am caretaker to dh who

is a cardiac patient with severe COPD. We are each other's medical advocate.

We make a point to find out and know the names of the nurses for each of our

doctors. Then, when we need to know something or have any need to call, we go

through the nurse. They are the ones that have direct access and always get

back to us, or the doc does. If you want results, call the nurse, leave a

message ,if you must , and tell her/him what you want. They are your tests and

you are leagaly entitiled to know the results. (dh gets his standing tests

results mailed to him, with the docs comments on them). I would follow up on

the X-ray results before the appointment, just in case you have questions or

concerns about the findings. Why get blindsided? If no one returns your call

within a reasonable amount of time, call again and again . Be enough of a pest

and you will get results. (besides, some need to be trained <g>) As I said,

they are your tests and it is your body and your health, so you are leagally

entitled to them.

When we go to the doc, we bring a printed list of ALL meds and OTC supplements

we are taking (and what they are for). I even carry a list of dh's with me all

the time; too many ER trips with him. Everytime one of us has a doc

appointment, we bring a list of what we need and want to discuss. We both go

over it before the appointment to see if either of us has something to add to

the list.

A good doc is very hard to find. A good rhummy seems to be harder, because

there are too few of them and so many of us.

re: phone calls. Because of the so-call privacy laws these days, the medical

profession has to be so careful about calling and can't even leave a message

about who or what they are, just a call back phone number.

And that just reminded me that dh and I both need to sign a form that will let

the other have info from our docs, just in case.

High maintence? How else are you going to take care of yourself if you don't

have an idea on what is going on and what to do and how to ever begin.

Rose

----- Original Message -----

I had a consult this week with a group I'd like to have treat me. They

prescribed Enbrel and took lots of x-rays. I had to chase the fellow to do my

Enbrel pre-authorization for insurance, but that seems to have happened, so I

can fill the Enbrel soon. However, when she left a message, she didn't make

mention of my other x-ray results.

My follow up appt is 12/26. Should I expect a dr to follow up with me by phone

for x-ray results, or is that a wait until the next appointment kind of issue?

I think I like this team, but I want to make sure I don't get lost in the

shuffle. Since I'm newly diagnosed, I feel vulnerable and rather

high-maintenance. I don't want to have unrealistic expectations either.

Thanks everyone,

Kate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- We're Still Getting Things Done

---------------------------------

Everyone is raving about the all-new beta.