Re:Jean I U doctors

[Guest guest]

Hi Jean,

I do not want to imply that one system is better than another but I

feel I have to add this to the discussion so that and you can

get a better understanding of clinic policies and to show that not

all are the same.

The clinic that I work with also has the same policy that Karyn

outlined (the discouraging of doctor switching within a clinic

group). But where our policy differs from the IU's is that all of our

doctors are considered partners and when it comes to

emergency or urgent care of clinic patients, they all see each

other's patients. In follow-up care or non-urgent / routine

appointments it is required that a patient stick with the same

doctor (unless there is a personality conflict or other reason,

then switches can happen after approval by the head doctor) but

whenever there is any kind of un-scheduled or urgent

appointment required then it is given to whichever doctor has call

or availability. In that aspect, it seems that IU's policy has been

taken to the extreme with your daughters experience: because

she was scheduled as an emergency or urgent need then it

seems appropriate that she was seen by whoever was handling

those types of appointments for that day / week / month (however

they rotate that). I do not understand Dr Lehmans reaction to

this...both in his anger at your daughter and his accusation of

doctor shopping within his clinic. That seems very

unprofessional based on my experience with the clinic I work at.

And we are the same type: a medical school in a tertiary care

teaching hospital . Again, even if he believed that the

appointment was inappropriate, he should never, ever take it out

on the patient! NEVER! And you are right, if he thought that Dr

Sherman should have been brought into the case, then it was

HIS obligation to do so! Believe me, from what you have written

about this appointment, this was very unprofessional behavior

and I would hope rare.

I am offering this hopefully to give you an idea that what you

endured is not normal. Even in my worst appointments here in

Wisconsin, I have rarely, if ever been treated that way. Could it be

regional differences? A big city attitude vs more midwestern

hospitality?(although I do know that midwestern states can be

rude too). I cannot believe that it is a locality issue but I am

beginnng to wonder..........

(I am not trying to stir a hornets nest here.....by slinging

accusations, I am just trying to figure this very puzzling, odd

reaction out. It is very, very bizarre to say the least........)

laurie