New Rant/Surgeons Trading Patients

[upchurch131]

I'll take over for Lynn with my rant. I could not believe my ears last Friday when I called the surgeons office after not hearing from them for weeks (they never call me, I have to keep calling them!) After collecting the medical records they requested and personally sending some of them myself from the copies I keep, the surgeons assistant told me that nothing can be done until they have all the records. These are the same records that a week earlier, she told me she had and were going out to Dr. Patrick McCarthy at Northwestern Memorial to review (so we can finally set up a consultation which is long overdue). And oh, by the way, they are handing me off to another surgeon, S. Chris Malaisrie at Northwestern, who "specializes" in aortic surgery. I'll go back to the drawing board and check into his background and references now. It looks like he was at Baylor and Stanford. So now I write this stinging letter to my cardiologist telling him that I had enough of this crap. Get on the phone and find out WHAT they need, HOW to get it there and give me the low down on why I am being traded off like a bad baseball card! If in the meantime, while the logistics are being worked out, my aorta pops from the my anger, I told my wife to kick some booty. I know it will be some time before I will be able to get in to get this fixed AFTER I finally get to see someone. So this waste of time and seemingly inept clerical help really is frustrating (so much for the "positive" side of me- Aaron!)

Has anyone had like frustrations in their experience with surgeons, their assistants, getting the right records to the right place at the right time or being TRADED off to other surgeons or medical professionals? Anyone with any comments or experiences with Dr. Malaisrie? I'm sure he is a fine surgeon. He's just not the guy I was referred to nor the reputation of Dr. McCarthy. Last weekend was a real bummer after hearing this. Its been over a month now since I've been told to get in to see the surgeon.

 

[Ross]

Make it a point to hound Pat until he agrees to take you. He will if you insist. He may ask you why you think you need him. Tell him point blank that you trust no one else to do the job.

 

[lynnconnolly]

Stu, you have my sympathies. You have every right to rant about this diabolical situation! It seems no matter where we happen to land up ill on the globe, there's always some pillock ready to make it a whole lot worse.

Very best of luck in getting it sorted out. It's a damn good job you're feeling up to sorting it out because by the sounds of it, if you couldn't, you'd be even more screwed!

Keep us posted on how it goes.

Lynn

 

[ALCapshaw2]

The Records Department at the local Heart Center is notoriously S L O W and often inept at getting records sent out when requested.

Here is MY solution to the records problem:

I always fill out the records request whenever I have a test performed, complete with a "Date Needed". I usually give them 2 weeks. When nothing is received I call in, tell the unit manager I have not received the requested records and ask her to either send them to me or to give me a date when I can pick them up.

The Records Office at the local Hospital has been very good about contacting whatever department perfromed my tests and telling them that I would come down to the department to pick up my CD or Tape.

Once I have the records (at NO charge since I will be taking them to another Doctor), I personally bundle the records and send them to the Doctor I wish to see (after contacting his office to get a commitment from them to review my records for consideration.

NO MORE PROBLEMS with missing records and NO passing off.

Bottom Line:

Do a "Self Referal to the Doctor of YOUR Choice"

Collect and Send all the records His Office requests personally.

As you have learned the Hard Way,
NO ONE cares more about getting your records
to the Doctor of YOUR Choice than YOU!

'AL Capshaw'

 

[upchurch131]

I haven't had the frustrations you've had but like you, I wanted the best surgeon possible. Not everyone can always see who they wat but if i were you, I'd keep pushing to get back to Dr McCarthy.

I did a search & found Dr Malaisrie's homepage. He does specialize in aortic surgery. Got his Dr at Maryland (1998), residency at Loyola & Baylor and is now an asst Professor at NorthWestern.

There is not much of a bio at the NorthWestern site. It looks like he works along side Dr McCarthy. When I looked at Dr McCArthy's bio - all I can say is WOW - this is the guy you want.

Here's a suggestion, perhaps rather than sending the "stinging" email - try & do it on the phone. See if you can make them feel bad enough to get you back into see Dr McCarthy - its much harder to say no to people on the phone. Email is easy to respond with a textbook no. Your nasty email may make you feel better but not get you the result you want.

Thanks for the reply. I have learned more by the end of the day. Malaisrie was brought into Northwestern by McCarthy to enhance the aortic part of sugery. He has only been there about a year. This I learned after consultation with my cardiolgist after he talked with McCarthy's office. He does not KNOW Malaisrie but told me if McCarthy brought him into Northwestern to help the program, he must be good. "HOWEVER, YOU are the one who will be cut open and must be satisfied with the surgeon doing it." He suggested consulting with him asking him the questions he assumed I would even ask McCarthy (how long, how many, mortality, etc). If I wasn't satisfied after the consultation with ANYTHING, make an appointment with McCarthy. That's what I did. I will see Malaisrie to give him a chance to blow me and my wife away with his experience. The appointment is June 2.

The "stinging" letter went to my cardiologist (it worked! He called!) I didn't care for the fact that I had to do all the running, all the calls, all the coordination. I felt that I am the patient and it is about time their office acted in my behalf for the ten years of business I've given them. It has been a month with no action.

 

[upchurch131]

Make it a point to hound Pat until he agrees to take you. He will if you insist. He may ask you why you think you need him. Tell him point blank that you trust no one else to do the job.

Ross,

It may come to that. I am so cautious because I made a terrible mistake before, trusting that ALL physicians have your best interests in mind. It almost cost me with paralysis below my waist with an unnecessary and totally slip-shod spinal surgery. Its been 16 years since and I will live with the results of that for the rest of my life. If something bad happens here, it could BE my life.

I will see Malasire on June 2 and am going to directly ask him, in all due respect because I am sure he is a fine surgeon, why has Dr. McCarthy paseed this case on to you and why should I let you perform the surgery?

 

[upchurch131]

Stu, you have my sympathies. You have every right to rant about this diabolical situation! It seems no matter where we happen to land up ill on the globe, there's always some pillock ready to make it a whole lot worse.

Very best of luck in getting it sorted out. It's a damn good job you're feeling up to sorting it out because by the sounds of it, if you couldn't, you'd be even more screwed!

Keep us posted on how it goes.

Lynn

Lynn,

Pardon the Yankee ignorance, but what is a "pillock"? I just LOVE you Brits! I want to make sure if I call someone a pillock, I know what I just said! Are they going to kiss me or punch me about the head and shoulders?

In my post to BicuspidBoy and Ross, you will see what my current plans are. I am feeling more and more symptomatic- fatigue and loss of breath the worse. Some chest pain occuring now too.

I will certainly post the results of my consultation.

 

[upchurch131]

The Records Department at the local Heart Center is notoriously S L O W and often inept at getting records sent out when requested.

Here is MY solution to the records problem:

I always fill out the records request whenever I have a test performed, complete with a "Date Needed". I usually give them 2 weeks. When nothing is received I call in, tell the unit manager I have not received the requested records and ask her to either send them to me or to give me a date when I can pick them up.

The Records Office at the local Hospital has been very good about contacting whatever department perfromed my tests and telling them that I would come down to the department to pick up my CD or Tape.

Once I have the records (at NO charge since I will be taking them to another Doctor), I personally bundle the records and send them to the Doctor I wish to see (after contacting his office to get a commitment from them to review my records for consideration.

NO MORE PROBLEMS with missing records and NO passing off.

Bottom Line:

Do a "Self Referal to the Doctor of YOUR Choice"

Collect and Send all the records His Office requests personally.

As you have learned the Hard Way,
NO ONE cares more about getting your records
to the Doctor of YOUR Choice than YOU!

'AL Capshaw'

Al,

That was the other thing about my frustration with the coordination between the cardiologist and the surgeon's offices. In procurring all the records myself and getting them transferred, it is only as good as the staff on both ends. After a MONTH of screwing around with this and being told "we don't have them", they surprisingly just showed up when they looked "in just one more place." MAYBE, they should have looked in that one more place two weeks ago! But that is just me. I am glad I am not at 6.0 cm or dissecting because I could be dead now!

One thing that I have done since my spinal surgery in 1992, ANY record that I send out I always keep or request a backup. This shows what has gone out but also gives you the option of walking in or faxing them in personally. You also find many surprises. In 92, I found out I was charged for a surgical procedure that was never performed. You would THINK the insurance company would have sent me a Christmas card! NOT! Also, I found medical incompetence after reading the surgical report- when they sewed up a sponge in me before the count. EVERYONE should get a copy of their surgical report to assure a state of the art performance.

 

[Nancy]

I found out after many, many years of taking care of Joe that I had to be the coordinator for all of his doctors, keeping them all up to date on what the others had done and also telling them about any hospitalizations and procedures which I kept in a history list. They came to rely on this.

There wasn't any doctor who had the time to do it. That included picking up copies of medical records, bringing updates to each medical appointment, bringing updated medication lists to each medical appointment, procedure and hospitalization.

You are in a position now to do this. I also suggest that you have someone else who can do this in case you are not able.

It's unfortunate, but when there are serious medical problems, things get complicated.

I often thought there should be a specialty in medical management of patients with complicated histories.

It is a LOT to ask of someone who does not have a medical background.

I guess, like it or not, you are "It"

 

[Bonzo Dog]

Lynn,

Pardon the Yankee ignorance, but what is a "pillock"? I just LOVE you Brits! I want to make sure if I call someone a pillock, I know what I just said! Are they going to kiss me or punch me about the head and shoulders?

In my post to BicuspidBoy and Ross, you will see what my current plans are. I am feeling more and more symptomatic- fatigue and loss of breath the worse. Some chest pain occuring now too.

I will certainly post the results of my consultation.

Upchurch have a look here http://english2american.com/dictionary/p.html for English to American translation

Pillock originates from the Scottish word 'pillicock', meaning 'penis' and dating from the 1600s. (It can be found in King Lear : Act 3, Scene 4, though whether this is the first recorded usage of the word I do not know.) It is more commonly used in northern parts of Britain than in the south, and as yet, does not seem to have invaded the consciousness and language of any other country.

Example:
'You've gone and dropped it, you daft pillock!'

also

Noun: pillock piluk
Usage: Brit, vulgar

1. A person who is not very bright
- stupid, stupid person, stupe, dullard, dolt, pudding head, pudden-head [US], poor fish

Derived forms: pillocks

Type of: simple, simpleton

 

[lynnconnolly]

Lynn,

Pardon the Yankee ignorance, but what is a "pillock"? I just LOVE you Brits! I want to make sure if I call someone a pillock, I know what I just said! Are they going to kiss me or punch me about the head and shoulders?

QUOTE]

teeheee. Here's the dictionary definition.... 'pillock, Noun
Slang, a stupid or annoying person [Scandinavian dialect pillicock pen*s]

Or, you might call a pillock a jerkoff over on your side of the pond

So, I'm guessing the punching thing may be more likely of the two outcomes!

 

[upchurch131]

Upchurch have a look here http://english2american.com/dictionary/p.html for English to American translation

Pillock originates from the Scottish word 'pillicock', meaning 'penis' and dating from the 1600s. (It can be found in King Lear : Act 3, Scene 4, though whether this is the first recorded usage of the word I do not know.) It is more commonly used in northern parts of Britain than in the south, and as yet, does not seem to have invaded the consciousness and language of any other country.

Example:
'You've gone and dropped it, you daft pillock!'

also

Noun: pillock piluk

Usage: Brit, vulgar

1. A person who is not very bright
- stupid, stupid person, stupe, dullard, dolt, pudding head, pudden-head [US], poor fish

Derived forms: pillocks

Type of: simple, simpleton

In that case, I guess I'll get my ^&% kicked! Glad I checked into this first!

 

[BackDoc]

"The "stinging" letter went to my cardiologist (it worked! He called!) I didn't care for the fact that I had to do all the running, all the calls, all the coordination. I felt that I am the patient and it is about time their office acted in my behalf for the ten years of business I've given them. It has been a month with no action."


Sorry but I must disagree. You are the patient, you must be responsible for your own health and well being. You should be the one requesting that copies be sent to you, then you can forward them to where they have to go.

I am also a valve replacement patient and went through the same as everyone else here. I collected my own records and sent them Fedx to the surgeons office at the Cleveland Clinic.

To be totally honest, my office receives multiple records request each day. I don't have a "dedicated" staff person to fill these requests. I don't get paid to serve as a clearing house for records requests.

However, when I specifically refer a patient to a specific doctor we will make it point to send the records. I can't tell you how many times the other office claims they never received them.

In the instances the patient chooses to see someone other then the doctor whom I referred them to, they can call my office in advance, and we will provide the patient with copies they can carry over themselves.

As the patient you are ultimately responsible for "all the calls, all the coordination, and all the running".

The job of the doctor is to see and treat patients, not serve as the personal records copy service and clearing house for every patient.

Time to get off your horse and accept responsibility for yourself.

I am sorry for the tone of this post, but I getting tired of reading all the doctor bashing on this forum.

 

[upchurch131]

I found out after many, many years of taking care of Joe that I had to be the coordinator for all of his doctors, keeping them all up to date on what the others had done and also telling them about any hospitalizations and procedures which I kept in a history list. They came to rely on this.

There wasn't any doctor who had the time to do it. That included picking up copies of medical records, bringing updates to each medical appointment, bringing updated medication lists to each medical appointment, procedure and hospitalization.

You are in a position now to do this. I also suggest that you have someone else who can do this in case you are not able.

It's unfortunate, but when there are serious medical problems, things get complicated.

I often thought there should be a specialty in medical management of patients with complicated histories.

It is a LOT to ask of someone who does not have a medical background.

I guess, like it or not, you are "It"

Nancy,

Thanks for your suggestions and comments. I agree we all have to take responsibility (when we are able to) to keep our records straight and available. This is one reason, learned the hard way, that I requested a personal backup file of all records sent out. I had to obtain several records myself. I guess it is unfair to expect the doctors to do everything for us. I was simply asking them to advocate for me so I can get this matter moving forward. In short, my issue came down to the simple fact that clerical help was inept and misplaced or overlooked what was in front of them the entire time. They also failed to communicate, wasting precious time. I'll chalk it up to another lesson learned- KEEP ON EM"!

 

[upchurch131]

"The "stinging" letter went to my cardiologist (it worked! He called!) I didn't care for the fact that I had to do all the running, all the calls, all the coordination. I felt that I am the patient and it is about time their office acted in my behalf for the ten years of business I've given them. It has been a month with no action."


Sorry but I must disagree. You are the patient, you must be responsible for your own health and well being. You should be the one requesting that copies be sent to you, then you can forward them to where they have to go.

I am also a valve replacement patient and went through the same as everyone else here. I collected my own records and sent them Fedx to the surgeons office at the Cleveland Clinic.

To be totally honest, my office receives multiple records request each day. I don't have a "dedicated" staff person to fill these requests. I don't get paid to serve as a clearing house for records requests.

However, when I specifically refer a patient to a specific doctor we will make it point to send the records. I can't tell you how many times the other office claims they never received them.

In the instances the patient chooses to see someone other then the doctor whom I referred them to, they can call my office in advance, and we will provide the patient with copies they can carry over themselves.

As the patient you are ultimately responsible for "all the calls, all the coordination, and all the running".

The job of the doctor is to see and treat patients, not serve as the personal records copy service and clearing house for every patient.

Time to get off your horse and accept responsibility for yourself.

I am sorry for the tone of this post, but I getting tired of reading all the doctor bashing on this forum.

Backdoc,

Point well taken- and no offense taken. I was angry- but angry at the wrong people. It turned out that the multiple mailings of records from BOTH myself AND the cardiologist's office (who DID refer me to this surgeon) was "misplaced" (how can you misplace multiple mailings?) I talked with the cardiologist (who I respect very much) and cleared the air with him. In addition, I was angry that I was passed to another surgeon- not the surgeon who I was referred. Now that I had time to think about it, it is QUITE POSSIBLE that this may be to my advantage. I don't know that yet. I haven't given it a chance. I will find out more on June 2 when I meet him and discuss my case. If I am not comfortable, I'll go elsewhere. But my misplaced anger is also because of the same issues that most of us are facing- FEAR of the unknown

I am usually pretty good taking responsibility for myself and as I said in a previous post- it's another lesson learned. Thanks so much for representing physicians and taking the time to make your comments and keeping us focused.

 

[Nancy]

I have to say that it isn't always the person "sending" the records who is at fault. There have been instances where one doctor has sent records, and the person receiving them has misplaced them or even worse thrown them out!

When I was about to have cancer surgery, I HAD to have my medical records sent to the surgeon for an appt. I made arrangements with my doctor to do so, and they are usually right on top of things. When I called the surgeon's office to check on this, I was told that they never got them and that my appt. would be cancelled.

So I went steaming to my other doctor's office fully expecting to bring down the wrath of God on them. They provided me with the FAX receipt showing the time and date stamp and said they would reFAX them.

I went back to the surgeon's office and was told that they still had not received them. As I leaned over the window, I could see my records, and I said, "Well, what's that??"

They didn't have very good answers for my question.

And by the way, check over your medical records for errors. I was appalled at how many errors I saw in Joe's records, and also how terrible the resolution of the FAXed copies was. I couldn't read half of the records, and I am sure the doctors couldn't either.

Medical records are a mess. It's a dirty little secret. Once they go into the file, no one really cares about them.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

There is a party game where one person whispers a message to the person next to them, going all around a table, until it reaches the person on the other side of the originator. This person then says aloud what he (thought) he heard. It is RARELY ever the same as the original message.

Expecting your desires to be properly understood and relayed from Doctor to his staff to the other Doctor's staff to the other Doctor has about the same chance of success as the party game.

If you want it done RIGHT (i.e. YOUR Way) you have to do it yourself. Once you understand and accept that, and learn how to get the information you need, it becomes fairly straightforward, albeit a bit time consuming.

'AL Capshaw'