BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...

Subject: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 06:51 PM

... a question?

If you do that here they freak out. You either have to make an appointment or get yer ass to emerg RFN. And you should have known better than to have called and asked such a stupid question. What is wrong with you? Not in those exact words of course but in that tone of voice.

Either that or you should know the answer already and shouldn't have called... almost the same as what I just said but not quite. Again, not in those exact words. But you had better not call again and waste my and the doc's valuable time.

I am scared to "ask" on accounta I don't wanna piss them off in case I REALLY need them some day. What's it like where you are?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Little Robyn
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 06:57 PM

I don't like to bother them unless I know I need their medication. My first stop is Google and if the answers there suggest it's serious, then I spend money on the Doctor.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 07:08 PM

Here, we can't spend money on the doc as it's free. So, if you call (not knowing you shouldn't) you can get in shit with the receptionist and then yer up the creek.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 07:41 PM

The medical practice I use (part of the NHS in Scotland) allocates a chunk of time for doctors to do phone appointments. But they don't allocate a lot of time, and it can sometimes be quicker to see them in person.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Joe_F
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 08:00 PM

I patronize an advanced hospital that allows me to send email to the doctors. Doesn't interrupt their busyness, allows them to forward it to the person who knows the answer, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 08:03 PM

It took some searching, but I now have doctors whom I can call, reach their nurses, or in one case, wife, and get a call back no later than the end of the day, sooner if need be, either by the nurse, who has spoken with the doc, or by the doc himself. One specialist answers his own phone quite often and even has a skype addy printed on his cards! They never make me feel rushed, stupid, or like a pain in the arse.

The primary care doc I had up until two years ago was a whole different story, though, except for one nurse. It was a nightmare to call in, etc. Receptionists were esp. terrible. I wrote in a complaint about one and never had to deal with her, again. Those troubles were some of the reasons we found a new doc.

I do keep myself informed as much as possible, through online research which helps with my questions for the docs. I think they all appreciate that.

gnu, any way you can change docs? Would that help or is it that way all over?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: olddude
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 08:41 PM

Well for me it is an unfair example. My doc is one of my best friends so I just walk over to his house or call him at home.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Bill D
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 08:47 PM

My medical group (USA---Kaiser Permanente)has a special number manned by medical staff just to call for advice about whether you SHOULD seek further help.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: maeve
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 08:48 PM

When I had a doctor I could also call her office when necessary, and either spoke to her nurse or left a message to be called back. It's part of good medical care.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 08:56 PM

I call and give a message to the receptionist. The doctor always gets back to me. Doctors want to see the patient, however, otherwise they might give wrong advice or mis-diagnose. Something that seems simple to you might not be. If it is a simple problem, best to get that confirmed in an examination.
Get the appointment.

Gnu, is it free in your province? Here in wealthy Alberta, we pay about $1500 a year for medical service. Luckily I get much of my drug cost paid out of a benefit that accompanies my pension. Alberta has limits on drug allowances.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: LilyFestre
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:01 PM

I can call my oncologist's office and speak to my nurse about anything. If she doesn't know the answer, she will find out and get back to me within an hour or two.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:10 PM

"gnu, any way you can change docs? Would that help or is it that way all over?"

Oh my. If you tried to do that here you would NEVER get another doc. You would be without a doc for the rest of your life unless the doc you tried to get actually agreed to take you on in his/her practice ahead of time... which they would not do unless you had some kind of "in". It is just not done here.

Dan... yer lucky, as was I, when a good buddy of mine from uni was my doc. He was Chief of Staff at the hop and I got top dog treatment. Then, he took a position as top dog in Family Medicine at the top medical school in Atlantic Canada and became the top Family Medicine doc in AC. So, he's kinda busy now and I don't like to bug him. Besides, he ain't gonna rock any boats eh?

His replacement (after two years without a family doc... if yer sick, go to a walk-in clinic) is married to a distant cousin (nurse) of mine. I called her the other day and asked her a "question". Call the office... she can't dispense medical advice... it's against the law. Well... she didn't SAY that... she said she didn't know... you do the math.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: gnu
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:15 PM

Q... $1500? Who do you pay that to? Is it all ABers who that fee?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:49 PM

Those who are dirt poor don't pay it or pay a fraction.

Those who can pay get it deducted in the part of the tax form devoted to the province.
The monthly premium is $88/month for a family. For employed persons, the employee pays $44 and the employer pays $44. That is $1056/year, not $1500 as I mistakenly guessed.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Ebbie
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:55 PM

Guest: "In the USA, personal physicians, (GP) General Practicioners make "house calls" - the doctor may have a peculiar accent - but they write scripts, and thump, and breath, and draw blood-tests....."

Which USA do you live in, Garg? And in which century?

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Maryrrf
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 10:59 PM

I think it depends on the doctor. I can call my primary physician, leave a message with the nurse and he will get back with me, or she'll find out the answer and call back.

I haven't heard of a doctor, GP or otherwise, that makes house calls in the US, at least not in the last 40 years or so. And if that service were available I can't imagine that it would be "dirt cheap".

One thing they've started and I think it's a good idea is "Minute Clinics" in drugstores like Walgreens or CVS where you can walk in and see a nurse practitioner. It's only good for things like a sore throat, minor injury, etc. but it's relatively inexpensive. They can prescribe medications, and I'm sure they'd send you to the emergency room if they thought you had something that was beyond their expertise.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: autolycus
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 01:27 AM

What sort of question do you want to ask?


I would ignore the frostyness of receptionists which I treat as their problem and don't allow it to become mine..

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 04:24 AM

I'd phone my doctor's surgery, or, out of hours "NHS direct".

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 04:38 AM

Re 'office'/'surgery' ~~ see my new thread on "More on transAtlantic distinctions".

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Janie
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 10:21 AM

What Autolycus said....

And I would mention my experience to the doctor.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 11:55 AM

I feel I have to ask. If doctors in the US don't make house calls what happens if you are too ill to go to their surgery (office)but not sufficiently ill to need hospital?
Our doctors surgery do have telephone appointments but for advice we are encouraged to ring NHS direct or speak to a pharmacist.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:08 PM

There is a practice in the Triangle (Raleigh Durham) area that advertises on public radio that they make house calls.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: maeve
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:12 PM

There are doctors and Nurse Practitioners who make house calls in the United States. It is a practice that is slowly (re)gaining ground.

Here are some of the results of a quick Google search:

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/healthcare/doctorsnurses/2010-11-13-house-calls_N.htm

http://www.urgentmedhousecalls.com/

http://visitingphysicians.com/

http://www.pharmacistelink.com/index.php/medicaid/30294

http://www.mayohospital.com/pract/pract_fernow.php

And one more recent innovation here in Maine and other locations; Internet medical consultation and monitoring has made a difference for some. Telemedicine

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: olddude
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:43 PM

Gnu
here is an easy way, call me, I will call my surgeon buddie ... I will get ya an answer right quick

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: gnu
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 01:52 PM

Gosh, Dan. THANKS! If anything major comes up, I will.

I was talking about a minor complaint (which could have BECOME serious). We do have a "talk-to-a-nurse" phone number here. Takes an hour of two for them to phone back.

I'll up the ante... some docs here (well, one, from Africa who sees military personnel such as my late bro) will only see a patient regarding one complaint at a time. If you make an appt for your toe and subsequently develop a problem with your finger or remember you wish to have a prescription refilled or whatever, you have to make another appt.

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: olddude
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 02:00 PM

No No just call me, My buddie is the chief of surgery for a big hospital. He is the best of the best, saved my life a couple of times. I will just bug him .. no problem ..

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 12:10 AM

811

Subject: RE: BS: Can you call your doc's office to ask...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 05:54 PM

For many years I have gotten all my health care from a large organization called an HMO. (In Minnesota, all HMOs are required to be non-profit, and I think that makes a big difference in quality. Most people like their HMOs.) The HMOs around here always have a 24-hour number that you can call for advice. You won't speak to your regular doctor, but you will speak to a triage nurse who will tell you whether you should apply a home remedy, or make an appointment, or go to the emergency room, or call an ambulance, or whether there is an "urgent care" clinic that can take you right now. I have never heard of anyone getting bad advice. Usually, it is a great relief to talk to them. I have called them a couple of times and had good advice.