Making Doctors' Appointments

[Guest guest]

,

You wrote, " Are you ever so sick ... you can't make it to dr's appointments?

I have called each time ... I understand time is money, but a ... pain

management center now ... refuses to see me anymore. "

I completely understand what you are talking about. Sometimes, I don't know

if it is pain, depression, or just being burnt out, that prevents me from

getting the 'getupngo' to get to the appointment, but I go through cycles where

I have to cancel almost all of them. I have to admit that I have had my fair

share of being a 'No Call No Show. " This can became problematic, as you found

out. 1) The next available appointment may be months away. 2) You will be

responsible for the entire bill. 2) Most health care providers cannot run an

office with canceled appointments and may choose to terminate the client -

patient relationship.

For me, it came down to asking myself a few questions: What kind of person

do I want to be? It goes back to a previous email I wrote about having hopes

and dreams. I want to be someone who is proud of themselves, who cares about

their health, who follows through, who can be trusted, and respects others. I

don't want to go to bed at night having regrets. I don't want to owe people

amends. I don't want to burn bridges.

A main motivator to do what I could to keep appointments was the impact of

being 'compliant' with keeping appointments and being on time to my insurance

coverage as well as the disability review I had. Both of these entities can

deny approval / coverage if you fail to keep doctors' appointments. Being

labeled 'noncompliant' is as detrimental as being labeled a 'drug seeker.'

So, it's not like it's a conscious choice to miss appointments, and like you

say, you called and canceled. The problem is that it is standard practice to

give 24 hours notice of a cancellation. After I had done several 'last

minute' cancellations with my therapist, she did 'tough love' reality

orientation

that she simply could not continue therapy if I was not committed to keeping

the appointments. Apparently it wasn't important enough at that time. I felt

totally hurt. How could she of all people not understand? She understood

completely that it came down to priorities. I had to admit sometimes I simply

did

not care, what was the point, anyway. If I really wanted to be there I

would. If I had major surgery scheduled, I doubt I would be a cancellation. I

have

never canceled an appointment to pick up pain scripts.

I have a host of resources and help from friends and from my church. For the

first couple of years after being diagnosed, I never went to an appointment

by myself, at all. Arrangements were always made for one of my support persons

to pick me up and drive me to the appointment. They would call before they

came, come inside, help me get ready, and maneuver me to the car. They also

went in with me. This was, of course during a time, when I was overwhelmed, and

needed someone to hear what I might not have heard and to correct those

things I thought I heard the doctor say. I reactivate this support system

anytime

I am having a hard time. My church has a full time Parish Nurse and an

active Parish Care Committee. Both of these have been invaluable resources.

The other thing I did to make it easier to keep appointments is to only make

them at a time when I functioned best. I do not do well with morning

appointments, so I make them all after 2pm.

Karyn E. , RN,

Exec. Director PAI / 1-

Many People, Many Faces, One Voice