pacemaker card, how long?

When I left the hospital March 7, 2014 I left without a pacemaker card and no information about the model or serial number. After being readmitted for several procedures I am asked for this information but I never received it. I've contacted medtronics repeatedly and ordered on line twice starting March 20 and have yet to receive the card.

I put off a trip because I didn't want to travel without it--eventually I found some medical records and copied information on an index card but I'm sure I"m missing important details because I've never had this card. Has anyone else found it impossible to get that Medtronic ID? Its been 4 months now, trip coming up in August and I want the darn card.

11 Comments

Medtronic

by wjs1954 - 2014-07-06 09:07:38

I have had pretty good luck dealing wilth them. Card corrected and mailed with 2 weeks. As for heart questions so so, when it came pm information pretty good. Pretty sure some of the people answering phones are just reading que cards like so many customer service people today : (.

Make them do it...

by Lurch - 2014-07-06 09:07:39

Send them a registered, return receipt letter demanding your card..... or, better yet, have an attorney do it for you...

thank you!

by divergent1 - 2014-07-06 09:07:42

Appreciate your input and I will tackle this again Monday.

Going thru airport security

by PattyAnn - 2014-07-06 10:07:04

Anyone can ask for a patdown instead of going through the metal detector and they don't need a medical card. If you have a problem ask for a supervisor

Contact your doctor

by NiceNiecey - 2014-07-06 10:07:45

I got everything very quickly from Medtronics. However, the CareLink box was defective and I was on with customer service about that. Ultimately, it was the responsibility of my cardiologist's office to request a new box. They should also have your make and model number. Perhaps your doctor's office could also assist you with your need to receive an ID card.

FYI, I HAVE been asked at the airport to show my PM ID, here in the US as well as abroad so you really may need. In a pinch, I suppose a look at your scar would suffice but let's not go there!

I had mine

by ohiolaura - 2014-07-07 04:07:44

right before I was discharged from the hospital,day after the PM surgery.
I was given a temp card,paper printed one with all the info on it,and I believe within about 2 weeks, Medtronics sent me the permament one,hard copy,with same info.
I keep the old floppy one in my gym bag as an extra,which came in handy not long ago when I had a rate flux happen,and went from the gym to the ER,and I was happy and able to give them the card,made me seem quite on top of things!
The hard copy is in my wallet,just incase,I feel better to have it,with the EP Dr's name on it,as well as the implant date and also model number.
Guess for me its a type of safety net so to say........
Laura
Keep pursuing it!

card?

by Gotrhythm - 2014-07-07 04:07:46

I was given a temporary card in my hospital discharge packet. The laminated card that arrived a month or so later, had the identical information--nothing added, nothing dropped.

Call your doctor. They should be able to give you a printout of all anyone would need to help you in an emergency.

Handle Medtronics as other have suggested.

Found a solution thanks

by divergent1 - 2014-07-07 06:07:36

I appreciate the feedback as a result I called Medtronics, I'd made my 3 attempts on their website previously. They notified me they sent out 3 cards in response to my repeated requests only to the wrong town! Since I inputed my address correctly I assume some data person made an error and kept repeating it. They must have assumed I lived in the same city as my doctor--I don't I live in the next town over.

Lesson learned, don't rely on websites and call the 800 number repeatedly if other communication systems aren't working

Sorry to Challenge My PM Friends

by NiceNiecey - 2014-07-07 07:07:24

but. . . I have only had my PM since December and I have been asked on two occasions at airport security if they could see my PM card. Once was here in the US and the other time was in Tel Aviv, Israel about 7 weeks ago. In Israel, the security guard called over the supervisor and it was he that asked if I had my card. He was very, very polite. He looked at the card and let me go. I didn't even "get" a pat down. I found this pleasantly unusual!

GET THE CARD. And if you don't have any luck, send me a private message and I will get it done for you; I can be very persuasive when angered! :-}

"Nice" Niecey

Oops! I see you only solved your problem!

by NiceNiecey - 2014-07-07 07:07:24

Just so long as it all works out, it's all good!

The card is useful

by Harrie - 2014-07-08 06:07:11

I needed at London airport and also when I was trying to get an MRI the radiologist needed a copy of it.

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

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Do feel free to contact the manufacturer of your device. I have found them to be quite helpful when I have had questions and concerns.