Doctors Orders But Staff Puts Up A Roadblock

Due to my husband Ernies recent cancer diagnosis we have been spending lots of time at doctors offices, labs and other medical places.

As we have more and more dealings with doctors and appointments, we are learning how much of a disconnect there is between doctors and doctors and their staff.
The first time happened after his colonoscopy. The dr told me to make Ernie appointment with a colorectal surgeon right away. I called his office to do this and was told that they couldn't make an appointment because the dr still had his chart!! They would call me tomorrow. Tomorrow came and went. There was no phone call. The next day I called the office and was told that they had left a message. We never got a message from the Doctor's office-so I doubt that one was left. Anyway, I was able to make Ernie's appointment.

The next thing that happened was Ernie's appointment with Dr. Arend's, the colorectal surgeon. At the end of this appointment, Dr. Arends sent Ernie for a chest x-ray and lab work and told hime to make an appointment for Thursday afternoon for a biopsy of his tumor. He said the appointment could be made as late as 4 or 4:30pm. When I called to make the appointment, I was told that the doctor's office hours ended at 3:50pm. So he got a 3:50pm appointment.

This past week we had another mix-up in directions. After seeing Dr. Bhatt as a part of his radiation therapy on Wednesday he got two prescriptions. One was for a powder and one was oxycodone for pain. The prescription for the powder was escribed, no problem. The prescription for the oxycodone we dropped off at Walgreen's on our way home. For convenience sake we went through the drive-up at walgreens. Ernie handed the pharmacist the prescription and she told him it would be ready around 1:30pm. When he went back around 2pm, the prescription hadn't even been filled. Apparently, the girl who took the prescription from him should have asked for his ID, which she didn't. Pharmacy rules say that a prescription for a controlled substance can't be filled without an ID. We realize that some of these measures were put in place because of fraud and abuse, but this is ridiculous. All of the pharmacy staff should have been trained on the proper procedures.

The very worst thing that has happened to us was a mix-up between the doctor and his staff. Last year, (2013) Ernie started suffering from terrible shoulder pain in his left shoulder. After urging him several times to see a doctor, Ernie finally let me make an appointment for him. The appointment was set for September 27,2013. A couple days before the doctors office called to cancel his appointment. When I asked why I was told that since he hadn't since the doctor in six years, the scheduled appointment was not enough time for his appointment. I had an appointment on the same day, at the same office,, with a different doctor. Ernie was so angry at having his appointment cancelled that he would even go to the doctor's office with me (which he usually does).

I'd be curious to know if other people have had experiences like these. Please feel free to share them with me.

Until Next Time,


Think Live and Be Pain-Free,


Joy