The Glade 4.0

So I've been sick for the last 2 weeks. Chest and sinus congestion, sore throat, green stuff coming out, the whole works. Its been slowly going away for the last few days, but it's still a small recovery everyday. I've been on the Nyquil for 10 days straight and I'm worried I'll have to check into AA soon.

I finally decide to go to the doctor. I call one at the recommendation of a friend. I get an appointment and am there in 20 minutes. The receptionist can't find my appointment and and says she'll get me squeezed in. I sit around for another hour and she says they won't be able to see me today. She then asks if I want to be referred to an urgent care center.

WHAT THE HELL?!

If I wanted to go to urgent care and pay $50, why the hell would I bother with a family prac office and go through the hassle of filling out the new patient paperwork?

I quit going to my old doctor because its all the way on the other side of town and I got tired of the drive. Ever since, every referral to a new doc by friends has been an absolutely horrible experience. I seriously felt like I needed to start a fight when I left.

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The Dude abides.

Wow. Sounds like either an incompetent staff or a horrible appointment management system.

Sorry for your troubles man.

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

See, my response is, "And this is unusual?"

More so with the dentist that we tried this year, but, seriously, this just seems so much like par for the course.

But, yeah, I can see where it would make you irate. And, don't go to urgent care, you'll just pick up something else (like I did a couple of weeks ago).

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This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Maybe my office (and others I've encountered) are just above-par?


You know what the answer is: concierge medicine.

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

Concierge medicine? Accesorize your illness?

Yes ma'am, for day three of the flu this season I suggest a pale yellow silk blouse to bring out the sallowness of your current complexion. Here, this blood red bracelet will serve as a wonderful counterpoint and the black skirt will have a nice trimming effect to emphasize the weight you've lost. Silver lining to everything, isn't there ma'am?

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Na.

http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-ar ... 62678.html

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

I've heard of this. A coworker got a letter in the mail from her internist stateing his practice had become too large so he was giving his patients a choice to join his new practice for a low yearly fee. They would then be eligible for special treatment and guaranteed appointment within 24 hrs.

My doctor double and triple books, then has the nerve to send me a bill for $25 because I missed my appointment. If you don't go in the morning..he is so backed up you wait for at least 1.5 hours in a waiting room full of germs..if you weren't sick before you will be now.

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

They can be pretty expensive, but they can be pretty damned impressive also.

My final project for a class this semester was putting together a business plan for one.

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

No, it's not. Surprisingly, nobody wants to be a family doctor anymore, thanks to over-regulation, high barriers to entry, and insurance pay models making specialty practices much more lucrative.

As such, they're swamped with patients and the marketplace competition is low because you're lucky to find somebody accepting new patients at all.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

All of my GPs have been great.

They're usually overbooked, but they get around to seeing everyone as soon as they can.

And I know the reason they run behind schedule is that they don't rush patients out of their office, but actually take enough time to do a good job with them.

And I'd prefer getting an appointment that day or the next day and having to wait then having to wait a week or more to even get an appointment.

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Darksiege: You are not a god damned vulcan homie.

My GP office is pretty reliable, and I'm there quite often. I've never had them lose an appointment. In fact they always call me the day before to remind me.

I've learned a few tricks over the years.

Pro Tip: Just like airline flights. The later in the afternoon your appointment is, the more likely you are to get seen late, or even get bumped.

A caveat to that, I've found that if I'm the last appointment of the day, and I'm willing to be seen late, I'm usually rewarded with some extra time to discuss things...

My father is a GP. He sometimes is frustrated or has his things run long, but does his best to keep his appointments.

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Grenade 3 Sports Drink. It's fire in the hole.. Your hole!

It gets frustrating... on both sides.

Just so you know what the other side looks like; here are some of the daily frustrations.

1. People who schedule, then do not show. (Still have to pay the staff and the rent. And no one else can be seen. Hence the double bookings everyone sees.)

2. People who don't tell the front desk what they need so the right appointment can be set up. (For example need a procedure done, but say it is just follow up. This means either rescheduling or waisting time setting everything up and getting permission from the insurance company so it will be paid.)

3. People who show up late, then are angry because they are not seen instantly. (Sorry, should I tell Mrs. Smith that she has to wait another hour to be seen, when you showed up late and missed your appointment time? And what about the 10 people after that who will now ALL be seen late.)

4. People who are disorganized or embarrassed and won't tell the Doc what they are really there for while talking about side issues. Then, as the Doc gets up to leave say, "Oh, by the way, my real problem is...."

5. People who bring in other family members to their appointment and say, "Since you are here, my son/daughter/spouse is having X going on. You can take care of that now."

6. People who bring out a form to be filled out as the Doc is leaving the room. (A five page form, that asks for a lot of historical information, and they need it right now!)

Meh, I am sure there are more examples.

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Memento Vivere

I have local knowledge.
That sandbar was not there yesterday!

I always show up early, usually with a bit of information researched regarding what is going on and am frank as all hell.

My biggest complaint is pushback when I decline tests that are unlikely to be fruitfull. No I don't need to see a cardiologist for my Lymes disease, or a urologist, or the opthamologist.

Also - if we think its soft tissue damage why are we going first with an X-Ray in case its not when we can go right to an MRI so we don't get an X-Ray and then its what we think it is and then have to go get an MRI?

That **** drives me bonkers.

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

cause x-Ray is cheaper than a MRI.

Squirrelgirl: you are right, two sides to this. Easy to get frustrated on both sides.

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

Yes but if its already determined to be say less than a 10% chance of being detected on an X-Ray it just wastes time and money. Resources that are already precious. It's not like there aren't 20+ MRI's near me.

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

It's either 1) an insurance formulary, 2) a best practice guideline (standards of health, etc.), or 3) defensive medicine.

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine

/agree

Because when they don't follow the best practice guideline and something is missed...lawsuit

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

I'd be fine signing a waiver rather than have to pay two copays and waste resources.

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"...but there exists also in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom." - De Tocqueville

people still sue, even with signed waivers.

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

And sometimes win.

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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.” - Thomas Paine