Rant at Doctors

[mobulis]

@DMK

@RTchoke

Oh, I totally get you. I also will comment for the most part almost every receptionist I have dealt with, with the exception of one, has a stick the size of a redwood up their ass. They are at times even more condescending thanT some of the most condescending of physicians I have met. I am lucky in that I now have a decent office that I patronize.

I was in Pharma sales for many years. That’s a whole topic on its own.

My bottom line is: You made this appointment time. I held up my end of the bargain but you think you can skate free on my dime?

Unless you paid the doctor he doesn’t owe you anything.

[mwevans1234]

@AlexMcAlpine

I don’t go to doctor’s myself, but I have to take my mom periodically. She normally has to wait 15-20 minutes for the doctor, past her appointment time. We know this going in. We’re not talkers - we each bring a book and enjoy the chance to read it.

Go to the damn doctor.

The amount of pride that men in particular take in not going to the doctor is astounding. It’s no wonder we die sooner. Go get an annual physical.

[anon91495210]

There are a lot of studies out there that show yearly checkups are a waste of time and money. If you have symptoms that you’re concerned with, visit the doctor but most people are just wasting time and money by going to the doctor for a yearly checkup, especially prior to the age of 60 from what I’ve read.

[Janet_Miller]

I understand the frustration. Might a Nurse Practitioner at CVS Minute Clinic be an option?

Nurse practitioner

They’re taking patients by appointment only. Even when walk in was a possibility, I’ve never felt I waited around too long to be seen & walked out with a plan.

Or counseling first with a pharmacist? Some endorse European style medicine.

In some of these countries (same as my husband’s native Algeria) the pharmacist is the first go to for many problems.

[DMK]

@Janet_Miller

I understand the frustration. Might a Nurse Practitioner at CVS Minute Clinic be an option?

Thanks, Janet

It was a check up at my oral surgeon’s office.

I honestly am just so frustrated with how they book patients as if our time isn’t valuable and it is taken for granted that people will just put up with it.

That was 2 hours out of my workday where I could have been making an income. Grrrrrr

[merickson]

@anon91495210

Here’s my other problem. I needed a checkup for my company. They billed my company $300 for the visit. I went in, had my vitals taken, maybe 5 minutes. I sat in a room for 10 minutes, doctor came in, spent less than 5 minutes with me and left… 5 minutes later, a lady came in and walked me out, handing me a piece of paper. At MOST, I spent 30 minutes there which is $600 an hour. For this twit to come in, listen to my heart, ask me a few questions and jot a note down… I spent $300? (Well, my company) … What the ever living hell folks?

A good deal of the $300 went to the part of “they” who didn’t see you and who wasn’t even in the same building as you were.
I remember when for profit medicine was new and the claim was that it kept costs down and would result in better service. Not the first lie that corporatations have told.

[mobulis]

@anon91495210

Here’s my other problem. I needed a checkup for my company. They billed my company $300 for the visit. I went in, had my vitals taken, maybe 5 minutes. I sat in a room for 10 minutes, doctor came in, spent less than 5 minutes with me and left… 5 minutes later, a lady came in and walked me out, handing me a piece of paper. At MOST, I spent 30 minutes there which is $600 an hour. For this twit to come in, listen to my heart, ask me a few questions and jot a note down… I spent $300? (Well, my company) … What the ever living hell folks?

Ain’t capitalism grand.

[SixFoot]

@DMK

Why should they waste my time when my time is just as or not more valuable than theirs?

They shouldn’t, and you shouldn’t let them. Clinics are a dime a dozen even in the little hick towns around me. So are dental clinics.

Story time!

Last year the VA cleared me for about $13,000 worth of dental work. A deep clean, a bridge, a couple of cavities, regular cleanings, checkups, etc…

I called all four dental clinics within 20 miles of my house. The first question I had was, “Do you supply NOx? … No? Have a good day, thank you.”

One clinic said yes, they provide it. I booked with them. They cancelled my first appointment due to overbooking. I show up for the recheduled appointment. Dentist tries putting metal tools in my mouth.

“Where’s my NOx that y’all said I was gonna get?”

Dentist: “Oh, there’s an 8 year old girl using it right now. We only have one tank. Sorry about that.”

Me: “OK, go ahead and put those tools away. We’re done here.”

Dentist and assistants: “Incoherent pleas for a third chance.”

Me: Gone.

I called the VA, told them ■■■■ that place I’m going somewhere else, and set up an appointment 40 miles away with a clinic that seemed overjoyed to receive a patient fully funded by the federal government with no deductibles in sight.

You know what they gave me? The controls to the NOx apparatus, and a perfect set of shimmering white teeth!

Everyone should take the time to inconvenience themselves in finding the right clinic for their money. Empower yourselves. Where I’m standing, my time and money is far more precious than any of theirs, and I’m the sole arbiter of that decision. All of you belong in that same position.

[anon91495210]

Nonsense. For profit medicine was common from the beginning of this nation. What screwed up the costs is Medicare/Medicaid and government funding almost 50% of the total health care in this nation. You all keep taking the sins of government and trying to blame them on the private corporations. The other thing that screws it up is insurance being in bed with government.

[merickson]

I don’t believe that doctors in 1776 turned over their fees to a broker.

[anon91495210]

I believe the doctors in 1776 were getting paid. That’s for profit medicine.

ETA:
What drives up the cost is when we try to replace profit with government.

[vaard]

@RTchoke

@DMK

@vaard

for both doctors, after the first couple of times of me leaving after 20 minutes, they started making sure i was in before the 20 minutes was up…

Good for you Vaard. THIS is what I am trying to convey,

YOU have the power because YOU pay their bills.

Yet, so many are willing to sit for whatever time until you are blessed to be called upon?

Here is another sticky wicket. Some office will charge you for the appt if you leave or miss it.

Another way they have you by the nether regions. They get paid whether they do anything or not.

I did not leave or miss the appointment. They did.

I was never charged for an appointment they did not keep…

[DMK]

@SixFoot

Everyone should take the time to inconvenience themselves in finding the right clinic for their money. Empower yourselves. Where I’m standing, my time and money is far more precious than any of theirs, and I’m the sole arbiter of that decision. All of you belong in that same position.

Good story, Six and AMEN to you telling these people to pound sand.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees my time as just as valuable as theirs.

I am PAYING for a service. Yes. I’m putting money in YOUR pocket.

Have some respect for that. Don’t treat me as though I should be grateful that you put up a shingle.

[mobulis]

@DMK

@SixFoot

Everyone should take the time to inconvenience themselves in finding the right clinic for their money. Empower yourselves. Where I’m standing, my time and money is far more precious than any of theirs, and I’m the sole arbiter of that decision. All of you belong in that same position.

Good story, Six and AMEN to you telling these people to pound sand.

I’m glad I’m not the only one who sees my time as just as valuable as theirs.

I am PAYING for a service. Yes. I’m putting money in YOUR pocket.

Have some respect for that. Don’t treat me as though I should be grateful that you put up a shingle.

Until they get money you haven’t paid anything.

[DMK]

@mobulis

Until they get money you haven’t paid anything.

You’re missing the point.

[Nemesis]

@anon91495210

Here’s my other problem. I needed a checkup for my company. They billed my company $300 for the visit. I went in, had my vitals taken, maybe 5 minutes. I sat in a room for 10 minutes, doctor came in, spent less than 5 minutes with me and left… 5 minutes later, a lady came in and walked me out, handing me a piece of paper. At MOST, I spent 30 minutes there which is $600 an hour. For this twit to come in, listen to my heart, ask me a few questions and jot a note down… I spent $300? (Well, my company) … What the ever living hell folks?

I suspect your employer Partners with an insurance carrier in some way shape or form which means you are using a network doctor. I guarantee that the doctors actual reimbursement was much less than $300.

[anon91495210]

I don’t give a hoot who is getting that money, the issue is that it’s broken and needs to be fixed. I’d suspect that it has a LOT to do with government regulation and medicare. If that doctor bills you directly, the cost is no where near that. Putting more government in the middle is going to make the problem worse.

[Nemesis]

@anon91495210

I don’t give a hoot who is getting that money, the issue is that it’s broken and needs to be fixed. I’d suspect that it has a LOT to do with government regulation and medicare. If that doctor bills you directly, the cost is no where near that. Putting more government in the middle is going to make the problem worse.

The reason for the high costs are multiple but in great part is because of the old style copay method of employer Sponsored insurance. If we needed a diagnostic test as a consumer we went to whatever facility was in network and paid our copay with no regard for the actual underlying cost.

This resulted in providers never having fo operate in a truly competitive marketplace.

Since the early noughties consumer driven health plans have become popular because they a) reduce the financial burden on employers and b) force us as users of healthcare services to be informed consumers. Of couse its not all about price, quality is a key part as well; however we are now seeing providers becoming more transparent with their pricing.

Many people do not realize that its highly likely their employer meets the full costs of the medical claims. All the insurance company is doing is processing the claim on behalf of the employer and Billing them on the backend.

This was one of my biggest criticisms of the ACA. It was health insurance reform and did nothing to address transparency of costs by the providers.

[anon91495210]

No question, too many insurers in bed with government to prohibit competition.

[Nemesis]

@anon91495210

No question, too many insurers in bed with government to prohibit competition.

What does that even mean?

How are insurance companies prohibiting competition between providers?