My letter to my doctor

Undertoad · 05-17-2006, 05:26 PM

Dear Dr. Brown,

I have enjoyed being your patient for the last several years.

Last Thursday I realized that I was almost out of medication, and that I needed a refill via your office. I called and made an appointment for July 13, as it had been more than six months since I’d seen you. I verified that this appointment was a thorough physical and not a mere checkup, and would require a blood workup, and that I would fast overnight. The office then put me through to the prescription voicemail. I left my details, along with the note that I had an appointment.

Friday I went to the pharmacy to find the prescription wasn’t there. I remembered that the prescription voicemail line had cautioned that it may take 48 hours. I turned on my legendary patience.

Sunday I took my last pill.

Monday I went to the pharmacy to find the prescription wasn’t there. I called your prescription line again and left information again. I asked, in my message, if I could specifically be called if the prescription could not be filled for any reason, since like any XXX user, my body is dependent on the medication. I have legendary patience, so despite the appearance that the system was starting to fail me, I stayed on track.

Tuesday I went to the pharmacy and the prescription wasn’t there. So I called your office again and, instead of going to the prescription refill voicemail, I got a live human. I explained that I really needed that prescription. I have legendary patience, and have worked in telephone customer support, so I remained friendly and confident in my call. The person on the other end of the line said, and I quote, "Oh your chart is right here!" Great!

Wednesday morning I went to the pharmacy and the prescription wasn’t there.

I cancelled the rest of my morning and drove to your office. With my legendary patience, I sat and said nothing while I waited the requisite twenty minutes to see a nurse. When the nurse finally conferenced with me, she explained that since I had not seen anyone for six months and there were no samples available, my only recourse to avoid the side-effects of XXX withdrawl would be to go to the ER.

Somewhat in shock, I walked to the front desk where the woman there told me that this might be expected, after all, I had cancelled my appointment.

Dr. Brown, I assure you, I had done no such thing.

Now, I have not thrown a tantrum in... ever! in my adult lifetime. I am as even-keeled as they come. I pride myself in being an emotionally-controlled person who handles adverse matters by... well, writing long thoughtful letters of complaint. But I was through. My legendary patience reached its limit in your reception area, where at the very top of my lungs, I shrieked that your office was incompetent and was harming my health and sending me to the ER.

I apologize for screaming, but I did not have a bullhorn handy. And, it was all true.

The three and a half hours waiting around at the ER gave me enough time to reflect, and regain some of that legendary patience, so I decided not go right back and demand my patient records from your office on the spot. I realized that it would probably only make more trouble. I was by then ashamed because I was taking up an ER spot, surrounded by people much worse off than myself. I had to remind myself that it was your staff who told me to go there.

At this point, I only write this so that you know the facts, so you know why someone exploded in the reception area, and why I’m no longer a patient. You tell your patients that their health is important to you. I believe you, but this message is completely undermined by your staff.

40% of Americans will try "alternative medicine" this year. People are using major medications they get over the Internet from Mexico and Canada. The doctor-patient relationship is in tatters. People’s faith in doctors and the entire system is at an all-time low. The humanity in the entire business is reduced to tort, borderline insurance fraud, and scummy socialistic deals. And now, I know why.

It would have been five minutes for someone in your office to see me, hear the whole simple explanation, and write that script. It would have been zero minutes if the staff had gotten it right in the first place. Now I walk away from this whole situation knowing that A) I’m smarter than the system, and B) The system doesn’t give a shit about me – it assigns a hundred gatekeepers to prevent me from doing the right thing. They even prevent me from talking frankly to my doctor... thus this letter. (The Xxxx site doesn't list your email address... gatekeepers.)

So when the system tells me I shouldn’t self-medicate with herbs or self-insure or get drugs from Mexico, uh… isn’t that the same system that I know doesn’t give a shit about me?

There’s the facts, in case you want to be a part of the solution.

mrnoodle · 05-17-2006, 05:30 PM

Great letter -- sorry about your troubles. Did you finally get your meds?

I've had 2 prescription debacles in as many months. Not as severe as yours, but enough to convince me that the whole industry is a racket.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-17-2006, 05:35 PM

You forgot to mention the grenade.....probably just as well.

Such is the "business" of medicine.

Trilby · 05-17-2006, 05:37 PM

That's the American 'health care' system in action. I'm sorry that happened to you, and, you are correct: they DO assign people to keep you from the doctor, they DON'T care about you (or anyone else, for that matter) and the whole system just sucks.

Great letter. I hope you get a response from the Doc.

Happy Monkey · 05-17-2006, 05:50 PM

Of course, they have the upper hand. Switching to "alternative medicine" would be like going on a hunger strike to protest Bush. He doesn't give a crap, and you starve.

Undertoad · 05-17-2006, 05:53 PM

Oh yeah, that's a good point.. I personally won't go that route but I'm making a point about why people do. I'll change the word "I" to "we" in that section. (...when the system tells us that we shouldn't self medicate...)

Undertoad · 05-17-2006, 05:57 PM

Oh yes, and, I got the meds. After truly a 3.5 hour wait, the ER doc heard my tale, gave me a 30 second evaluation in which I literally answered how many fingers he held up and what weekday it was ("Tues - uh, Wednesday! It's Wednesday! Trash night!"), and a script for a month of pills while I find a new doc.

(Anyone local have any GPs they like?)

Happy Monkey · 05-17-2006, 06:04 PM

Yeah, I understood what you meant, but as a fan of James Randi and Penn Jilette I had to mention it. Beaurocracy and profiteering in the medical system may create desperate people, but the snake oil people exploit them worse than the most corrupt of pharmaceutical companies.

BigV · 05-17-2006, 06:14 PM

Yes.

Our family GP isn't on our list of options for our new list of insurance options

He rocks. He solicitous, compassionate, busy, and well (mostly) supported by the staff in his office. If we can't get a way to keep with him, it's start all over time with the new guy. Not looking forward to that.

So, so sorry about the snafu cluster flop you had at your dr's office, UT. I will say in my experience, it is important to get a dr you can trust and communicate with for medical advice. But (gatekeepers) all the other people in the office have to power to grant or deny my access to that valuable resource to me, and I nurture that relationship too. I know at least two of the nurses/front desk people by first name. That counts. Sometimes, it can substitute for actual facetime with the dr. But it always helps when I visit and epecially when I have a problem/urgent/question.

xoxoxoBruce · 05-17-2006, 07:25 PM

My long time GP retired a couple years ago because of the ravages of Parkinson's disease. Just before he gave up he brought a couple new Doctors into the office but I hadn't had any contact with them. After he retired they closed his office and moved everything to another practice where the noobs had apparently been working also.

So, recently I had to see a Doctor, after a 4 years of avoidance. When I made an appointment, the time of day I could get there would determined which Doctor I'd see and I was assigned to Doctor Ms Motel. Since I wasn't going for a prostrate problem, I figured I give her a shot...er, try.

Kind of looks like Dr Joyce Brothers and very cool. Listened, and thought about, what I was saying. Smart, practical and attentive....I lucked out.

skysidhe · 05-17-2006, 07:29 PM

@ UT

Sounds like one of those letters you read and say, 'oh those things happen to other people' What an incredible story. lol re: saved by trash night

I am glad you got your RX finally. Sorry you had to go through all that. . .edit [I forgot].I went through that for my grandmother once. Not fun.

05-17-2006, 07:32 PM

Sorry you had to go through all that, UT. I went from having a great doctor at University Hospital in Denver - I drove 60 miles to see him, I liked him so much. I could talk to him personally because he gave me the number to call when he'd be available for phone consults with his patients. He listened to his voice mail over the weekend and would even call in a prescription for you on a Sunday. Then my insurance changed and I had to use a clinic in Colorado Springs. They had a big ol' staff and the male nurse who worked there was assigned the task of never allowing the patient to see or speak with the doctor. Everything was voice mail. Everytime I had to get a prescription refilled, I usually went through something like you did. It all went back to a male nurse who was too lazy to call scripts in or check faxes. Once he told me that my doctor had said I should just go without one of my meds until my next visit. "Have you been taking you meds?" the doc asked when I saw him next. "All except the one Mr. X told me you said to do without," I replied. The doctor's face turned an angry hue. "Excuse me. I need to go have a word with Mr. X." A few minutes later I could hear old X getting raked over the coals out in the hallway.

Now I have to find a new doctor in my new town. I don't expect to find one like the first, but I sure hope I can find an outfit that is a little less incompetant and a bit more caring than that clinic.

Let us know if your doctor ever replies. Bet he won't.

Griff · 05-17-2006, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigV

Yes.

Our family GP isn't on our list of options for our new list of insurance options

He rocks. He solicitous, compassionate, busy, and well (mostly) supported by the staff in his office. If we can't get a way to keep with him, it's start all over time with the new guy. Not looking forward to that.

Same story here but we can "nominate" him blah blah blah. Wouldn't cash be nice?

footfootfoot · 05-17-2006, 10:24 PM

http://www.idealhealthnetwork.com/about.html

This guy is my BIL. He is working at healthcare reform, he travels around the country meeting with hospitals, governers, etc. I wish a doc around here had a practice like his.

Your experiences, UT are partly why my dad hadn't been to a doctor since 1970.

lumberjim · 05-17-2006, 11:37 PM

Steiner Medical center is right near you, i think. west of valley forge park on 23. They aren't the most polite staff, but competent. Dr Flood is pretty cool, but she doesn;t work much. Ira Cantor is OK too.

doctors offices are of the opinion that you have to come to them. just an extension of the superiority complex that they and teachers too often exhibit. remember that you are a customer, and remind them of it. You might mention that in your letter if it hasn't been sent.

05-17-2006, 05:26 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	My letter to my doctor Dear Dr. Brown, I have enjoyed being your patient for the last several years. Last Thursday I realized that I was almost out of medication, and that I needed a refill via your office. I called and made an appointment for July 13, as it had been more than six months since I’d seen you. I verified that this appointment was a thorough physical and not a mere checkup, and would require a blood workup, and that I would fast overnight. The office then put me through to the prescription voicemail. I left my details, along with the note that I had an appointment. Friday I went to the pharmacy to find the prescription wasn’t there. I remembered that the prescription voicemail line had cautioned that it may take 48 hours. I turned on my legendary patience. Sunday I took my last pill. Monday I went to the pharmacy to find the prescription wasn’t there. I called your prescription line again and left information again. I asked, in my message, if I could specifically be called if the prescription could not be filled for any reason, since like any XXX user, my body is dependent on the medication. I have legendary patience, so despite the appearance that the system was starting to fail me, I stayed on track. Tuesday I went to the pharmacy and the prescription wasn’t there. So I called your office again and, instead of going to the prescription refill voicemail, I got a live human. I explained that I really needed that prescription. I have legendary patience, and have worked in telephone customer support, so I remained friendly and confident in my call. The person on the other end of the line said, and I quote, "Oh your chart is right here!" Great! Wednesday morning I went to the pharmacy and the prescription wasn’t there. I cancelled the rest of my morning and drove to your office. With my legendary patience, I sat and said nothing while I waited the requisite twenty minutes to see a nurse. When the nurse finally conferenced with me, she explained that since I had not seen anyone for six months and there were no samples available, my only recourse to avoid the side-effects of XXX withdrawl would be to go to the ER. Somewhat in shock, I walked to the front desk where the woman there told me that this might be expected, after all, I had cancelled my appointment. Dr. Brown, I assure you, I had done no such thing. Now, I have not thrown a tantrum in... ever! in my adult lifetime. I am as even-keeled as they come. I pride myself in being an emotionally-controlled person who handles adverse matters by... well, writing long thoughtful letters of complaint. But I was through. My legendary patience reached its limit in your reception area, where at the very top of my lungs, I shrieked that your office was incompetent and was harming my health and sending me to the ER. I apologize for screaming, but I did not have a bullhorn handy. And, it was all true. The three and a half hours waiting around at the ER gave me enough time to reflect, and regain some of that legendary patience, so I decided not go right back and demand my patient records from your office on the spot. I realized that it would probably only make more trouble. I was by then ashamed because I was taking up an ER spot, surrounded by people much worse off than myself. I had to remind myself that it was your staff who told me to go there. At this point, I only write this so that you know the facts, so you know why someone exploded in the reception area, and why I’m no longer a patient. You tell your patients that their health is important to you. I believe you, but this message is completely undermined by your staff. 40% of Americans will try "alternative medicine" this year. People are using major medications they get over the Internet from Mexico and Canada. The doctor-patient relationship is in tatters. People’s faith in doctors and the entire system is at an all-time low. The humanity in the entire business is reduced to tort, borderline insurance fraud, and scummy socialistic deals. And now, I know why. It would have been five minutes for someone in your office to see me, hear the whole simple explanation, and write that script. It would have been zero minutes if the staff had gotten it right in the first place. Now I walk away from this whole situation knowing that A) I’m smarter than the system, and B) The system doesn’t give a shit about me – it assigns a hundred gatekeepers to prevent me from doing the right thing. They even prevent me from talking frankly to my doctor... thus this letter. (The Xxxx site doesn't list your email address... gatekeepers.) So when the system tells me I shouldn’t self-medicate with herbs or self-insure or get drugs from Mexico, uh… isn’t that the same system that I know doesn’t give a shit about me? There’s the facts, in case you want to be a part of the solution.

05-17-2006, 05:30 PM	#2
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Great letter -- sorry about your troubles. Did you finally get your meds? I've had 2 prescription debacles in as many months. Not as severe as yours, but enough to convince me that the whole industry is a racket. __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

05-17-2006, 05:35 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	You forgot to mention the grenade.....probably just as well. Such is the "business" of medicine. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-17-2006, 05:37 PM	#4
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	That's the American 'health care' system in action. I'm sorry that happened to you, and, you are correct: they DO assign people to keep you from the doctor, they DON'T care about you (or anyone else, for that matter) and the whole system just sucks. Great letter. I hope you get a response from the Doc. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

05-17-2006, 05:50 PM	#5
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Of course, they have the upper hand. Switching to "alternative medicine" would be like going on a hunger strike to protest Bush. He doesn't give a crap, and you starve. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

05-17-2006, 05:53 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Oh yeah, that's a good point.. I personally won't go that route but I'm making a point about why people do. I'll change the word "I" to "we" in that section. (...when the system tells us that we shouldn't self medicate...)

05-17-2006, 05:57 PM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Oh yes, and, I got the meds. After truly a 3.5 hour wait, the ER doc heard my tale, gave me a 30 second evaluation in which I literally answered how many fingers he held up and what weekday it was ("Tues - uh, Wednesday! It's Wednesday! Trash night!"), and a script for a month of pills while I find a new doc. (Anyone local have any GPs they like?)

05-17-2006, 06:04 PM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Yeah, I understood what you meant, but as a fan of James Randi and Penn Jilette I had to mention it. Beaurocracy and profiteering in the medical system may create desperate people, but the snake oil people exploit them worse than the most corrupt of pharmaceutical companies. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

05-17-2006, 06:14 PM	#9
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Yes. Our family GP isn't on our list of options for our new list of insurance options He rocks. He solicitous, compassionate, busy, and well (mostly) supported by the staff in his office. If we can't get a way to keep with him, it's start all over time with the new guy. Not looking forward to that. So, so sorry about the snafu cluster flop you had at your dr's office, UT. I will say in my experience, it is important to get a dr you can trust and communicate with for medical advice. But (gatekeepers) all the other people in the office have to power to grant or deny my access to that valuable resource to me, and I nurture that relationship too. I know at least two of the nurses/front desk people by first name. That counts. Sometimes, it can substitute for actual facetime with the dr. But it always helps when I visit and epecially when I have a problem/urgent/question. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

05-17-2006, 07:25 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	My long time GP retired a couple years ago because of the ravages of Parkinson's disease. Just before he gave up he brought a couple new Doctors into the office but I hadn't had any contact with them. After he retired they closed his office and moved everything to another practice where the noobs had apparently been working also. So, recently I had to see a Doctor, after a 4 years of avoidance. When I made an appointment, the time of day I could get there would determined which Doctor I'd see and I was assigned to Doctor Ms Motel. Since I wasn't going for a prostrate problem, I figured I give her a shot...er, try. Kind of looks like Dr Joyce Brothers and very cool. Listened, and thought about, what I was saying. Smart, practical and attentive....I lucked out. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-17-2006, 07:29 PM	#11
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	@ UT Sounds like one of those letters you read and say, 'oh those things happen to other people' What an incredible story. lol re: saved by trash night I am glad you got your RX finally. Sorry you had to go through all that. . .edit [I forgot].I went through that for my grandmother once. Not fun.

05-17-2006, 07:32 PM	#12
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	Sorry you had to go through all that, UT. I went from having a great doctor at University Hospital in Denver - I drove 60 miles to see him, I liked him so much. I could talk to him personally because he gave me the number to call when he'd be available for phone consults with his patients. He listened to his voice mail over the weekend and would even call in a prescription for you on a Sunday. Then my insurance changed and I had to use a clinic in Colorado Springs. They had a big ol' staff and the male nurse who worked there was assigned the task of never allowing the patient to see or speak with the doctor. Everything was voice mail. Everytime I had to get a prescription refilled, I usually went through something like you did. It all went back to a male nurse who was too lazy to call scripts in or check faxes. Once he told me that my doctor had said I should just go without one of my meds until my next visit. "Have you been taking you meds?" the doc asked when I saw him next. "All except the one Mr. X told me you said to do without," I replied. The doctor's face turned an angry hue. "Excuse me. I need to go have a word with Mr. X." A few minutes later I could hear old X getting raked over the coals out in the hallway. Now I have to find a new doctor in my new town. I don't expect to find one like the first, but I sure hope I can find an outfit that is a little less incompetant and a bit more caring than that clinic. Let us know if your doctor ever replies. Bet he won't.

05-17-2006, 10:24 PM	#14
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	http://www.idealhealthnetwork.com/about.html This guy is my BIL. He is working at healthcare reform, he travels around the country meeting with hospitals, governers, etc. I wish a doc around here had a practice like his. Your experiences, UT are partly why my dad hadn't been to a doctor since 1970. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

05-17-2006, 11:37 PM	#15
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	Steiner Medical center is right near you, i think. west of valley forge park on 23. They aren't the most polite staff, but competent. Dr Flood is pretty cool, but she doesn;t work much. Ira Cantor is OK too. doctors offices are of the opinion that you have to come to them. just an extension of the superiority complex that they and teachers too often exhibit. remember that you are a customer, and remind them of it. You might mention that in your letter if it hasn't been sent. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

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