HELP! Im getting the run around...

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#1 Post by **rockymountaingal** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:05 pm

hi all-
This may be a bit long, but Im in need of some advice. I had my consultation with my oral surgeon on Nov. 29th. I show up only to find that he had NOT received my xrays from my ortho, and only had my molds. I had just seen my ortho a couple of weeks before seeing surgeon. I asked them if they sent my xrays to OS. They said they would be sure to send them out and they WOULD be there in time. Obviously they werent. So I feel like it was kind of a wasted appointment because the surgeon really couldnt be specific about anything cause he didnt have my xrays!!! Ok, so surgeon tells me he will call ortho and talk about what my options would be to avoid having upper surgery as well as lower. My initial "diagnosis" was lower only. oh hurray for me.
anyhow, I say ok and go on my way.
Go to my ortho appt. on Dec. 10th. I ask them if surgeon has called. No. They made a note to make sure and call him to talk. I say ok and go on my way.
I call surgeon on Monday( 17th) to see if ortho had called. No.
Ok, NOW im mad. Im starting to feel like Im really not much of a priority to them. I am a patient, right?? So THEY make a note to have him call ortho, and also I leave a message on the surgeons voicemail. Needless to say, he hasnt called back.
Im starting to have a bad feeling about all of this. Im mad because basically Im "on hold" until these yahoos decide to talk to each other. Im tempted to find another surgeon and try again.
has anyone had any experience like this ( surgeon dragging feet) and what did you do???
Im ready to get this process started!!! EEESH!

#2 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:50 pm

That really sucks!

I'm not really sure what to suggest... I did not experience anything like that. I think you should gently tell both these folks exactly how you are feeling right now. I know I would be really anxious if I was in your position. I would get on the phone, and be kind but persistent. And keep at it until you get the answers you need. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

#3 Post by **rockymountaingal** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:27 pm

well he has my xrays now, but as far as the two of them discussing my "case", thats where they are lollygagging.
Im thinking that the next time I go to my ortho Im just gonna get ALL my records anyway cause Im going to find one closer than him. He's an hour and a half away from me.

#4 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:35 pm

That's a huge pain - having to travel an hour and a half each way.

Switching to a closer ortho may be the way to go, but it can be tricky, especially if the new ortho wants to do things differently than the old ortho. It might add time to your treatment. Hopefully it works out for you.

Godd luck!

#5 Post by **Arvensis** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:55 am

My OS office gave me the runaround like this on applying for insurance. "Oh yes we sent away all the papers and applied"... No. they didn't. "OH yeah we sent that request in months ago" No, they didn't.

I basically wanted THAT SURGEON so i just became the office complain and was very demanding and held them accountable (No you didn't do X because I just got off the phone with them and they never recieved anything).

This worked good and bad. On one hand, everyone was afraid of me so nothing else got effed up too badly. On the other, they also stopped taking my calls directly and would tell me so and so was out or that they'd call me back later because they were on a call.

#6 Post by **Emaciated** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:46 am

Here's some advice that saved me, do everything over email. Screw the phone. I was in the same boat as you with the same frustration. Then I started emailing my doctors and their assistants and in the end I probably got 75% to 80% of my progress accomplished through email. Keep in mind, one, if not both of these doctors are swamped with many patients and lots and lots of paperwork and both work their own hours so its tough for them to connect over the phone at the same time while both having your x-rays and photos readily available.

I sent both of their contact info to each of them in one email and asked what they thought of my progress. After that they started corresponding regularly (and often in fact) about my treatment and my case. They both commented to me that that worked well for them because they could get to the emails when they had time instead of trying to coordinate with getting each other on the phone. I also emailed the surgeon's assitant regarding billing, insurance, scheduling a surgery, etc. It worked out really well.

Other advantages are that I can email either doctor my questions and get an answer back within 24 hours instead of having to call into the office and deal with the assitant, or wait until my next appointment. In one case I even got to skip a drive in because I just Fed Ex'd my molds into the surgeon and he emailed the ortho directly (cc'ing me) telling him what movements he needed. Plus you get everything in writing for your records if you ever need to review what was discussed.

I only wish I could've gotten United Health Care to coorespond through email as well. Every call into my insurance ended up developing into an entire morning of being on hold/transfers/waiting for a manager to become available, etc.

Anyway, just a suggestion that might help the lack of communication.