Going to the doctor in 2011

[MorningGlory]

Today I did something that most of us do at least a couple of times a year.....I went to the doctor. No crisis, just a sinus infection, but since I have picked a new doctor I got there fifteen minutes early to fill out the forms, etc. I left work and got to his office at 10:45, in advance of my 11'o'clock appointment. Filled out everything, provided insurance card and driver's license AND paid the co-pay before I ever met the M.D.! (I think this is so you won't walk out because of the LONG wait!) I then waited an hour and a half just to get to the exam room (it's now 12:30) and wait another twenty minutes after having my B.P. taken by a nurse and being asked why I was there (told her I have a sinus infection and she wrote it down.) The doctor walked in at 12:50, looked at my throat, listened to my breathing, asked if I had a headache and told me I had a sinus infection! Well....duh....wasn't that what I told THEM? I saw him for exactly seven minutes, got my prescriptions and left. They now charge my insurance company the remaining $155.00 after the co-pay for seven minutes of the doctor's time! I missed three hours of work for this, on a day when I was sorely needed in the office.

Are all doctor's offices like this now? (I haven't changed doctors in years; my old one has moved away and I very rarely ever go to one anyway.) This place is brand new and expensive looking, employs highly recommended doctors but I swear it's a patient mill. They had so many people crammed into the waiting room that it was standing room only. Okay, I'm finished ranting but I seriously want to know....Americans, is this the norm? Those in other countries....is it the same where you are?

[refugepsa91]

Yeppers.

Sorry, but its true. I've had my doc since I was 16. When I first started seeing him he and 3 other docs owned and operated a family practice. Then the big dog stepped in.. Now this "big dog" called Spectrum Health Services owns almost every medical care building in this County (Newaygo) and Kent...and its fast moving in too Muskegon, if I remember correctly there is only one hospital in Muskegon that isn't owned by them.

My doc comes right out and admits it too me. He says he detests working for them, he is not allowed to choose his own staff, he is limited on how much time he can spend with each patient, they totally stopped the call ins for just questions to him. He can't talk to anyone unless they come in the office. I used to be able to call him and say listen I have, for example, a sinus infection, he would just call me in a script and I would pick it up, if I didn't get some relief in 4 days he wanted me to come in. I didn't abuse that perk either.

I actually have to go through a nurse to see my doctor. For example, I called because I have bursitis in my shoulder, if anyone has it you'll know its a knock you on your knees pain. I tried to get in to see my doc and the nurse wouldn't give me an appointment for two weeks. Unless that is, if I went to the ER she could get me in the very next day. Hows that for extortion?

Its a mess sis...a true mess. Although I stay with my doc because he knows me and he really really tries to skip over the rules for me.

[MorningGlory]

Yeppers.

Sorry, but its true. I've had my doc since I was 16. When I first started seeing him he and 3 other docs owned and operated a family practice. Then the big dog stepped in.. Now this "big dog" called Spectrum Health Services owns almost every medical care building in this County (Newaygo) and Kent...and its fast moving in too Muskegon, if I remember correctly there is only one hospital in Muskegon that isn't owned by them.

My doc comes right out and admits it too me. He says he detests working for them, he is not allowed to choose his own staff, he is limited on how much time he can spend with each patient, they totally stopped the call ins for just questions to him. He can't talk to anyone unless they come in the office. I used to be able to call him and say listen I have, for example, a sinus infection, he would just call me in a script and I would pick it up, if I didn't get some relief in 4 days he wanted me to come in. I didn't abuse that perk either.

I actually have to go through a nurse to see my doctor. For example, I called because I have bursitis in my shoulder, if anyone has it you'll know its a knock you on your knees pain. I tried to get in to see my doc and the nurse wouldn't give me an appointment for two weeks. Unless that is, if I went to the ER she could get me in the very next day. Hows that for extortion?

Its a mess sis...a true mess. Although I stay with my doc because he knows me and he really really tries to skip over the rules for me.

I see what you're saying. This doctor I saw today is also part of a group practice that has many, many offices here in Houston. Hmmm.....

[nChrist]

I think that you're describing nearly all doctors these days. You get a regular appointment 3 months in advance, and you'd better keep it. If something more minor comes up like that sinus infection, you might or might not get in to see your regular doctor in a week. There's an alternative that works pretty well if you have them in your community - minor emergency care. There you might sit 3 hours to get in, but you'll get a doctor that does a lot of things like the sinus infection, ear infections, strep throat, and the small stuff for a living. The ER's where I live are outrageous - you might wait 6 to 9 hours to get in and pay an arm and a leg. The only way you get in quicker is to have something potentially dangerous - like chest pains. Otherwise - bring your lunch and be prepared to wait. So, I like the minor emergency care places for that unplanned for doctor's appointment.

[Matt712]

There is a privately run walk-in clinic in my town that does better than this without charging those high prices or making anyone wait excessively long periods of time(30min would be average). The doctors do a good job with the general practitioner brand of medicine, which is still kind of get em' in and get em' out, and they are mostly very nice. They'll give you the time and explanation you need if you ask questions. They charge about $70(without insurance) a visit and only charge more than that to do lab work. They even take most kinds of insurance. I pray that you can find a place like that near you. It's been a godsend for me because I lost my private health care four years ago. I decided to apply for medicaid this year and it is awful.

I had a fever with pain in my side this past autumn and I called 'my doctor' who I had never seen before because they were assigned by medicaid. I told them that I did not know exactly where the pain was located, but it felt deep, like in my kidney or something. They told me their first available appointment was in THREE WEEKS!!! I told them that I was likely to be in the ER before then and they said "we might be able to squeeze you in on friday afternoon."! It was monday morning when I made this call by the way. I went to the walk-in clinic and half an hour later, after paying out of pocket, I walked out with the following:

1. I was informed that yes, there was a local bacterial infection somewhere in my body. It could be diverticulitis or a kidney infection but either way my white blood cell count was quite high and I needed an antibiotic.

2. A prescription for two antibiotics was given to me.

3. I got the number of a specialist who accepts medicaid and a referral in case the symptoms did not alleviate quickly.

If I had not had a little money to go to a private clinic I would have been forced to wait while an already serious infection spread and forced me to the ER, maybe even a hospitalization! One ER visit costs as much as 20 or 30 doctor visits and hospitalization is even more expensive. Why is it that with so many people on publicly assisted healthcare they are still so wasteful! If they would pay for preventitive medicine more freely it would spare a lot of people ill health, which they then require hospitalization for at the taxpayer or hospital system's expense. Anyway, thank you for listening to my rant. I am certainly sympathetic to your doctor troubles. Most private offices are run like a 'patient mill' these days. A good doctor is very hard to find!

Edited February 15, 2011 by Matt712

[Leonard]

I have never waited longer than 1/2 hour (with many apologies from the staff, and then from the Doctor himself), at my Doctor's office.

My Doctor in Denver was QUITE a different matter!

[Matthitjah]

Just you wait until Obamacare kicks in. You ain't seen nothing yet.

[Believer1997]

I must be in the minority here. I've seen a doctor for almost 30 years who, thankfully, runs a tight ship and unless there is a really awful medical emergency in front of me - has always seen me within 15 min. of my appointment time and he spends at least that long with me for examination and talking to me about tests, meds, etc. He has partners and if I have an urgent need can see them - he usually works me in though. I know one day he will retire - who knows what I'll get at that point. We have several very good "quick care" facilities here that accept most insurances and are easy in and out.

[MorningGlory]

There is a privately run walk-in clinic in my town that does better than this without charging those high prices or making anyone wait excessively long periods of time(30min would be average). The doctors do a good job with the general practitioner brand of medicine, which is still kind of get em' in and get em' out, and they are mostly very nice. They'll give you the time and explanation you need if you ask questions. They charge about $70(without insurance) a visit and only charge more than that to do lab work. They even take most kinds of insurance. I pray that you can find a place like that near you. It's been a godsend for me because I lost my private health care four years ago. I decided to apply for medicaid this year and it is awful.

I had a fever with pain in my side this past autumn and I called 'my doctor' who I had never seen before because they were assigned by medicaid. I told them that I did not know exactly where the pain was located, but it felt deep, like in my kidney or something. They told me their first available appointment was in THREE WEEKS!!! I told them that I was likely to be in the ER before then and they said "we might be able to squeeze you in on friday afternoon."! It was monday morning when I made this call by the way. I went to the walk-in clinic and half an hour later, after paying out of pocket, I walked out with the following:

1. I was informed that yes, there was a local bacterial infection somewhere in my body. It could be diverticulitis or a kidney infection but either way my white blood cell count was quite high and I needed an antibiotic.

2. A prescription for two antibiotics was given to me.

3. I got the number of a specialist who accepts medicaid and a referral in case the symptoms did not alleviate quickly.

If I had not had a little money to go to a private clinic I would have been forced to wait while an already serious infection spread and forced me to the ER, maybe even a hospitalization! One ER visit costs as much as 20 or 30 doctor visits and hospitalization is even more expensive. Why is it that with so many people on publicly assisted healthcare they are still so wasteful! If they would pay for preventitive medicine more freely it would spare a lot of people ill health, which they then require hospitalization for at the taxpayer or hospital system's expense. Anyway, thank you for listening to my rant. I am certainly sympathetic to your doctor troubles. Most private offices are run like a 'patient mill' these days. A good doctor is very hard to find!

$70.00? Wow; if you add my co-pay onto the $155.00 charge to my insurance company, it's $185.00 in Houston (average; I asked my HR dept) for an office visit. I also checked on the cost in 2001; it's only gone up $20.00 in ten years! I guess most of us never see the real costs of health care because we only pay our portion.

[mizzdy]

I know a bit about that! I have an appt with my dr about every 6-8 weeks and I wait at least an hour everytime just to see her then the 15=20 min. wait for her to come into the room. I am a cash pay patient she charges 75 dollars to see for usually a 10 min. talk. My doc schedules her patients for about every 15-20 depending on the person and whats wrong. If it was just me waiting it would be one thing since I don't work but I need to be driven there so my husband who takes me usually ends up having to cancel a job or so which then makes him mad enough to threaten to charge the dr for his wait time! My dr is in practice by herself but I really wish she would hire a physicans assistant to cut down on the wait time.

I always have visions of Obama care as all the patients being herded into groups for mass diagnosis!, sore throats to the left, coughs to the right, heart problems sit down there.