Reply to Is the US health system collapsing?

Forum Index » Health and Medicine

Reply to "Is the US health system collapsing? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Funny, I just returned from GW where I was scheduled to get an MRI to follow up on a mammogram and ultrasound.  GW told me that I needed an MRI for further diagnosis.  I ended up having to reschedule because they needed an order from my doctor, and the doctor's assistant sent in the wrong order. Nevermind that no one told me that I needed to get an order or that GW never provided the report to my doctor.  Paid the co-pay. So I have a few more weeks to wonder if I have cancer.  Great!

It was like being at the Mad Hatter's table.  And I have excellent insurance. [/quote]

I am going through the same ridiculous hoop jumping. Most recent is that I saw my PCP to get her to write the order for the MRI but she told me I have to get blood work done first to check kidney function. So I have to do the labs and then she’ll write the order, after which I finally can schedule the MRI. Meanwhile who knows what is happening with my actual health.  Now tell me one good reason why the doctor who found the lump on my mammo and ultrasound couldn’t have sent me down to the lab the very same day and written the order for the MRI a few days later when the results came back![/quote]

Hoop jumping here too, and I have military healthcare, which is as close to the UK and Canadian system as you get. It's amazing to not really pay for it (we are prime so no co-pays), and I've been very happy with the quality of military doctors once I can actually get in to see them, but it's such a long wait for every appointment. And as you shift around to different specialties you have to wait 2 days for the referral to schedule, then at least a month for an initial appointment, then who knows how long for the actual fix. 
Example:
Pain in knee - see primary care physician who prescribes rest for two weeks
Still pain - primary care physician refers to sports medicine and PT
PT takes 6 weeks to get an initial appointment
Sports medicine is a 4 month wait so kicked out to civilian care
Civilian referral takes 3.5 weeks for an appointment
MRI ordered after 6 weeks of pain
MRI takes 3 weeks to get an appointment
4 days for the MRI report
another week for a follow up appointment with sports med
Cyst found that needs surgical removal
Referral back to military orthopedist
4 week wait for initial appointment
Additional 3 weeks to schedule the out patient surgery

So about 4-5 months to diagnose and schedule a fairly simple out patient procedure. I'm active duty, so this took me away from a large portion of my work for that entire time. There's just so much run around and jumping from doctor to doctor and every one starts from scratch. It's really not working. [/quote]

How do you get an mri that quickly.  I have to wait 2-3 months for an mri or ct or ultra sound.  I waited 9 months for one specialist, normal is 2-4 months and after years I finally have a diagnosis but no one is qualified to treat it.  They gave me a referral but did not code it right so the outside specialist will not see me and it’s been a nightmare.  I rarely see the same doctor twice except my primary care who I keep changing and they put me back to them.  They are terrible.  [/quote]

In this instance I was referred to a civilian provider for the MRI. If you have to wait longer than 90 days within the military system, they are supposed to provide a referral to a civilian. 
Are you in the DMV? It’s so hard to navigate healthcare here. [/quote]

Is this just in the military an issue?  I just had a health issue and was able to get an MRI the very next day after my doctor ordered it. I’m in the DMV. Medicare. [/quote]

Recently? I'm in the military and got a referral out recently. Even in the civilian facilities it took 10 days to get in. And the one most people recommended to me (Fairfax Radiology) with multiple locations was a 3.5 week wait. Probably if your doctor is attached to a hospital with MRI services it's different? [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics