Re:providers don't care about their patients only looking after

March 16, 2007

Joanne,

I'm really sorry you've been unfairly targeted or so it must seem.

Obviously when I or others say something general like " health care provider "

that it does include you even though I don't know you and certainly have no

complaints or issues with you at all. It is the voice of extreme frustration

speaking.

Of course I'm speaking from my own point of view although I've had a

couple of healthcare providers (one doc I've known for 30 years) who have been

just about life savers for me. Right now the coordinator at the pulmo's office

is/has been very patient with my frustrations in the xolair matter. It just

isn't getting resolved, though, and I'm not receiving the injection.

Basically, a healthcare worker (I'm going to say more-or-less nurses and

doctors although it could include coordinators and pharmaceutical companies and

others) are asked to respond in a certain way to a certain set of conditions.

When they do so they are following procedure, fulfilling what is considered good

medical practice and doing what is officially best for the patient as well as

the clinic. Unfortunately, there are many tests and treatments that don't

always have healing outcomes. That is not to say that the nurse or doctor

didn't necessarily do what they are supposed it; it means that something more

existed than what was perceived or that there was a communications conflict or

healthcare just doesn't have a very good solution. When there isn't a very good

solution I expect to be treated with a great deal of sympathy and respect and in

my lifetime that often has not been the case; I've been very used and maltreated

and it happens more often than most care

to admit. Any time someone has a disorder that's unusual or complex they're

usually going to end up with a lot of blind alleys and even harm. I realize

it's an affront to the provider if the patient doesn't respond but the

unfortunately demeaning responses make it even worse. What I'm looking for (and

probably others) is a healing experience - something that makes me better

without doing harm. Health care is as is often said, more an art than a

science.

For now, you should give yourself a pat on the back for caring and

looking after your patients. Good job.

Best,

ID

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

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March 17, 2007

While most doctors and their practices work very hard and care very

much about their patients, I think probably each of us here has been

to enough doctors that we've all had a bad experience. I know I left

an allergy/asthma practice primarily due to the poor treatment I

received from the front desk staff, which including messing up my

appointments and - the last straw - a receptionist who told

me " allergies don't cause bronchitis, you don't need to see the

allergist if you've got bronchitis, " when I called to try to get an

appointment. Of course, I had instructions from the doctor to call

him when I got an URI and not my primary doc. Anyway, now I have a

great practice which includes a doc who came in on his day off to see

me when he heard I'd had an unsuccessful visit to the ER the night

before due to my asthma. I know that they are also administering

shots of some kind of special COPD drug in the office to a woman

who's insurance will only cover self-injecting. The poor woman has

Parkinson's and can't possibly draw stuff out of a vial with a

syringe and inject herself. So the nurses at my pulmo's office are

giving this woman the shots and not charging her anything.

Addy

Group co-owner

--- In , SD Designer <instdesgn1@...>

wrote:

>

> Joanne,

>

> I'm really sorry you've been unfairly targeted or so it

must seem. Obviously when I or others say something general

like " health care provider " that it does include you even though I

don't know you and certainly have no complaints or issues with you at

all. It is the voice of extreme frustration speaking.

>

> Of course I'm speaking from my own point of view although

I've had a couple of healthcare providers (one doc I've known for 30

years) who have been just about life savers for me. Right now the

coordinator at the pulmo's office is/has been very patient with my

frustrations in the xolair matter. It just isn't getting resolved,

though, and I'm not receiving the injection.

>

> Basically, a healthcare worker (I'm going to say more-or-

less nurses and doctors although it could include coordinators and

pharmaceutical companies and others) are asked to respond in a

certain way to a certain set of conditions. When they do so they are

following procedure, fulfilling what is considered good medical

practice and doing what is officially best for the patient as well as

the clinic. Unfortunately, there are many tests and treatments that

don't always have healing outcomes. That is not to say that the

nurse or doctor didn't necessarily do what they are supposed it; it

means that something more existed than what was perceived or that

there was a communications conflict or healthcare just doesn't have a

very good solution. When there isn't a very good solution I expect

to be treated with a great deal of sympathy and respect and in my

lifetime that often has not been the case; I've been very used and

maltreated and it happens more often than most care

> to admit. Any time someone has a disorder that's unusual or

complex they're usually going to end up with a lot of blind alleys

and even harm. I realize it's an affront to the provider if the

patient doesn't respond but the unfortunately demeaning responses

make it even worse. What I'm looking for (and probably others) is a

healing experience - something that makes me better without doing

harm. Health care is as is often said, more an art than a science.

>

> For now, you should give yourself a pat on the back for

caring and looking after your patients. Good job.

>

> Best,

>

> ID

>

> ---------------------------------

> TV dinner still cooling?

> Check out " Tonight's Picks " on TV.

>

March 17, 2007

Thank you for your kind words about providers. I agree with you that most

health-care providers are very careful in their care and treatment of people who

are struggling to breathe. I happen to be extremely fortunate--I have two

allergists, one pulmonologist and one GP (Oh-I also have an eye doctor and a

skin doctor!) They are all great and look out for what is in my best interest

healthwise.

The office where Jo works has staff members and health care professionals

who have been extremely nice and caring to me. The last time I saw the doctor

there, he was very anxious to know how I was treated when I came in, what I felt

about the overall care I was getting from his clinic. I would have to rate it

extremely good. Jo is the nurse who gives me my xolair each month. She is

very knowledgeable and is very caring about each of her patients. I have

observed her with other xolair patients as well.

My long-time allergist has a great nurse and office staff as well. But I do

remember several years ago when I called his office and insisted that I talk

with him--no one else. I was out of my inhaler and when the pharmacy called for

a refill, the girl who answered the phone was very rude to the pharmacist! The

pharmacist of course related this to me, so I called the doctor's office and

told him about the situation and he was very apologetic and assured me it would

not happen again. Now when I call or when the pharmacy calls now, we get prompt

courteous responses. I reminded him that when one of his patients is having

trouble breathing and for whatever reason needs an inhaler right away, it makes

it worse to have to deal with a rude person from his office.

By the way--that is the only time I can EVER remember complaining to the

doctor about the way I or my pharmacist was treated! And when I have had to

make ER visits, I have always been treated with care and respect--from the clerk

who signed me in to the triage nurse to the doctor who finally saw me. However,

I did have an unpleasant ER experience when we had to take my dad there (another

story--he had a bad response to a pain medicine the doctor had ordered for him).

So I know that not everyone who works in medicine or ER's have good bedside

manners or a caring or concerned spirit about the patients who are in pain or

can't breathe.

It is hard not to take it a little personally when one's profession is

attacked for non-professionalism or is criticized as incompetent (I know--I am a

retired teacher!). It is better to remember, too, that there are good people in

every profession, just as there are rotten apples that sometime spoil it for the

whole barrel.

There again--I feel so very blessed to have very caring, professional,

knowledgeable people taking care of my health issues.

Adah

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

Need Mail bonding?

Go to the Q & A for great tips from Answers users.

March 17, 2007

IF your provider doesn't care than you need to find a new provider.

If you get bad service in a restaurant you don't return there... the

same is for dr's.

My asthma doctor is an amazing guy. He makes you feel as if you are

the only one in his office -- he takes the time you need. He has even

found a rare disorder that I have that asthma was just a symptom of.

He never gave up until he found some answers and now he is the one I

depend on the most.

When I had the rash after Xolair -- he was totally bummed! You could

tell how disappointed he was that he needed to recommend that I take

the next few months off Xolair --especially when I told him my cough

had finally stopped. He cared! And when I return to Xolair, if I

have to wait the 2 hours then that is what I will do. I homeschool my

kids.. so we'll just set up our mini-classroom as we wait. Life is

full of it's ups and downs and waiting is just part of the game.

My 5 cents...

karen

March 17, 2007

-

I am in an unique position. I am a severe asthma/xolair patient,and

an M.A. in a heart/lung surgeons' group. I have spent the last 3 yrs

trying to recover from the ravages of asthma and steroids. I've had

3 surgeries because of the complications of steroids. One was done

by my boss!I have seen the very best and the worst the health care

system has to offer. If you aren't happy with your dr, find another

one, and tell the original why you are leaving. If you have a

problem with office or hospital staff- tell someone in charge! If

you have a compliment for someone going above and beyond- tell the

person in charge! Being a health care professional does not mean we

won't have bad days like everyone else. There is alot of stress

behind the scenes that most patients will never see. It takes alot

of people and work to navigate patient care and all the paperwork

that comes with it.(ie:insurance problems) As a sick patient, it is

easy to forget that you are not the only one your hospital/office

deals with. On the flip side, as a health care professional , it is

easy to overlook the patient as an individual. It takes

communication and understanding on both sides to have a successful

partnership.

becki

M.A., lab tech, and asthma patient

-- In , Adah Voigt <asthmatic50@...>

wrote:

>

> Thank you for your kind words about providers. I agree with you

that most health-care providers are very careful in their care and

treatment of people who are struggling to breathe. I happen to be

extremely fortunate--I have two allergists, one pulmonologist and

one GP (Oh-I also have an eye doctor and a skin doctor!) They are

all great and look out for what is in my best interest healthwise.

>

> The office where Jo works has staff members and health care

professionals who have been extremely nice and caring to me. The

last time I saw the doctor there, he was very anxious to know how I

was treated when I came in, what I felt about the overall care I was

getting from his clinic. I would have to rate it extremely good.

Jo is the nurse who gives me my xolair each month. She is very

knowledgeable and is very caring about each of her patients. I have

observed her with other xolair patients as well.

>

> My long-time allergist has a great nurse and office staff as

well. But I do remember several years ago when I called his office

and insisted that I talk with him--no one else. I was out of my

inhaler and when the pharmacy called for a refill, the girl who

answered the phone was very rude to the pharmacist! The pharmacist

of course related this to me, so I called the doctor's office and

told him about the situation and he was very apologetic and assured

me it would not happen again. Now when I call or when the pharmacy

calls now, we get prompt courteous responses. I reminded him that

when one of his patients is having trouble breathing and for

whatever reason needs an inhaler right away, it makes it worse to

have to deal with a rude person from his office.

>

> By the way--that is the only time I can EVER remember

complaining to the doctor about the way I or my pharmacist was

treated! And when I have had to make ER visits, I have always been

treated with care and respect--from the clerk who signed me in to

the triage nurse to the doctor who finally saw me. However, I did

have an unpleasant ER experience when we had to take my dad there

(another story--he had a bad response to a pain medicine the doctor

had ordered for him). So I know that not everyone who works in

medicine or ER's have good bedside manners or a caring or concerned

spirit about the patients who are in pain or can't breathe.

>

> It is hard not to take it a little personally when one's

profession is attacked for non-professionalism or is criticized as

incompetent (I know--I am a retired teacher!). It is better to

remember, too, that there are good people in every profession, just

as there are rotten apples that sometime spoil it for the whole

barrel.

>

> There again--I feel so very blessed to have very caring,

professional, knowledgeable people taking care of my health issues.

>

> Adah

>

> ---------------------------------

> Need Mail bonding?

> Go to the Q & A for great tips from Answers users.

>

March 17, 2007

Hi ,

What rare disorder is asthma a symptom of?

Thanks for sharing!

----- Original Message ----

From: wikkenkaren <wikkenkaren@...>

Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:37:50 PM

Subject: [ ] Re:providers don't care about their patients only

looking after

IF your provider doesn't care than you need to find a new provider.

If you get bad service in a restaurant you don't return there... the

same is for dr's.

My asthma doctor is an amazing guy. He makes you feel as if you are

the only one in his office -- he takes the time you need. He has even

found a rare disorder that I have that asthma was just a symptom of.

He never gave up until he found some answers and now he is the one I

depend on the most.

When I had the rash after Xolair -- he was totally bummed! You could

tell how disappointed he was that he needed to recommend that I take

the next few months off Xolair --especially when I told him my cough

had finally stopped. He cared! And when I return to Xolair, if I

have to wait the 2 hours then that is what I will do. I homeschool my

kids.. so we'll just set up our mini-classroom as we wait. Life is

full of it's ups and downs and waiting is just part of the game.

My 5 cents...

karen

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March 18, 2007

If only it were this easy! I saw an allergist about 3 years ago who

told me not to come back unless I wanted desensitization shots even

though he knew I'd gone through 6 years of the shots a long time ago.

They not only did not help, they made matters worse.

Insurance dictates where I go.

The 2nd allergist (same group but different office) was just as bad. He

wanted to get me on Xolair just as it was being approved by FDA.

However, he seemed to have trouble building a " case " for it. He told me

I should " step up to the plate " and come up with huge sums of money to

gratify his ego re Xolair. (It must have been a feather in the cap of

docs who got patients on Xolair early in the game) Never mind that I

explained that my hubby has MS and other serious diseases and money is a

major issue. No wonder, too, that allergist #2 (that can be taken as a

pun also) is no longer at a prominent well known medical school. Such a

jerk.

I have come to the conclusion that allergists are the worst. I'm seeing

a pulmonologist now and greatly prefer that specialty. Allergists are

quite freaky about Xolair - it's apparently part of their nature. The

real problem I'm having is with Genentech and Curascript (when did they

ever cure anything?) re where and how I will have the Xolair that's been

in my fridge for 5 weeks. I think the pulmo takes it all seriously but

is a little more pleasant to deal with. I have no idea how I'm going to

react to Xolair if and when I actually inject it but I do know that the

managing of it is all wrong. I also know that my choices are limited.

--- In , " wikkenkaren " <wikkenkaren@...>

wrote:

>

> IF your provider doesn't care than you need to find a new provider.

> If you get bad service in a restaurant you don't return there... the

> same is for dr's.

>

March 18, 2007

I sympathize with your difficulties. It is unfortunate when our health care is

governed by the insurance and drug companies. While my husband and I have been

very fortunate in that respect, I did run into this issue with my mom and her

healthcare. She was forced to change doctors--all of her doctors because of her

insurance and Medicare--at 92 years old! I had to take care of much of the

paper work that went in to that change. So, I can sympathize with you. I can

also sympathize with you on the money issue for the xolair. Had our insurance

and Medicare not agreed to pay for my shots, I wouldn't be getting them. I

could not afford the co=pay.

It is unfortunate that in every profession there are uncaring, greedy,

professionals (?--if you can call them that) who are not really interested in

their patients. Take heart, though--there are doctors and nurses who are very

caring and work very hard with their patients to not only give them the best

care but doing what is best for each one. I know this for a fact--I have three

doctors and their teams of nurses who all work together to do what is best for

my particular health needs. I pray that you are able to find a doctor

(allergist) who will take you in and really be interested in doing what's best

for you and your health and will be sympathetic as well to your situation and

your needs.

Adah

instdesgn1 <instdesgn1@...> wrote: