Doctor cannot confirm a surgery date after one month, should we move on?
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Anonymous
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The specialist is recommended by dd's doctor. We like him but it's been a month and they cannot confirm a surgery date.
I called multiple times and they said since the doctor is not affiliated with the children's hospital, they need to wait for a spot. They cannot confirm a date at all, not even if it's 2017. Should we move on? |
Anonymous
| The operation must not be very urgent... Where would you move on to? |
Anonymous
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OP: Not urgent but the sooner the better.
I found another doctor but he's not specialized in this. The specialist we are waiting for is highly recommended and dd says she would rather wait for him. I am just very annoyed that they can't even give me a date. |
Anonymous
Is this elective surgery? With surgery, elective procedures typically take a backseat to more urgent ones. See, e.g. a breast surgeon who will reschedule an elective lift/implant to treat a cancer patient. |
Anonymous
No, it's not elective. It really needs to be done. dd is 11 and she's not doing any elective surgery. |
Anonymous
Not the PP who is asking, but I think you misunderstand the concept of elective surgery. Almost all surgery is considered elective. It does not mean not necessary or cosmetic, which is what you are assuming. If the surgeon can't give you a date, then yes, this is elective. Honestly, if you don't have another doctor who specializes in the procedure and there are no harmful effects of waiting, then you should probably wait. But, I'd investigate more to find out what the consequences of waiting are before making a decision. |
Anonymous
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OP: Thanks.
It's harmful to wait but it's not life threatening. Waiting too long can damage her eyes. I really don't know what to do. dd said she trusts this specialist. On the other hand, she cannot wait forever. Is it normal to not even get a time frame? They can't even tell me a ballpark. |
Anonymous
| Get a second opinion. Or continue to fret. |
Anonymous
Why can't the doc do the surgery at the hospital he is affiliated at? |
Anonymous
Why does the surgery have to be done at "the children's hospital?" (Is that Children's in DC?) Can it be done at the hospital where the specialist has privileges? Is this an insurance issue related to the hospital (or the doctor)? |
Anonymous
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OP: I don't know why it must be done at the children's hospital. We are in Southern VA, not in the metro DC area.
It can't be an insurance thing because his affiliated hospital is in our network too. I assume because at children's they have better support for kids? |
Anonymous
So the doctor is requiring the surgery must be done at a children's hospital? |
Anonymous
OP: Yes |
Anonymous
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OP, I suggest you contact the doctor who referred you to this specialist. Explain the situation and say that you aren't sure what to do.
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Anonymous
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Firstly, an 11 yr old should not be making medical decisions. My daughter is 12 and ate an entire box of cereal over the weekend and thought it was funny, despite being a straight A student. Kids are idiots. Ignore what your daughter wants in regards to her medical care.
Secondly, when having surgery done, you want a surgeon who has done the surgery the highest number of times. You don't want someone who went to a better school. You want the person who does dozens of these per month. The more surgeries they've done, the more practiced their hands are, the more complications they've come across and already figured out how to treat. You want the surgeon with the most experience doing the specific surgery your daughter needs. Thirdly, call and ask them to explain what is holding up getting a surgery date. Do they think your daughter's condition is less urgent? Are they not capable of booking an OR because they're all filled? Find out exactly what the hold up is, because only THEN will you be able to start figuring out how to fix the problem. |