Bad doctor

[Natasha]

Dee:
I was waiting to see how you'd get out of this one. You did it very honestly and gracefully. Kudos!
I agree, I wish more doctors were like Doc Sandy. But I'm afraid I feel like Dee and believe more don't have the time to educate themselves and go with the salesman.
I have a good relationship with the same pharmacist for years. I trust him, and go with what he tells me all the time.
Not that I don't trust my doctors, but I know some of them have been way too busy lately.

 

[Jersey]

Dee- I too have met many a doc I wouldn't let treat a bloody nose let alone a serious condition! Like everyone else - there are some really excellant ones & some really bad ones. I have had a heck of a yr w/ docs & have luckily found some of the most compassionate & caring professionals. None of them made me feel inferior, inadequate or uneducated. (And I am talking high-end specialist in Neurology, Neuro-psych kind of guys!)

Doc Sandy - my comment about second opinion was for those times you are told something that just doesn't 'feel' right. You know those gut instincts? You are right - too many people go for third, fourth, fifth opinions. Ultimately the patient has to make the best, fully informed decision.

Sadly, here in PA many docs are giving up their practices due to the malpractice insurance crisis. (Which in part was caused by the over-zealous juries awarding multi-million $$ payouts in frivolous lawsuits, but don't get me started!) Hopefully the new Govenor can help out this situation & we can keep all the great healthcare professionals.

 

[Crispy]

Jersey once bubbled...
[Second opinions - find the info confusing &/or conflicting? Seek a second opinion. In todays managed care market, few docs have the luxury to spend all the time they want or need with a pt. Seek out another doc or call your own doc back & ask to have your questions answered.



With many HMO's a second oppinion will not be paid for. As will certain medications. Many doctors have to navigate the murky waters of HMO formularies and the need for "pre-auths, overides, and refferals" which will only add to the time you sit in the waiting room and not on the exam table.

Many HMO's limit the amount of perscription medications (by type and by quantity) they will "cover" the cost of. Thus making the patients responsibility to pay for them. Doctors know that when a paitent gets to the pharmacy and is told that the meds are not covered and that they will need to pay for them, They will be calling for an "alternate medication", one that is perhapse not the best one or one that is not intended for that use, but may work none the less.

Amber, I'm going to have to agree with BillP and Doc Sandy, there just isn't enough information given for me to lable him/her a "BAD DOC"

-Crispy

 

[Jersey]

Crispy once bubbled...
With many HMO's a second oppinion will not be paid for. As will certain medications. Many doctors have to navigate the murky waters of HMO formularies and the need for "pre-auths, overides, and refferals" which will only add to the time you sit in the waiting room and not on the exam table.

Many HMO's limit the amount of perscription medications (by type and by quantity) they will "cover" the cost of. Thus making the patients responsibility to pay for them. Doctors know that when a paitent gets to the pharmacy and is told that the meds are not covered and that they will need to pay for them, They will be calling for an "alternate medication", one that is perhapse not the best one or one that is not intended for that use, but may work none the less.

-Crispy [/B]

Please don't take my comment as a shot at docs. I work very closely w/ a ton & overall find they are very dediated people. I can't believe the amount of pre-auth required, referals, etc w/ insurers today. Obviously designed to 'gatekeep' pt access to services, thereby keeping claims down.

That said, when it comes to MY HEALTH, I don't really care if the opinion is covered or not, I will pay out of plan, out of pocket, to get the care I need. Fortunately, I am in a position to pay for such care, many are not. (I'm also lucky to work for someone w/ 7 kids - we have really great healthcare benefits!)

Crispy - good point on the meds - some plans will only cover 30 day supply, meaning you need to cough up the co-pay every 30 days. Many people do not know they can check with their plan to see if they cover longer scripts. (My plan covers 90 day supply of routine meds, but I had to call to verify.) Again - also check to see that brand names are covered

One more thing to check - COUNT YOUR PILLS. My old pharmacy (large US chain) was shorting me. While my script called for 30, they were filling only 24. (Happened 3 months in a row, it wasn't an accident) While it may not seem like a lot, had I not spotted it, it would have cost me 2 extra refills per year @ $20 co-pay. (I switched pharmacies & reported them to the States Attorney General Office.)

 

[Crispy]

Hey Jersey, you think thats bad....
Now that Claratin is OTC, most insurers wont carry compariable drugs at all (ie.. Allegra). If you lucky they may accept it with a pre-cert due to a medical necessity.

just goes to show you that the controll isn't just the amount of the script but the actual drug itself is dictated by the insurances. It is truly FUBAR!

 

[Scubamedicjoe]

well to be honest i work as a paramedic and trust me the doc dont know crap about meds they frequatly give wrong meds doses every day take the pharmacist word for drug intereactions ect but second opion cant hurt