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Re: Am I Wrong?
From: Carmen (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Nov 5 18:09:24 1998
Hi Lorainne,
Could you please tell me what HMO stands for?
I really like your idea of faxing the doctor.
I suppose this only makes sense, but the more I stand up for myself and ask
more questions, the better care I get. I used to think what the doctor said
was it, but now I know it's okay to ask questions!
thanks again,
Carmen
-----Original Message-----
From: Lorianne <anonymous@obgyn.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <anonymous@obgyn.net>
Date: Thursday, November 05, 1998 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: Am I Wrong?
>Dear Shalena,
>
>These techniques have always worked for me in the past when the doctor's
>schedule was too busy:
>
>I'd ask the office assistant/nurse for the doctor to refer me to another
>doctor who could accommodate my request for an earlier appointment. At the
>same time I'd mention that I am trying to avoid an ER visit and wanted to
>know if they were interested in helping me avoid an ER visit. In a single
>instance, I was referred... and found the other doctor even more to my
>liking... so I moved my business there.*
>
>I also send my doctor fax transmissions so that he or, in some cases, she
>reads and sees my wording, not the translation from the nurse/office
>assistant. You know the telephone translation experiment results on how
>original messages are invariably altered.... Well a faxed letter solves
this
>problem for me. Some doctors now also have e-mail, but you never know how
>often they check it. Either way, calling the office to ask them to confirm
>receipt of any transmission is what I do. That way I have confirmation
that
>they are aware of my correspondence. And, quite frankly, doctors are
>unaware that their assistants are sometimes being less than friendly to
>their patients. Most of the nurses and assistants are women, who often
>have PMS or other problems from time to time or other issues... it is just
>that being a human, especially a woman, isn't easy. So I try to give
>everyone the benefit of the doubt, but I never leave my message open to
>anyone else's interpretation other than the person it is intended for. So
>I depend heavily on written communication. Plus, each written
communication
>is added to the medical record of the patient. This allows the doctor to
>review my history. All my doctors have come to expect a transmission
before
>every appointment. That way I won't forget to mention anything that has
>been on my mind and it gives them a day (sometimes two) to come up with a
>response during my appointment. Two of my doctors actually like this
method
>because it enhances the appointment time schedule for them.
>
>Hope this encourages you, because I don't think you were wrong to voice
your
>need. Sometimes we must push to get what we need. Follow your instincts
>woman, that is one of the best allies we have... our instincts.
>
>Hugs to you,
>Lor
>
>*Anyway, that was in the good old days when I could see any doc for
anything
>I wanted. I'm now in an HMO and need actual written referrals... It slows
>me down, but doesn't stop me. Even HMO gyns have someone on call for their
>patients when they are unavailable for any reason, including over booked
>appointments. But, the referral/ on call program is mostly used for out of
>town business and vacations, etc.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: anonymous@obgyn.net [mailto:anonymous@obgyn.net On Behalf Of Lesley Ironside
>Sent: Thursday, November 05, 1998 2:13 PM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: RE: Am I Wrong?
>
>Hi Shalena
>
>Like others, I don't think it is wrong to push for an appointment when you
>are in pain and obviously suffering. It is the doctors who are wrong
>because they think the disease is slow acting and that we can wait for
>treatment. Pain is pain and to allow people to suffer with severe pain is
>unforgivable. Your docs schedule is not your problem, your pain is. I
>hope it goes ok.
>
>Best Wishes
>Lesley
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: endo@obgyn.net [mailto:endo@obgyn.net]On Behalf Of Shalena Conder
>> Sent: 04 November 1998 21:40
>> To: Multiple recipients of list
>> Subject: Am I Wrong?
>>
>> I just called my doctors office, I have an appointment a week from
>> Friday and was wondering if I could get in earlier. I have been in
>> constant pain and the pain medication isn't working. Last night I
>> completely broke down emotionally,and stayed up crying until 2:00am. I
>> can't handle the pain anymore I am so exhausted, but when I talked to
>> the nurse she was very short with me and told me that there was no way
>> that I could see the doc early and to just keep my appointment that I
>> already had. I told her I had endo and was in constant pain and needed
>> to see the doc. She was very rude and said that he didn't want to see
>> any more patients this week, he was already double booked one day and
>> was leaving town on Tuesday of next week. I still pressed her and she
>> finally said that she would page him and see if he wanted to see me and
>> then she would call me back. Was I wrong to push and try to get an
>> earlier appointment? I have never pushed in the 2 years that I have been
>> a patient of his but i am trying to take a more active role in my health
>> care. Was I wrong to push? Shalena
>>
>
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