@Chrissy Page I figured someone will remember that, but always also figure not all our Members have already been exposed to my, er,.......work, I guess. It is intended for them. Sorry if it offended you. Note that I do not bad mouth all drs. and dentists, only those who have proven highly offensive to me. Our old family dentist was a kindly, caring doctor who took care of both my parent's teeth, my sister's growing up, and my own. The crack about politicians was meant to be facetious, of course. Frank
I used to work in the medical profession and know the followimg to be true: 1. Drs make notes on everything. Sometimes they notice small things so they can compare tests as tmie goes by to see if there might be changes. However, if it is not a problem now, don't make the patient worry. It might never change and become a problem. If there are changes over time, they will let you know at that time. 2. If you have a concern or question, ask. Drs are not mind readers. Feel he or she think it will make you look stupid? Forget it. They have heard everything and seen everything. If the physician makes you feel stupid or is impatient with you for asking, then change physicians. This physician is not the right one for you. 3. You are your own best advocate. As long as you are respectful, ask away. If the doctor understsnds that you are scared and need the information to feel better about your situation, they will tell you what you need to know. If this doesn't occur, change drs. Once again, this dr isn't for you. God bless.
@Texas Beth "As long as you are respectful, ask away" My second grand encounter since moving to AZ was to be my next comparison. He angrily answered my question with, "Don't second-guess me! I've been doing this for 47 years!" After he ordered an echocardiogram, which I had, then not even a call regarding result, and I called his office, the receptionist told me someone would call back. No one did. After a second failure, I realized I was getting nowhere. Think I went back to him? Frank
My doctor will take as much time as needed to answer any and all questions when you are in his office. Doctors are very busy all day with other patients and can't run to the phone to answer questions. If you think of a question after you leave his office you call the office, talk to a receptionist who will give a message to a nurse who will call you when she has time. You will not talk to the doctor on the phone. My advice is to make a note of anything you want to ask or tell the doctor before you go and ask questions while you are there.
My wife's doctor is our age AND, still is (last time we knew he was) part of the PGA Tour. Hasn't the last few times, but when she first started seeing him a few years ago, he had to reschedule her appt. because he was with the Tour in another state. He shares his office with two other doctors, but all of the pictures in the hallways, his exam rooms (3) and his office are him with celebrities/PGA Pro's and even two previous U.S. Presidents. Pretty impressive (to us, anyway). A Nurse Practioner handles call-in appt. patients he can't see. Another nice thing about living in a small town, or low-populated area......not as many people, better attention given to patients. Our population is closing in on 1 million!
Thru some online research of the my shoulder MRI Report/Results, I have a 20% thickness tear measuring 8 mm (1/3 inch) in my distal supraspinatus tendon. It's a small tear, but it's there and he didn't tell me about it. Have got some osteoarthritis in the shoulder, but already knew about that from the x-ray and MRI that was done a number of months before the surgery last year. The MRI also shows two anchors that were attached to tendons. Other than that, the comments/results seem to indicate normal wear of my shoulder. Really wondering if this surgeon thought I'd simply go by what he said "shoulder looks fine" and not get the MRI Report/Results and cd of MRI photos? For whatever reason, he did withhold info from me concerning the small tear. Something I should have been told. To me, the shoulder MRI was not completely "fine". Small or large tear, I would think that an Ortho Surgeon would have the legal obligation to let his patient know.
The stress tests I have done chemically. I can't stand anything moving under my feet even as a kid, escalators made me so sick. My doctor mentioned how do you manage to fly? Told him if the floor moves on a plane were all in big trouble.
I don't have any problems like that I was just stressed about doing the treadmill especially if I had to run. I had 20 secs to go and those were the longest 20 secs ever, only thing that kept me going was the fact that if I stopped the test would have to be done over or I'd have to do the chemical one. So I just made my mind a blank (easy for me ) and finished.
I go once a year for my annual check up when the VA sends me a letter. So far, everything routine. They do the blood work and handle my service connected problems. My other Doctor I see for everything else; I have seen him twice in 3 years. Last time I saw him he tapped away on a iPad the whole time we talked. I liked the fact he was taking notes about everything. Hopefully he will still see me next year when I switch over to 'Tricare for Life' coverage.
Ha ha...maybe he was playing a game...just kidding. Mine write on the computer....they have to put your info in. First the nurse comes in and pulls up my screen, then she puts in my vitals and leaves. Then the dr comes in and asks why I'm there...could be just for a refill or something else but the nurse asks too so he should know. Then he looks at the computer and reads it for a little bit,then if I say something he starts typing. I think I have access to this record but I never bothered signing on to it. Don't want to read anything negative like she's crazy.
You know, I wondered if he was 'gaming' ! I give them a copy of all my blood work, etc. done by the VA, just so everyone is on the same page. I expect a wait due to the tight appointment scheduling. I bring my tablet and read a book. Plan it so I don't have anything else planned. Maybe next time I'll ask him what game he's playing so I can log on and join in...
I try to get the first appt of the day and then it's quick but in general it hasn't been too bad. I don't even mind sitting in the waiting room but I do hate waiting once they take you back to the examination room. They close the door and it gets stuffy in there...I get up and open it a crack if I'm waiting long but someone always closes it that passes by.
I haven't called my surgeon get, but it's on my weekly agenda. Wife called her doctors office this past Monday AM and was told his nurse would call her back. Here it's Wednesday AM and no call yet, so I called. The lady who answered looked up my wife on the computer and told me her Stress (Cardio) Test results were normal. Now, thing is, at 12:15PM, her doctor calls me and tells me, "Her EKG was ok, but she needs to cut back on salt and do some exercising and lose some weight." We know she's some 15lbs overweight and being a Diabetic II isn't helping. Thing that gets me is that I had to bug her doctor's office to get this info. She had the Test on the 4th of August and here it's the last day of August and we finally hear the results/what she needs to do. Sort of "Unacceptable" to me, but have to accept it.
Maybe he's just gotten too busy or there was some staff member who dropped the ball. Voice your concerns and hopefully it won't happen again. I would have called them, but that's just the way I am. I love my drs office and every single person in it is great from the receptionist to the nurses, etc. I've known them a long time and chit chat before the dr comes in. I ask about how their new baby is doing or whatever I remember from my last visit and in return they remember me So I'm treated well. Someone dropped the ball at your drs office but I don't know the procedure there, but it's not bad enough for a malpractice suit and if your unhappy....try to find another dr. Or since you plan to move, just deal with it for a bit longer.
"Someone dropped the ball"........I'd say yes. This always reminds me of how the Navy was when I was in. Basically speaking, the "ball" doesn't get dropped and if it does, someone gets "written up" about it and has to go to XO (Executive Officer) Mast and possibly Captain's Mast. In case you don't know, the "XO" is the second-in-command" and the Captain is in charge of the ship. In Basic Training for any military service, a Recruit is taught that, "if a mistake is made, someone has to answer for that mistake". I agree with you on the second red highlighted part.