Does My Doctor Really Think I'm A Woman
There may be a problem with health care in the United States? I know, you're all saying no shit, right?
First off my health care provider seems to think I'm a woman. Good thing it's not my urologist.
I really don't mind that they gave me the wrong title. I do mind that they cancelled my appointment by snail mail.
The appointment was to see a dermatologist at the University of Illinois-Chicago Hospital. It took a couple of calls and two cancellations to get this appointment. It was originally scheduled for June and some persistence and begging got it down to April 17.
With a week to go to the appointment, it gets cancelled. The good news for me is I found another place to handle my problem (Melanoma) faster and I was keeping this appointment in case I needed a second opinion. But what if that wasn't an option? And what about others who have cancelled appointments after months of waiting? My doctor can't be the only dermatologist on staff, can he?
Another issue is why did they send me a letter? They have my phone number and email address so why not contact me that way? It took four days to receive the letter. That time could have been spent doing follow-ups and finding another doctor.
If it sounds like I'm pissed off at UI-C Hospital, you've got that right. This isn't my first rodeo with them.
About two years ago, there was a spot on my left lung. I met with a UI-C pulmonologist. He took one look at an x-ray and said, "Mr. Moore, there's a 75% chance you have Lung Cancer."
It took him less than ten seconds to come to that conclusion. At least he got my gender correct.
I was so shocked that I left without asking any questions. After regaining my sanity, I called to ask some questions and couldn't reach my doctor. After multiple tries, the nurse gave me the answers. Good thing they were competent and helpful.
A few days later I get a call from the nurse...not my doctor. "Mr. Moore, you have a lung infection not lung Cancer. Sorry to scare you."
It was like Gilda Radner saying "Nevermind."
Obviously I was relieved but also very angry. Why would you treat people like that?
I had one more appointment to go over the results. At this meeting, the doctor couldn't find the x-ray disk and then proceeded to blame the nurses for losing it.
SHAKING MY HEAD!!
What really kills me is I like this place. The facilities are top notch. Brand new equipment and the nurses and technicians are great. But they have no idea how to provide good customer service. It leaves you with bad feelings.
So what have we learned from all of this?
If you're a patient, make contingency plans. Be proactive. I was lucky I checked other facilities and my issue will be handled next week.
But if you're a healthcare provider, don't fuck with a guy who writes a health & wellness blog.
Here's one story about my experience at UI-C Hospital. What the Hell...here's when my doctor lost the X-Rays.
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