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still no report from sleep study
Had a study to determine how bad my central sleep apnea was and get me on the new machine for that. This was April 12. It has been almost a month. Keep calling Neuro's office and they tell me he hasn't read it yet. Called yesterday and they said he was out of town for the week. It has been almost a month and here I sit, depressed, tired, irritated, and totally blown away by the nonchalant attitudes of the doctors. HELLO!! I could die here! I told my wife that if anything happens to take it to court. There is NO excuse for this.
Views: 6
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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i agree that this is ridiculous. I'm a lawyer by training and worked in a big law firm. I was expected to answer every single phone call and email within the day, and also to close transactions and get things done not by when it was convenient for me, but by the client's deadline. We used to work day and night, 15 hour days, and on weekends too. When clients asked us to jump, our only question was how high. Now the reason I'm telling you this story is because at the end of the day, if we didn't work so hard, or meet our clients expectations, you know what? Nobody died. Doctors don't have that luxury, yet it's all you can do just to get them to answer the phone, let alone an e-mail.
Something is out of whack.
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Its amazing the response a WRITTEN request can elicit. ESPECIALLY if it is a WRITTEN request sent via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Lyons on
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Ron,
Before you burn the bridge and have to start over again, upon the return visit, very politely, get your script and a copy of the entire sleep study. You need to have them in your hands. It is at this point in time you commence to tell this incompetent physician as to his place in the food chain, he is your contracted employee as it is your money he is receiving for his so called services. I also would “graciously” thank him for the experience and inform him I would not be returning for any more of his exceptional treatment.
You then make it a point to notify every patient in his lobby and every other person you come in contact with, as to the manner in which he treated you.
You then make a call to the state medical board and initiate a complaint for incompetence. You do the same with your insurance company.
As long as every statement you make against this "doctor" is factual, he has no recourse.
Be assured, you will have his full attention once you lambaste this arrogant so and so once you get what you need, the script and sleep study.
Would you allow your gardener, auto mechanic, plumber or any other contracted individual to treat you in this manner? Why don’t the guarantee their work like any other contractor? Then why allow a doctor, DME or other heath care group to treat you in this manner? Until such time that these physicians understand that they are no different, they will continue to look down their noses at patients.
Good Luck
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You don't have to get nasty when requesting a copy of the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs (5+ pages), a copy of the doctor's dictated results (1-2 pages) if available yet, from both your sleep evaluation study AND your titration study AND the original of your equipment order (script) when sending your written request. There's no threat, assuming your request is diplomatic, BUT the fact that it is a WRITTEN request, establishes a paper trail and gets their attention. A WRITTEN request sent Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested is also not a threat - but does indicate that maybe, just maybe, you aren't going to be a patient patient much longer. And establishes an even stronger paper trail. Paper trails can get the attention of the irresponsible and insensitive quite quickly. And it doesn't burn any bridges, its just a wake up, sit up and take notice alert.
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thanks to all of you who replied. I did get a phone call today. From the neuro's office. Message was that the doctor wants me to "get a CPAP machine" and it will be set at 15. Obviously he doesn't realize I already have a BIPAP and have been using this machine for many years!!!!! So he either didn't receive previous notes on me, or he didn't read them! I got the name of the sleep tech and spoke directly to him. He was very apologetic, and told me that he would take care of everything - that I obviously need the ASV? and he will get with the doctor and then back to me. At least HE answered his phone and spoke to me directly. We will see what transpires, but I agree about the certified request for my report. It is so disheartening to go through all this, wait so long, just to realize I have gotten another doc who doesn't know or doesn't care and to whom I am, again, just an insurance code for his reimbursement for services not rendered. :(
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there's a group of members here who think the sleep techs are the unsung heros of sleep medicine, and i don't necessarily disagree. you mentioned ASV. That stands for Adaptive Servo-Ventilation, and is a type of machine that's used when the patient has a heart condition or central sleep apnea. Different than a CPAP or a BiPAP, and some think it's a superior type of machine which we'll all be on in the future. I'm not sure why. But I've heard that said many times.
Ron Sowell said:I got the name of the sleep tech and spoke directly to him. He was very apologetic, and told me that he would take care of everything - that I obviously need the ASV? and he will get with the doctor and then back to me. At least HE answered his phone and spoke to me directly.
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Why am I not surprised that the doctor was the dunce and the sleep tech the "hero" in Ron's story???
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ok, finally!!!! Today, May 20, I got a call from the sleep lab to come get my machine and they will set it all up for me. Why do I think it ain't over yet???? Well, at least they have decided on the ASV machine and hopefully since this tech is near Atlanta he or she will know a little more about what this machine does. I can't wait for a good night's sleep. Let's hope this does the trick. I enjoy reading all your posts and "songs" and its good to know I am not alone. The funny thing is, now my wife is snoring too and they told her she needs to go for a sleep study - we are gonna look like a couple martians and probably scare the grandkids half to death!!!!!!
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Glad to hear you are finally getting the xPAP you need (we hope!). Frankly, despite that blessed sleep tech who got the ball rolling for you, I'd be inclined to strongly suggest my wife have her sleep study at a different, but accredited, facililty. And knowing what you've been thru you should have a good idea of what questions to ask and what things to look for before her agreeing to have the sleep evaluation at any of the sleep labs to ensure that she receives better and more timely care than you have received.
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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Ron I would file a complaint with your insurabce companies. They keep track of the way Drs. take care of patients. Too many complaints and they will pull eligability rights. Too many complaints by any insurance company can affect a physicians medicare options.
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Permalink Reply by Dee on
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Hey Ron....remember when your wife was pregnant with the kids? Maybe you had "sympathy labor pains" back then and now she's having "sympathy sleep symptoms" with you! Really though, I hope her case is not severe!
CITE>Ron Sowell said:
ok, finally!!!! Today, May 20, I got a call from the sleep lab to come get my machine and they will set it all up for me. Why do I think it ain't over yet???? Well, at least they have decided on the ASV machine and hopefully since this tech is near Atlanta he or she will know a little more about what this machine does. I can't wait for a good night's sleep. Let's hope this does the trick. I enjoy reading all your posts and "songs" and its good to know I am not alone. The funny thing is, now my wife is snoring too and they told her she needs to go for a sleep study - we are gonna look like a couple martians and probably scare the grandkids half to death!!!!!!
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Rock Hinkle said:Ron I would file a complaint with your insurabce companies. They keep track of the way Drs. take care of patients. Too many complaints and they will pull eligability rights. Too many complaints by any insurance company can affect a physicians medicare options.
Don't forget to file complaint with State Attorney General too
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