Shady Hospital Practices

[superdog]

I’ve been going to the same general practitioner for 15 years.

He was a home practice guy. Then got bought out by a big University hospital. He retired a few years later. But I liked the new guy so I stayed. I actually like him a lot.

That said, I get my meds refilled just like the rest of my PPO folks out there. Recently, my pharmacy would not refill my asthma or high blood pressure meds. They kept asking my doctor, but no response. They asked me to follow up.

When I did, I was told I had to come in. I said I would and asked that they call them in. They said no. Doctors orders. They had to see me before refilling my prescriptions.

I asked to speak to the doctor. They said he was busy. I had two choices, come in and get my meds or don’t and possibly die. I’m paraphrasing, but that was the gyst of it.

I asked if they were slow, and if they needed to generate revenue. They actually said yes. I stated I had a physical 7 months ago. They said, too bad.

I get there, and I was informed I needed blood work. I reiterated I was in 7 months ago. Non starter. Blood was taken.

Doctor comes in and I’m frank in my annoyance. He confirms his equal annoyance. Says he has the same conversation multiple times a weeks. And that he wants to leave.

Shady.

But they wanted the revenue. And they actually risked my health to get it. Clearly, I’m not the only one.

Shady.

Broken system.

[Etschell]

Horrible.

Not as bad as those doctors in California putting fake metal hardware in people for spinal fusion. The hippocratic oath is "Do no harm".

[xspect]

I wish I can say that’s atypical but it’s not. A lot of providers are employees/ contractors for some big company.

My wife and I talked about opening up our own small practitioner practice. But we would be beaten down and ran out of town by the big guys.

The big guys have a profitable model that works and they aren’t going to deviate.


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[superdog]

It’s a shame.

Truly, profits over patients. And taking advantage of the system.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by superdog

I asked if they were slow, and if they needed to generate revenue. They actually said yes.

Too funny!

[Dubshack]

Insurance companies need to be the ones to crack down. They’re the ones paying these phony fees. And we get stuck with higher premiums/deductibles/etc.

System is definitely flawed.


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[superdog]

Originally Posted by THC

The current State of the Onion...

Do not want to get political, but it all needs to be blown up, imo

Agree. I’ll stay away too, except to say, it appears that’s happening.

[THC]

I see my post got deleted.. apologies to all Mods as I apparently crossed

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by superdog

Agree. I’ll stay away too, except to say, it appears that’s happening.

I’m in the same boat. No office visit and new test, no Rx renewal. Every six months, no less.

But I don’t see anything happening to fix this. More likely it will continue to get worse in the foreseeable future.

I’ve lived in other countries. IME, the US has a very poor health care system for routine care. Too hard to get in to see a doctor right away, too many delays getting essential tests, too many unnecessary tests (and fees), and too long getting to the final diagnosis. Then there are the astronomical charges for meds that are cheap everywhere else in the world (one of my meds costs a lot less than 1% of the US cost overseas).

The US is awesome for specialized medicine, but for routine care, the US is worse by far than any other country I’ve lived.

[crew]

My brother and I go to the same G.P. Our father went to him as well and, now, my son goes to him. I really like the fact that this doctor has seen 3 generations of my family and, as a result, is intimate with our family medical history. He also sold to a large hospital a few years ago.
My brother could have written your post, Seth. Almost word for word. As a result he changed doctors about a month ago.
This is a very sad state of affairs.

[Dr.Brian]

That’s odd as the revenue from an office visit is pretty low. Not s good sign.
I would decline blood work that was unnecessary. Obviously I don’t know the nature of your situation, meds, etc.
PS The doctor can do anything he or she wants. They choose to make you come in, etc. There’s really no need to see someone frequently who is stable on meds with common problems. HTN, lipids, etc. Once a year seems adequate, maybe twice. Obviously more frequent visits are necessary for changes, starting new meds, more complex disease, etc.

[M45]

Originally Posted by Etschell

Horrible.

Not as bad as those doctors in California putting fake metal hardware in people for spinal fusion. The hippocratic oath is "Do no harm".

That’s just asking for a criminal investigation, one x-ray after the procedure and you can tell immediately if there is real hardware or not.

[2th_doc]

As someone in the healthcare profession I find it hard to believe that some corporate suit would dictate how a provider renders treatment. I pulled up an article that may put things in perspective coming from the healthcare provider point of view. Healthcare providers should not let patients dictate treatment. Healthcare providers must practice in a way to protect their license in this litigious world we live in.

http://www.cfah.org/blog/2014/when-d...eed-to-be-seen




The picture above was pulled from a healthcare provider that only gives BP medication for 6months at a time. After that they are requesting that you be seen. You said you were seen 7 months ago. Im just a dentist. Not a medical doctor. But it doesnt appear like anything was done wrong by requesting that you be seen before authorizing more prescriptions.




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[superdog]

Originally Posted by 2th_doc

As someone in the healthcare profession I find it hard to believe that some corporate suit would dictate how a provider renders treatment. I pulled up an article that may put things in perspective coming from the healthcare provider point of view. Healthcare providers should not let patients dictate treatment. Healthcare providers must practice in a way to protect their license in this litigious world we live in.

http://www.cfah.org/blog/2014/when-d...eed-to-be-seen




The picture above was pulled from a healthcare provider that only gives BP medication for 6months at a time. After that they are requesting that you be seen. You said you were seen 7 months ago. Im just a dentist. Not a medical doctor. But it doesnt appear like anything was done wrong by requesting that you be seen before authorizing more prescriptions.




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Wow. That’s super interesting. clearly, I was not aware of that.

That said, I’ve gone for 15 years getting consistent refills. And my doctor confirmed that it was the hospital and not him dictating this requirement to come in. Unless he was lying. Doubtful, but of course it’s possible.

Either way, I learned something new today. And I’m grateful for it.

[Floorguy]

Like I always tell my wife, it’s a business!! The days of private practice and caring doctors are gone!!! JMPO!

[chsu74]

I’ll add to this. My family is generally healthy. I will maybe go to the doctor once every 5-6 years. Called last time was was told I am no longer a patient of my GP. You need to at least visit your GP every 3 years or they will drop you as a patient. Doctors are limited to a certain number of patients on their roster so they want to have a list if patients who are constantly visiting them for revenue and making them money.

[2th_doc]

You say the previous doc you went to for 15yrs and then was bought out. So maybe the bigger entity that bought him out set up parameters and guidelines making it necessary to see a patient for certain refills after 6months. Kind of like the article says. Lets say a patient who consistently gets refill authorized for BP medication. But BP is out of control. The patient strokes out. Who is gonna be responsible and liable for that? The physician who is year after year refilling the prescription without seeing the patient. I wouldn’t want to be that physician.

Maybe some physicians here can weigh on this topic better than this dentist can.


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[Andad]

This is a no win situation for doctors.

If they give you medication without an examination and you die because your prescription requirements have changed you will complain.

If they insist on an appointment to prevent this situation from happening you will complain.

Stop complaining Seth.

[Fat_ninja]

Its a business...just how they manage it these days...

[superdog]

Originally Posted by directioneng

This is a no win situation for doctors.

If they give you medication without an examination and you die because your prescription requirements have changed you will complain.

If they insist on an appointment to prevent this situation from happening you will complain.

Stop complaining Seth.

Sorry. I do try and stay positive. I’ll try not to let it happen again.

I did get schooled a bit.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by directioneng

This is a no win situation for doctors.

If they give you medication without an examination and you die because your prescription requirements have changed you will complain.

If they insist on an appointment to prevent this situation from happening you will complain.

Stop complaining Seth.

Dead people don’t complain, Mr. grammar police.

[swils8610]

My old GP was terrible about sending me for tests I didn’t feel I needed. Same as you...no test no meds. He joined a company called MDVIP and wanted $3400 a year for me to be a patient of his. I’d be seeing him well over 25 years. That was the breaking point. I left and now see a group of GP’s. I see the same doctor when I go in but others are there in case mine is out. Best thing I ever did was leave my old guy...


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[superdog]

Originally Posted by swils8610

My old GP was terrible about sending me for tests I didn’t feel I needed. Same as you...no test no meds. He joined a company called MDVIP and wanted $3400 a year for me to be a patient of his. I’d be seeing him well over 25 years. That was the breaking point. I left and now see a group of GP’s. I see the same doctor when I go in but others are there in case mine is out. Best thing I ever did was leave my old guy...


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I’m about to.

[2th_doc]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Dead people don’t complain, Mr. grammar police.

Family members of that deceased person do.


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[Andad]

Originally Posted by 2th_doc

Family members of that deceased person do.


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It was a hypothetical situation.

I didn't want to kill Seth over a small issue of death.

Thank you for re-posting Abdullah's thread.

I have my instructions.

Tell him I would appreciate him capitalising "Mr. Grammar Police".

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by directioneng

This is a no win situation for doctors.

If they give you medication without an examination and you die because your prescription requirements have changed you will complain.

If they insist on an appointment to prevent this situation from happening you will complain.

Not only will they complain, they’ll hire lawyers.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Not only will they complain, they’ll hire lawyers.

In a second. Doctors and lawyers both have Porche payments to make.

[GB-man]

This is the same crap the vet just pulled on me with my dog Seth. Thankfully blood work was only like 50 bucks but incredibly annoying just to fill her long term allergy meds when I have a 2 month old at home.

[SpeakWithMichael]

The entire medical and medical insurance system in the US is beyond belief. My mother, who lives in Florida, tells me what a simple medical insurance plan would cost her (at age 58) with Blue Cross Blue Shield and it is absolutely insane. If you make less than $50,000 a year, you would basically be paying 1/3 to 1/2 of your take home pay just to have and pay for medical insurance. I mean, seriously? How is that sustainable for Americans?

[Moggo]

We are lucky, we have the NHS which is a fantastically run, well oiled machine!

(I need to know I’m going to be unwell before it happens so I can get an appointment for 4 weeks time )


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