problems with dr B staff

[bulldog24]

Ok this is not a bashing thread. I am seriously concerned.

 

 

 

edited to not upset people....

 

I will just deal with the office on my own

Edited April 25, 2012 by bulldog24

[bulldog24]

I also want you to know I am not a super needy client. I can deal with most myself. Also I dont drive 4 hours one way to get this service

[JAG10]

My girls are also patients and I don't want to bash either. For many, there would be no care for their children without Dr. B, they simply cannot afford to work with a specialist who cannot obtain insurance coverage. Perhaps that is a large part of why they are overwhelmed.

 

I was looking at another doctor's website and came across this policy. I really think Dr. B should consider it.

 

What about email correspondence? You may find that email is the best way to contact us. Every few months you will receive an invoice for the doctor’s time spent on email, at the doctor’s discretion. If these are brief or infrequent emails, there will be no charge. Email contact with the physicians is a non-covered service under insurance company policy. These fees will be directly billed to the patient and the fees are recognized by the patient as their responsibility. You should not submit invoices for email correspondence to your insurance provider.

 

 

If you are brief and infrequent, emails are a courtesy. If you are "verbose", you will pay. If you have a hard time judging your own brevity, you will get billed once and learn.

 

Back to your questions/concerns. As far as the dentist goes, my girls are on treatment dose abx two days before and two days after all dental work. I'm not sure what the abnormal lab result is, but if you post or PM me, I might be able to shed some light. I'm guessing the PA left a message about the med/dose question? Yeah, that's why I prefer email. Everyone can get to it when they are ready and have it in writing.

 

I can empathize with some of your concerns. As a "new" patient, you shouldn't have to deal with that. Some of us have been seeing him for awhile and need to politely pipe up about how the quality of care is changing and give the parents' perspective of reasonable suggestions. I personally would automatically like a copy of all lab results sent to me, every single draw. If that means for that option, I need to pay a nominal correspondence fee, sobeit. But it is not fair or reasonable to tell patients to make a $125 appt to get lab results.

[dcmom]

I cannot comment on Dr B because we do not see him.

 

I will tell you however, after a few years, of lots of specialists, this is what I have learned:

 

in the end you want the best care for your child. PANDAS is a complicated disease, no question, with potential for a child to need urgent care.

 

In the first year of diagnosis, I think it is reasonable to see your pandas doc monthly. With complicated labs- most specialists will require you to return for a follow up to discuss the results, I do not think this is out of line. Make it a practice to request a copy to be sent to you by the lab- you can also call the lab well after the fact for results instead of bothering doctor.

 

I would advise you to leave each appointment in the position that unless there is a real emergency- you will not need to contact the doctor. Doctors offices- especially specialists- are just not staffed or set up for lots of phone contact. Go to your appointment with a list of questions, try to look into your crystal ball to determine ANYTHING you may need prior to next appt, get any scripts needed, ask what to do if things go bad.

 

If you see the doctor monthly- okay every other month- during your first year- the doc will get to know you. You will most likely be able to hold questions until next appt.

 

SAVE your calls to the office in between appts for REAL emergencies.

 

I am sorry if this sounds cold- I do not mean it to be- I just think that you need to "work" the doctor's office to benefit your child most- not in accordance with what you think is right. There are literally about 4 docs that treat pandas regularly and aggressively- IMHO it is not a great idea to bash them on a public forum.

[bulldog24]

I am going to delete my post, mostly because well its not my intention to upset anyone. you all are important to me,

 

I will just take my concerns up with the office.

 

but I dont think accepting things just encourages the stuff to continue, it doesnt help anything. maybe if someone speaks up things could change

[fightingmom]

I am going to delete my post, mostly because well its not my intention to upset anyone. you all are important to me,

 

I will just take my concerns up with the office.

 

but I dont think accepting things just encourages the stuff to continue, it doesnt help anything. maybe if someone speaks up things could change

 

I missed the original post, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in your frustrations. Even after being assured by the PA that I could have labs results faxed to me - and I asked her to note it somewhere so I didn't have a problem again like I did last time (fyi - need some of these labs to take to LLMD and would love to know if husband is a carrier and impacting my son; so I have good reason - it's not just curiosity or that I'm impatient to wait until next appt) I have been given a hard time by staff and still don't have them. I plan on addressing this at my next appt.

Edited April 25, 2012 by fightingmom

[JAG10]

Has anyone had success having Dr B's in-house lab send them results directly? I always request them from Quest, but these are drawn at the time the IV is being inserted by the nurses in his office and there is no opportunity to fill out papers for that request. Also, each state's laws are different regarding lab results. Some require you to get a copy directly from the ordering physician. I'm not sure about the law in CT.... Does anyone know?

 

If so, that's a great idea DCmom. I'll call tomorrow and see if I can find out. I owe them a co-pay I haven't paid out of annoyance for not knowing the dang results yet!

[fightingmom]

Has anyone had success having Dr B's in-house lab send them results directly? I always request them from Quest, but these are drawn at the time the IV is being inserted by the nurses in his office and there is no opportunity to fill out papers for that request. Also, each state's laws are different regarding lab results. Some require you to get a copy directly from the ordering physician. I'm not sure about the law in CT.... Does anyone know?

 

If so, that's a great idea DCmom. I'll call tomorrow and see if I can find out. I owe them a co-pay I haven't paid out of annoyance for not knowing the dang results yet!

 

I asked for this. Was told no problem. Never got anything. Called the lab (was it Quest? Can't remember) and was told that they had my results but needed permission from the doctor, so I should call doc office and have them give permission and then no problem, I can get labs from them. Called Dr. B's office and was given runaround. Then went to 2nd appt and PA told me no problem again - I asked her to note it in my file that it was okay for me to have my lab results faxed, still can't get them sent to me. Really making me mad.

Edited April 25, 2012 by fightingmom

[colleendonny]

I usually just ask for a copy of the previous visits lab work at our follow up visit. Today, Dr. B just handed me copies without me asking.

I have a feeling the only way one of his patients could get the lab results before a follow up visit, would be to have a phone consult discussing the lab results, then to ask for them to be sent...

I could be wrong though.

[colleendonny]

PS- The receptionist is the one who photocopies the lab results to give to me.

[JAG10]

I think as parents, we should ask Dr B to establish a policy where we are offered the release form for the lab to automatically send us results and thus take the burden off the office. We all want them, we've all got "the binder(s)"

 

That would be best for everyone, no?

[JAG10]

Has anyone had success having Dr B's in-house lab send them results directly? I always request them from Quest, but these are drawn at the time the IV is being inserted by the nurses in his office and there is no opportunity to fill out papers for that request. Also, each state's laws are different regarding lab results. Some require you to get a copy directly from the ordering physician. I'm not sure about the law in CT.... Does anyone know?

 

If so, that's a great idea DCmom. I'll call tomorrow and see if I can find out. I owe them a co-pay I haven't paid out of annoyance for not knowing the dang results yet!

 

I asked for this. Was told no problem. Never got anything. Called the lab (was it Quest? Can't remember) and was told that they had my results but needed permission from the doctor, so I should call doc office and have them give permission and then no problem, I can get labs from them. Called Dr. B's office and was given runaround. Then went to 2nd appt and PA told me no problem again - I asked her to note it in my file that it was okay for me to have my lab results faxed, still can't get them sent to me. Really making me mad.

 

The lab is not Quest, but that is our lab in PA. Needing the docs permission, must be a CT law because we do not need that in PA. There has got to be a standard form of release that should be signed at each draw and let the lab take care of it. All the business they are getting, it should be no problem. I think we should just collectively express the need. Then if you have questions, make a consult.

[fightingmom]

Has anyone had success having Dr B's in-house lab send them results directly? I always request them from Quest, but these are drawn at the time the IV is being inserted by the nurses in his office and there is no opportunity to fill out papers for that request. Also, each state's laws are different regarding lab results. Some require you to get a copy directly from the ordering physician. I'm not sure about the law in CT.... Does anyone know?

 

If so, that's a great idea DCmom. I'll call tomorrow and see if I can find out. I owe them a co-pay I haven't paid out of annoyance for not knowing the dang results yet!

 

I asked for this. Was told no problem. Never got anything. Called the lab (was it Quest? Can't remember) and was told that they had my results but needed permission from the doctor, so I should call doc office and have them give permission and then no problem, I can get labs from them. Called Dr. B's office and was given runaround. Then went to 2nd appt and PA told me no problem again - I asked her to note it in my file that it was okay for me to have my lab results faxed, still can't get them sent to me. Really making me mad.

 

The lab is not Quest, but that is our lab in PA. Needing the docs permission, must be a CT law because we do not need that in PA. There has got to be a standard form of release that should be signed at each draw and let the lab take care of it. All the business they are getting, it should be no problem. I think we should just collectively express the need. Then if you have questions, make a consult.

 

Totally agree. Let us get results from lab. I don't need to talk to Dr. B. or anyone else about results prior to my appt. However, I need to be able to tell if there is something significant going on before the 4-6 weeks for my next appt (or longer)...AND, let's face it most of our kids are seeing multiple docs and we need to keep them all informed on lab work, etc. And, frankly, we are paying for it, we should be entitled to get the results! If they don't want to or are too busy to deal with it, or the receptionist(s) don't want to fax them, then for crying out loud, give the lab permission to provide the patients with their lab results.

 

I'm going to bring this up at our next appt - I've never had so much trouble getting lab results and we've been sick for a LONG time and see a lot of doctors.

Edited April 25, 2012 by fightingmom

[ptcgirl]

I've had very few issues with his staff at all. I use my fax machine as a means of getting lab results. I fax over a signed request and they fax it back generally pretty fast. I had a phone consult with Jennifer this month which answered many questions. I have one set up with Dr. B next month. The nurses have an email which is very helpful to me too. The office gave it to me or maybe I found it on the website; I can't remember where I got it. I hesitate to give it out in case it is no longer being distributed. So far, very responsive on all accounts.

[fightingmom]

Interesting because I have been asking them to fax my results and haven't been able to get them. I will try faxing the request.

 

The emails is not on their website.

Edited April 26, 2012 by fightingmom