Should I Switch Doctors?
- by Anneta
- 2012-11-09 05:11:42
- Checkups & Settings
- 1525 views
- 13 comments
Hello,
I have had a pacemaker for many years, and I have always had the same doctor. He is a great doctor, with great bedside manner, and is patient. I've never had an issue until now.
I was suffering from some chest pain 3 weeks ago. I called the office to make an appointment to get in that day. The secretary said, I'm sorry but you can't make an appointment until you pay the balance, which was about 40 dollars. She was new, I told her I always pay my existing balances when I come to appointments, and my existing appointment would have been a week away, and then asked her to speak to the doctor about it, because I told her I didn't think the pacemaker was functioning, I was having chest pain, and other concerning symptoms, as well as a heart rate of 40, and there had never been a problem with payment before. She called back, still refusing to make an appointment saying, the doctor agreed. They don't take cash, and I couldn't schedule the appointment the same day I paid, payment had to be cleared first. She said it would take 2-3 business days. I've never heard of that, or had concerns of such a degree. I am covered with insurance, and the balance would be what was left that insurance didn't cover from the last visit.
That was to long of a wait, so I went to the ER. I had a lead fracture, causing pretty serious issues, my pacemaker was non-functional in the lead I depend on for 95% of pacing. When my doctor came in to the hospital to do replacement surgery, he apologized for what had happened with the appointment scheduling.
I have lost some trust in him, I told him, I offered to bring in cash, because I knew something serious was going on that couldn't wait, I didn't know what else I could have done, I had all the signs of a non functioning pacemaker. Now, I'm worried about if some other complication happens, and if I am going to be denied service again. I have no problem paying my bill, it is the insurance who delays the payment, and the remaining balance isn't known for 30+ days, because of this when payment is received, the remaining balance is past due. They won't take payment before insurance pays, which is state insurance, so I can't change it.
Would you keep a doctor like this or not? This is the only time I have had something serious since the first implant, and He is the only Electro within 50 miles of my home. I live in the country, so the closet hospital is also around 50 miles away as well. He was different at the check-up last week. I'm not sure if he is was upset with me that I told the ER doctor, that my heart doctor wouldn't see me because of a balance when the ER doctor asked me if I called him, I was just being honest, but there is a negative difference in his attitude.
Any advice would be great! Thanks for taking the time to read the lengthy details.
13 Comments
This is a real Problem!
by donr - 2012-11-09 06:11:37
And a weird one, to boot. How are you supposed to pay?
I'd give the man one more chance - next time you see him, bring the subject up again & politely lay it all out for him. There's a fair chance that he does NOT really know what is going on w/ the billing. Tell him that you really like him and thought the last time you saw him he seemed different & you really want to return to normal, which is before the bill balance issue.
Be careful, though - you don't want to have the same thing that happened to me. One of my Dr's employs a witch for his office manager. I mean a real witch - I've seen where she parks her broom that she commutes on. Well, I had enough, so I wrote a letter to the Dr. & laid it all out. I found out later that She is his Mother-in-Law! Seems that almost everyone in the world knew that but me!
However - it sure did smooth out relations between Broomhilda & me.
Don
Hello
by mytrose43 - 2012-11-09 07:11:24
Hi my personel opinion is find a new Dr they seem more concerned about money than the patients well being, That is just wrong no matter how you look at it,Good LuckValerie
I did
by ReWired - 2012-11-09 09:11:49
I changed faster that the nurse hung up! I am not devoted to anyone "Practicing Medicine". I was for year devoted till I lost my job and went cash! Then the Doc was busy and then I had the heart issue. QUACKS every one of them, No doctor is devoted to their patient..
Sounds like your in a bad part of town and you may be in the waiting area being robbed one day by someone other than the doctor.
Did she really ask the doctor?
by Grateful Heart - 2012-11-09 09:11:52
And he agreed, or did she just claim to ask him and take it upon herself. That is something you would have to ask him. If she was new, that may be the way she is used to operating in another office. I vote for trying to talk to him before deciding to switch. You would hate to throw away a good working doctor/ patient relationship because of someone else (unless he agreed with her). Good luck on getting some answers.
Don...witch AND Mother-in-law...that's a Double Witch!
Grateful Heart
Switch or not?
by Zia - 2012-11-10 07:11:28
I was once told by an experienced lawyer that he gets more malpractice suits because of a rude or stupid nurse or office person than from anything the doctor has done. Not that the doc hasn't done wrong but that the patients tend to excuse him/her if everybody seems polite. I know, sounds like what Steve Allen used to call "dumbth".
So maybe you need to be sure it was actually the doctor rather than just the office person who tried to turn you away. Then you have a realistic basis on which to decide what to do next.
I wish you all the best in this difficult situation.
Zia and Don,
by ReWired - 2012-11-10 08:11:34
True to the point! When I ran a local business and had a tech shop it was the Technicians that answered the phone and not some office worker and the business grew. Then, the office workers took over answering the phones and I quit. They went out of business a year later for being Rude,
I know allot of you have doctors you think are devoted and they may be right now, But not always I can tell you that, when the money is the question then its just "business" and you cannot blame them for that they have to make a living and thats why I am not devoted.
Just my experiences and yes change docs if you have a gut feeling! Its usually always right.
Wrong
by Peg541 - 2012-11-10 08:11:52
Rewired you are incorrect. Most doctors are totally devoted to their patients.
This situation did not have to happen. It could have cost you your life.
No matter how much you like this guy you should report this to the Medical Board and change cardiologists. It's unforgivable in my book.
Peg
Peg
by ReWired - 2012-11-10 10:11:17
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to tell me I am incorrect. Made my day, I woke up this morning knowing the statement I made was correct and mine. Man, was I glad to see that I was wrong....
Doctors are like.....
by donr - 2012-11-10 10:11:30
....elephants being examined by several blind men.
I have found several Dr's who are, indeed dedicated to their patients & I will defend them to the end!
Yes, there are those who are not & they should be dropped instantly. It is an individual decision as to what you do & depends solely on the personalities of the two people in the Dr. Patient relationship.
We (wife & I) were dropped by a very good orthopod because we are on Medicare. OTOH, we have been kept as patients by others IN SPITE of being on Medicare. We have gotten into a few billing haggles, but w/ the bureaucrats in the support structure. All of them we have been able to resolve w/o lasting effect. Now, I recognize that is a characteristic of the individual practices we use & may well have been lucky.
Each of us gives advice based on our experiences and that advice is worth exactly what the other person is paying for it, so gang, chill out when reading something you violently disagree with. In the giver's universe, it may well be absolutely correct & valid.
Sending letters & face-to-face attempts at resolution each has its time & place & relative effectiveness. How you do it is a judgement call.
Don
Corporate Practice
by ElectricFrank - 2012-11-10 12:11:58
This is common when a doctor switches to a Managed Corporate Practice. The business aspects are taken over by people who haven't a clue about medicine and are only interested in the bottom line. This is the touted Private Sector we hear about so much.
frank
hello
by SUPERSALE - 2012-11-11 11:11:56
when you pay for bill write check they should give your recept back...
You know you're wired when...
Your kids call you Cyborg.
Member Quotes
My pacemaker has ultimately saved mine and my unborn childs life for which I am thankful.
Edit*
by Anneta - 2012-11-09 05:11:53
I forgot to mention the reason they don't take cash is because they have had numerous robberies. They take checks, or postal money orders, since a post office is next door to them. They also take credit, but I don't have any credit cards.