Re: Doc's & Patient Drug contract

[Guest guest]

>Donna wrote:

> I had to sign a contract with my pain management doctor. I recently

> had carpal tunnel surgery and the surgeon gave me a prescription >for extra

pain pills. Just to make sure it was going to be ok, I called the pain

management center and they said they would dismiss me from the practice if I

took the extra pain pills!!!

Donna

I would not tell them if they respond like that ! I got the don't go

to the ER lecture by a prior pain management doctor's staff until I

reminded them that they say in the contract they tell patients to so

when you have to, when they are not available. I had a reaction to an

epidural injection and was red all over, running a fever, swollen

injection site. The ER doctor had to give me Bendryl iV's and I had

documentation that I had a reaction. It is not the responsibility of

whoever mans the phones at the pain management doctor to determine if I

violated my contract or not.

I am very careful now that I interview a doctor I am going to see

because actually THEY are supposed to be providing a service. The

doctors also sign a contract with insurance companies that they will

respect patient rights, provide care in a timely manner and must meet

their criteria. I recently reported my endocrinologist for not doing so

and she is going to lose her contract with my military insurance and

can be fined. You do have rights and I am the point in my life, that

doctors need to really need to provide what the say just as they

require patients to do.

My contract states that they will get back in a 24 hour period when

you have a complaint. I have to wait up to three days and I make sure

I call back EVERY day and let them know I am still in pain, and still

waiting and I document who I talked to, what time I talked to them and

what they said.

I remind them, I do not going to abuse the program and if they have

others that do, it is NOT me. You have patient rights under the

contract also and I did not receive the care that was promised, so I

looked for another one.

The doctor prescribed to you that medication and it is not your fault.

Those pills are yours now for you to decide what to do and do not bring

them there, just tell them you dumped them so the situation ends there.

If you chose to abuse them, that 's your problem. I always identify

myself as a pain patient and when I had thyroid surgery and had to

remind one nurse that I took break thru medicines I do and they would

be responsible for my withdrawal symptoms if they did not follow

protocol. Some hospitals do not give break thru medicines unless you

pain level is five or above. On nurse who understood told me, just

tell me you pain level is six and I can give you your break thru med

I expect the contract to be reciprocal. I will NEVER count out my meds

or pee in a cop anymore. I will present my pain diary, functional

assessment and be honest but I will be treated with respect. I go to a

pain psychiatrist who set up a pain program and advocates for pain

patients. I have a certified Intractable pain patient letter with his

phone number and a pain advocate that can be contacted as needed. They

advocate using the law as explanation and when the one time I presented

it, I had NO problems with anyone.

I just think their are some staff that think they are keepers of the

pills and that mentality make it bad for others. I cannot see you

having extra pain pills as a problem. My pain doctor insists that I

have a thirty day extra supply in case I ever have a problem, I am out

of town, he is out of town, so that I will never be caught in pain. I

am treated as an adult. If I take them up, I certainly will not be

allowed more if it is not within his pain program.

I hope you take the time to look over the contract and the clinic's

patient rights brochure and make sure your doctor and staff follows it.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

I applaud Bennie's take charge attitude. She has

decided to react proactively and intelligently with a system that

all too often is failing. It is time the doctors are held

accountable for their job and their performance of it in the

patient's favor. Bravo ! Bravo ! Encore!

medusa