you wrote:
From: AZMAINIAC(AT)prodigy.net
TO: "Barbara H", INTERNET:JHarper33(AT)aol.com
"Robert and Marabeth", 74541,2151
DATE: 3/6/99 7:49 AM
RE: Re: HMO's
I think that one of the problems with HMO's is that the doctors try to cram
as many people in in one day so that they can make some money. This puts
more of a load on the office staff doing things as getting precertification
for tests.
I got authorized visits for a urologist and neurologist. On Feb. 18, I
called and made appointments. I got an appointment for the urologist
on Tues., Feb. 23(I think that he only works part time--he is in an office
with his son). and the neuro on Thur., Mar 4.
When I made the appointment with the urologist, I asked about the address
on
the precertification that I received and if it was in the building beside
the hospital and she said it was. When I got there for my appointment the
lady in the office said that the doctor wasn't there. He was in his other
office. She called and I went to his other office.
The uro wanted me to have an IVP(x-rays of the urinary tract using a dye).
An appointment was made to have it done on Mon, Mar. 1. at 7:30 am. I was
to
arrive at 7:00am for paperwork.
When I signed in they asked me if I had a prescription and I said no. The
only thing that I had been given was a small piece of paper with
instructions on it--NPO midnight(nothing by mouth after midnight). Attached
to the paper was a small envelope with 3 Dulcolax tablets that the paper
said to take at bedtime. I awoke at 5:00am due to the chemical reaction of
the Dulcolax with my intestinal tract.
About 10 minutes later, a lady came out and said that she had contacted the
Dr's office on Fri. for a 'script. She did not get one.
She tried to call the doctor's office, but the message do not answer The
phones until 9:00am. She even tried to page the doctor. She called the
x-ray
dept. and they said that I could wait. I decide to wait because my friends
tell me that I am full of it and I did not want them to have to lie if they
were telling other people about me.
Finally, about 8:50am, they received a prescription from the doctor's
office.
On Thur., I went to see the neuro. I arrived about 1:05pm for a 1:15pm
appointment. I planned on being there at least 20 minutes before because I
was a new patient and knew that I would have to fill out paperwork. I have
been to many doctors and rarely have I seen the doctor on the time
scheduled.
About 2:00pm, I was taken to get weighed and then sent back to the lobby. I
had started hurting some about 1:30pm(I think it is a kidney stone because
when I had x-rays, I had to have more taken on my left side because the
contrast was not moving as fast(blockage) as it was on my right side. I had
a stone on my left side about 10 years ago.
At 2:15pm I went to the window and told the lady that I was hurting and
that
I was leaving. There was a lady in front of me arguing that she had a
2:30pm
appointment and they were telling her she didn't. She had taken a taxi to
get to the office. When I got to the window I told her that she could have
my appointment. I heard somebody in the background in the office that
things
had been screwed up lately.
I was hurting, but I think that the main reason that I was really "urinated
off" was that there was a sign near where you check in that said that if
you
canceled an appointment within 24 hours of you scheduled appointment that
you would be charged $25.00!
What happens if the doctor doesn't meet the scheduled appointment? I felt
that an hour was a long enough wait.
They can keep my $5.00 co-pay for taking the time to schedule my
appointment, give me a clipboard with 2 papers to fill out and weighing me,
but if they send me a bill for $25.00, they can kiss my gluteus maximus!!
John