Would you change doctors?

[bamabelle]

Love the neurologist, hate the 2 week response time to phone calls. Would you change doctors?

The first interaction two months ago was regarding the picc line left in from the hospital. Received IV steroids for a week after but no one ever called us to tell us whether to leave it in or let the nurses at the infusion clinic to pull it out.

this last time was about the doctor visit we had on a Wednesday where he ordered another round of IV steroids b/c or some extreme swelling around a plaque that wouldn't settle. No one ever made things happen to help my hubby out. we had to call for more than a week and still we had no one to ever return our call.

finally, the head ceo of my office (I work for an md office) called there to complain, after hearing my woes, inadvertently. I received a call within 4 minutes.

should it really take these types of measures to get medical help?

the md seems to have a good raport with my husband. my husband loves this doctor. my husband - the ms patient- left a call this past Monday on the nurses voicemail, still no return call. this call is about him trying to hit his very first MS dmd - rebif- started. the dr ordered this at the same time as the iv steroids back last month on the tenth.

it really feels like we're being ignored. what would you do in this situation?

[22cyclist]

Wow. Sorry you are feeling ignored. I go to a major research hospital and this happens to me sometimes. However, I usually get a call back within 3-4 days. I would probably look for another MS specialist or go over their head (although I know this is hard to do in a hospital or office setting). If they are in a hospital setting, it may be that they are overwhelmed with patients (mine is...no excuse.) If they are in an office setting, it may be poor communication between staff and doctor (again, no excuse.)

Have you tried talking to the doctor directly about this problem? This may solve the issue altogether. If not...time to start looking.

Good luck and I am sorry this is happening to you.

Lisa
Moderation Team

[bamabelle]

22cyclist:
If you recall, I work for a large medical complex. The head administrator of my group actually called on my behalf to their office manager. This was not propagated from my own request. But, the hubs needed the IV SM and had been ignored for over a week. Not 5 minutes after his call, the nurse called us back - actually called me at work, and got the ball rolling.

My big boss has us return calls on the same day, even if we can't resolve a problem, the patient actually knows what's going on. We have many brain tumor patients and critically ill patients.

I guess I'm just used to our type of patient care - response time, and have to realize that not every other office has this type of turn around time. It's hard to believe it though based on medical liability and the excessive malpractice lawsuits that are so frequent.

I wish my hubs didn't absolutely love this dr. He plans on discussing on our next visit. He'll be nice and professional.

By the way, he did get a response today, Friday, after his initial phone call on Monday. Is 5 days too long? In my opinion, yes!

Us healthcare professionals make terrible patients b/c we know how things should go, and it usually doesn't!

Hubs is doing good/ok, now that we realize he probably won't go back to his pre-ms normal. Just being thankful for the abilities and time we have now.

New perspectives on life and time together is all I've gained from MS, thus far. What a ride!

[laurasari]

I know I am spoiled. I always get a call back the same day except if its my drs day off If its not the dr it's his. His sevretary. Who talks to him. But most of the time it's the dr. When he is done seeing patients he calls.

[justacowgirl]

I left my neuro for similar reasons. I then looked for a neuro who specialized in ms and when I found one I made an appt and I interviewed her. The appointment was strictly to see if she was someone I wanted caring for me.

I found someone who takes great care of me and her staff is prompt in response.

Don't be afraid to be particular about who is treating your ms. You are paying for a service and you should receive professional treatment for your dollars and time.

It doesn't matter if your doc is "nice" what matters is your health and their concern for it.