Dr asking to schedule an appt to discuss results

[Anonymous]

This was for a shoulder injury and I’ve seen the report so I know it’s nothing scary.

Is it normal that a doctor makes you schedule an appt to discuss results if you already had an appt to discuss the issue? And if the results are not worrisome? I was expecting him to just call. I know drs have to make money but it’s all a bit exhausting.

[Anonymous]

I've had to do that after testing -- only my pcp calls me with test results. Your follow up is more in depth than saying "your bloodwork is fine" right?

[Anonymous]

I recently had to do this. My doctor says that it’s because if they only call with good news, being summoned into an appointment is automatically seen as bad news. They want you to go in thinking it could go either way, or, I suppose, somewhere in between.

But this was an OBgyn post biopsy. Having you come in for something shoulder related isn’t very likely to be really bad.

[Anonymous]

It’s the only way he can charge insurance.

[Anonymous]

Does it require any intervention at all? Even physical therapy? If yes, I can see why they'd insist on an appt. If it's really nothing you can do about it except rest and wait it out, I'd be annoyed

[Anonymous]

Did you go for a scan? Maybe he wants to show it to you to explain options for surgery or PT. You might be less likely to schedule surgery just off a phone call.

[Anonymous]

It’s a billing opportunity.

[Anonymous]

So make an appointment. They probably want to check for range of motion and things to determine treatment

[Anonymous]

Doctors used to do this, but then the law passed that required them to disclose test results on the portal. Now most don't require an appointment. One of mine does, and I just don't go. I wait until my next appointment with him to discuss the results. I can read the report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So make an appointment. They probably want to check for range of motion and things to determine treatment

I would guess this, and/or there are multiple different possible treatments and they want to be able to explain them to you and see what you want to do.

[Anonymous]

op - from what the report says, there really isn't a 'to do' other than maybe an injection - MAYBE.
It's not wildly inappropriate that he wants me to do an appt but it does feel like a bit of a money grab seeing as he could clearly just call me. I guess I'll schedule it though but each time is $50 copay, was $100 for the MRI, was $45 last time I saw him, and am just so tired of burning through all my cash to have simple conversations.

[Anonymous]

if it's a non serious issue you could also just feed the results into chatgpt

[Anonymous]

Burning through cash to have simple conversations.
Time is money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:op - from what the report says, there really isn't a 'to do' other than maybe an injection - MAYBE.
It's not wildly inappropriate that he wants me to do an appt but it does feel like a bit of a money grab seeing as he could clearly just call me. I guess I'll schedule it though but each time is $50 copay, was $100 for the MRI, was $45 last time I saw him, and am just so tired of burning through all my cash to have simple conversations.

If he calls you and has a 10 minute conversation that’s 10 minutes of his time he’s not getting paid for. It sucks but it’s reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:op - from what the report says, there really isn't a 'to do' other than maybe an injection - MAYBE.
It's not wildly inappropriate that he wants me to do an appt but it does feel like a bit of a money grab seeing as he could clearly just call me. I guess I'll schedule it though but each time is $50 copay, was $100 for the MRI, was $45 last time I saw him, and am just so tired of burning through all my cash to have simple conversations.

If he calls you and has a 10 minute conversation that’s 10 minutes of his time he’s not getting paid for. It sucks but it’s reality.

I agree. Lawyers bill in 6 minute increments for everything, even an email it took them 2 minutes to write. I wish this weren’t the state of our healthcare, but unfortunately it is.