Dr appointmet

[cassiesmom]

Dear Patient,

-It's never a bad idea to write down the things you want to talk to the doctor about. If there are several, you can even number them so you and your doctor talk about your highest priorities first. The highest priority question should be asked when the doctor enters the room, not when s/he is opening the door to leave the room at the end of your visit. We want to make the best of your visit.
-If you have prescriptions from more than one physician, please bring them all or a list (include everything you take!) so we can review them.
-If you are coming for an appointment, if at all possible, please don't bring your young child with you. And if you bring her with you, please don't leave her in the waiting area while you are in the exam room.
-If you are going to be late, please call and let us know. We might ask you to reschedule.
-I really need you to know your insurance plan. I don't know the subtle little nuances of each individual plan. If you are in doubt, bring your book and we'll figure it out together. Please don't yell at me about what your insurance plan does or does not cover. That's something you need to speak with the plan and/or your employer about. I can't change what they have decided.
-Don't lie to me or stretch the truth. As a nurse, I'm a pretty good BS detector. It's YOUR health and I appreciate your honesty.

Dear Doctor,
Yes, I'm a nurse, but I'm also a patient. That said, here are some things I'd like you to keep in mind.
-My background is in rehabilitation. I'm not a med/surg nurse. Sometimes I need information in lay terms.
-I admit that I'm not as adherent with your treatment recommendations as I should be. Please help me do a better job.
-Sometimes an 11th hour cancellation can't be avoided. I appreciate your office manager giving me the benefit of the doubt before she assesses me a $50 missed appointment fee.
-I hate to be stuck in the exam room for 45 minutes after the CMA takes my vitals and tells me you'll be right in. If you're that far behind, I'd like to know it before I'm roomed.
-I understand that because of managed care, I have only 11.73 minutes with you. I truly appreciate it when you take more time with me, even though it puts you further behind.
-I am very grateful for the hundred little things you do for me between visits, such as completing prior authorization forms, communicating with my pharmacy about medication refills and speaking with other doctors about my care.
-Please don't enter the room looking all flustered and then start by saying, "I'm sorry to keep you waiting, I'm so far behind." That makes me feel like I need to rush through this appointment. I need your total time and attention for the next 11.73 minutes. Don't be typing into the EMR while you're talking to me. That makes me think you're not completely focused on what we're talking about.
-I would love it if you'd hire another physician or advanced practice nurse to give the practice more evening and weekend hours. That would be so helpful for me. I work full-time so it is just not practical for me to see you at 1:30 PM a week from Tuesday.

Dear Office Staff of My Parents' Doctors,
-I am calling you as their daughter with questions/concerns about their health. You have their written permission in their respective charts to speak with me. Please help me help them-- when I call with questions or problems, I need you to get back to me, not them. Yes, I'm aware that they each see three different physicians out of four different hospital systems total. I'm just trying to help them keep things straight. Your help is much appreciated!

[cassiesmom]

Dear dermatologist's office,

You put me in the exam room farthest away from the front desk, and then you forgot I was back there. I waited almost an hour before I decided to see what was going on. Even though you denied it, it was pretty clear from the looks on the staff's faces that I had been forgotten about. You should have seen me at no charge that day. I'm pretty steaming mad that you billed my insurance after you made me wait that long. Don't let this happen again.

[Marigold2]

Cassiesmom loved all your points, sorry about the stupid skin dr.

[Marigold2]

Wow, I sense a lot of anger here.
Couple things you should know.
Almost all hospitals have electronic charting and soon almost all dr's will as well, if they refuse they will be fined and will recieve less money back from the insurance company. You won't have a choice.
As for being secure, it is as secure as the people who are employed in any place be it a doctor, nurse aid, housekeeper, janitor, receptionist etc.
Right now with paper charts any one can go into a doctors office and copy hundreds of SS numbers down. At least with electronic charting it is password protected.
Don't want your SS number given out. No worries we already have it. How? Your Medicare number is often your SS number, if you have Medical Mutual or several other insurances they used to or still do use your social security number as an ID, used to be on your drivers license as well.
I had one older patient yell at me "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY SS NUMBER" I then asked him for his insurance cards and sure enough he had Medicare and there it was. Almost all doc's office's ask and have always asked for a SS number, why we need it in case of your death to fill out the death certificate. Once we have it on file weather it is 5 years ago or 10 years ago we have it on file. We do our very very best to keep it secure as ours is there as well.
As far as the information on the electronic charts. When you see the heart doc he documents his findings, any changes in your condition and any changes in meds on those charts. Then when you go to your endo he sees what the heart doc wrote and can adjust his findings to that and his recommendations for meds, then next week when you go to the foot doc he see what the heart and endo guy have found, looks at your graphs, test results, meds they gave you and is on the same page with everyone there by giving you superior care. Instead of three doctors working in the dark all three are now seeing what the other is doing and can gauge information on what is best for you there by making sure you are also not recieiving the wrong meds or too many meds.
This is extremely important for people who are seeing many doctors and are taking many different meds and treatments.
People with cancer and their doctors are finding this very helpful I have first hand knowledge of that in our patients as we send test results, lab work, charts and graphs, notes, faxes, phone calls back and forth. It is nice to go on the computer and see just when so and so is having that CAT scan and what the results are and when the MRI is scheduled and who she is seeing next, and what is the next step.
It is time saving and life saving.
As for personal info that you might find too personal, trust me we have heard it all and we don't care about your bowel movement, or the IUD problem or your husbands problem, why because we are busy, we are pros and frankly we heard the same thing last week, yesterday and this morning. Kind of like seeing one naked body you have seen them all.
We are here to work, to help, to heal and then to go home and be with those who we love and who love us.

About your point #8. This electronic medical nonsense has gone too far! It's insulting and dehumanizing. I DO NOT want my private and personal information on any type of computer. Please don't insult my intelligence by saying your system is secure, IT IS NOT! There's no such thing as a secure computer. I keep a list of all medications, my doctors' phone numbers and insurance information with me at all times, my son has copies of everything in his wallet. That way I know the information is accurate unlike anything off a computer.
I'm insulin dependent diabetic and will go off insulin BEFORE I consent to this. These electronic records are why I refuse to see any other doctor for any reason. When my endocrinologist asks a question I ask if it's going on the computer, if it is I won't answer the question and they know why.

Please give your patients a choice about this indignity. Shoving this down our throats damages trust and confidence in the doctors.

[Freedom]

Momcat, the move to computerized records is not something any individual doctor, or our PT Marigold, is putting in to place. You have every right to oppose the computerization, and to make that known. I suspect you are bucking the tide on this one, but it is good to have folks like you trying to ensure the integrity of the documentation.


This made me chuckle:
"I had one older patient yell at me "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY SS NUMBER" I then asked him for his insurance cards and sure enough he had Medicare and there it was. "

Elyse wrote: "If you have prescriptions from more than one physician, please bring them all or a list (include everything you take!) so we can review them."
I actually did this, my last annual physical. I thought my doc was going to drop to the floor in a dead faint! Apparently, I was the first one in AGES to comply! Hahahaaaa, we had a great laugh once she recovered!

[Grace]

Just curious - how many of you obtain, and keep, the results of every lab test, x-ray, biopsy you have had?

My MD is pretty good about sending me the results, but I make sure I get a copy of every test I have. I have a 3-ring binder with lab tests, USN (ultrasounds), x-rays, MRI, EEG, EKG, CT scans, path reports. I even have the OR notes from my last surgery.

There are times, if the reports are lengthy, when there might be charge - usually no more than 10¢ per page. I feel it is worth the cost to have the records.

[K9karen]

Well, Bless me.

I swear, I must be the luckiest person alive. Except for an occassional wait at the orthopedic (which I understand because everyone is in agony) I've never had to wait long once I'm in the exam room. And all my specialists spend quality time with me. OK, I write down questions, I'm a pro now (good or bad?) i have my meds written down and have told John, my brother, that it's in my wallet.

I just got a bill from the ER and on it, it omitted my secondary insurance. OK..odd..been at that hospital a gazillion times and it's all electronic. They apologized, told me not to pay. All's well.

One doc I used to see, used to type with 1 finger, so I had to stop at every word so he could enter it. i told him I'd type it in! My other docs write stuff down and then, i guess, enter it later. They're busy. And my records are exact, cause I asked to see them.

I cringe when patients yell at the girls behind the desk. They're only doing what they need to do. Same story..an old, arrogant man screamed that he wasn't giving his SS number to anyone..but they were on his medical cards. He never noticed, but I saw the girl roll her eyes after he sat down. He mad an awful scene. It was embarassing.

[wombat2u2004]

I do this all the time Wom, I bring in candy, offer patients cookies and even cake sometimes, get them coffee if it is a long wait. Oh yes we do it all.

But....no peanuts. See, I was right.

[Marigold2]

It is one thing to have the test results and another thing to be able to read them and understand them fully. Unless you have some knowledge of the medical profession a lot of those test results and the effects they have on major organs such as kidneys, liver and heart long term will be lost on you.
However it is excellent that you have them and can bring them to appointments..

Just curious - how many of you obtain, and keep, the results of every lab test, x-ray, biopsy you have had?

My MD is pretty good about sending me the results, but I make sure I get a copy of every test I have. I have a 3-ring binder with lab tests, USN (ultrasounds), x-rays, MRI, EEG, EKG, CT scans, path reports. I even have the OR notes from my last surgery.

There are times, if the reports are lengthy, when there might be charge - usually no more than 10¢ per page. I feel it is worth the cost to have the records.

[Marigold2]

You know I have never served peanuts.

But....no peanuts. See, I was right.

[Marigold2]

Because the one doc I work for does mostly surgery and more complacted exams I tell all new patients when making their app to bring a list of meds with them, I also tell all our current patients the same thing as they need to fill out a new form on a yearly basis.

The tech then fills in all the meds. I would say the average is 5 to 7 in the seniors. Some take 20 meds a day. All are entered in the computer.

We also get a ton of referrals for surgery. So of course the primary or the other doc wants a report and it will be on the computer including surgerical notes which are scanned it.

I enter all the medical info including all past surgery, family history etc.
It is very time consuming and it was a lot to learn but it truly benefits the patient in the long run. I also enter all allergies but I can only enter them if you the patient writes them down on the sheet or it is there already.

The problem arises when most people and I am one of those have no idea how to spell the name of a med you are taking. I expect you to call us back with the name, proper spelling and dosage. And NO I don't know the name of the blood pressure med you are taking that starts with a D. I will not guess. Give me the facts. That is all I will enter straight facts.

And while you are peeing for the third time the tech is waiting for you and wondering where you wandered too again.

Oh and by the way if a hospital has your SS number and they do, then so do I and thousands upon thousands of others who work in doc's offices arcoss the country.
Doesn't matter if you were in the hospital in 1972 it is in the records now.
You might not like it, it might not be right, I won't debate that here, but it is what it is with electronic info.
So if you don't want to fill that part in that's ok. I have it regardless and I will keep it as safe as I guard my own which by the way is also there.

Momcat, the move to computerized records is not something any individual doctor, or our PT Marigold, is putting in to place. You have every right to oppose the computerization, and to make that known. I suspect you are bucking the tide on this one, but it is good to have folks like you trying to ensure the integrity of the documentation.


This made me chuckle:
"I had one older patient yell at me "I WILL NOT GIVE YOU MY SS NUMBER" I then asked him for his insurance cards and sure enough he had Medicare and there it was. "

Elyse wrote: "If you have prescriptions from more than one physician, please bring them all or a list (include everything you take!) so we can review them."
I actually did this, my last annual physical. I thought my doc was going to drop to the floor in a dead faint! Apparently, I was the first one in AGES to comply! Hahahaaaa, we had a great laugh once she recovered!

[sasvermont]

https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=htt...7vz7GQ&h=76026

Has everyone seen this?

[Marigold2]

HA HA HA oh that is so perfect. It is right on the money only one thing needs to change, it is not the doc who talks that way to the patient and gets that BS it's me and every medical receptionist on the planet.
And of course I never say all those awful things to a patient, might think it but never say it. But yes if you are coming in at 300 lbs and you are on 12 meds it is time to rethink your life.

THANKS FOR SHARING A TRULY GREAT POST!!!

[sasvermont]

I always show up on time, with cards in hand. I will call before hand to see if they are on schedule, if time is an issue that day and I know they usually make me wait. I go there, expecting some delay. I don't mind it. I set aside enough time to make it less stressful for me.

I don't take any medications, but the few times I have taken meds, the doctor has all that in my file.

Electronic records is here to stay. Get with the program. One of the worst leaks of information is someone's mouth! Yes, patient information is talked about from time to time. I would hope, seldom. The bottom line is that my personal information is so boring that I doubt if anyone even knows my name, let alone care about my circumstances. Information is information - written or typed, it can be leaked. I hope the electronic records theory will make our visit more stream lined and informative for future treatments/visits.

I do not begrudge any money I pay to my doctor. I do have issues with insurance companys and how they handle the claims. I would love to see single payer come to Vermont.

[momcat]

[QUOTE=Freedom;2347003]Momcat, the move to computerized records is not something any individual doctor, or our PT Marigold, is putting in to place. You have every right to oppose the computerization, and to make that known. I suspect you are bucking the tide on this one, but it is good to have folks like you trying to ensure the integrity of the documentation.

I've written to everyone I can possibly think of in support of HR-2630 The Protect Patients and Physicians Privacy Act. This important bill would allow patients and doctors to opt out of this degrading piece of dehumanizing crap.
This is privileged information, under state and federal law it cannot be entered onto anything without the consent of the individual. This is a violation of federal law! No matter how anyone tries to rationalize this IT IS WRONG! I have no intention of tolerating this intrusion and will do anything and everything I can to fight it. If the non functional illiterates that came up with this ultimately win out at our risk and expense I won't miss jabbing myself with an insulin needle several times a day.