What a waste of time

@winterose (39887)
Canada
April 9, 2013 1:18am CST
As you know I have to go for a test to see if I have fibroids or cirrhosis of the liver. The way this doctor operates is that you must fax the referral form to the hospital and then somebody calls you back to tell you when to come for your appointment. I faxed the copy and then I got a call from endoscopy that my appointment was for April 5 at 8 am. I went for nothing there was no appointment for me at all. They said I couldn't have gotten an appointment because I am still on the waiting list. I told them I did and I still have it on my answering machine. They asked me who told me I had an appointment I said I don't remember her name but it still on the answering machine. So I had to go back home for nothing. Now I have her name and called the secretary back but she was not there, she called me to tell me she received my call and I was sleeping. So I have to call her tomorrow to give her the name of the lunatic that told me I had an appointment. I came home in extreme pain, and wasted bus fare all for nothing. So many of us here on mylot are having problems with hospitals, doctors, social workers all of a sudden it is just crazy. Any thoughts?
4 people like this
14 responses
@sissy15 (12214)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I'm not so sure it's sudden. Patients should be the number one priority for ALL doctors, but that's just not the case. A lot of doctors are more concerned about their paychecks than the well being of their patients. Not all, but a lot. It's easy to put off people when they really don't have to think about what kind of pain or suffering their patients are going through. There are a lot of doctors that still care, but it seems it's dwindling the more the economy dwindles. More people are on government assistance (at least in the USA) and doctors don't make as much from them, so they tend to take better care of those with regular insurance where they get more money. Again this isn't always the case, but that's how it seems. Especially when many people are getting the run around. It's always nice to hear of a doctor that is willing to help someone in need that doesn't have the money to offer, I have met a doctor like this. My BF had kidney problems, and we found a doctor who was willing to wave his fee, and talk to the hospital about cutting costs of the procedure. I have a great deal of respect for that doctor, he is the same doctor that took my mom as a patient when no one else wanted to. I find it's getting harder to find doctors like that anymore. The point is it's easy to forget about patients if they don't get emotionally attached, and most don't. At one time it seemed like doctors cared more. It's just a theory. I really have no real proof of any of it, but it just kind of makes sense to me.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
9 Apr 13
I am in Canada and doctor visits are free. The doctor schedules appointments according to severity of the problem at hand. Right now I have no idea when I will get to see him.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I don't wait that long to get a doctor at all. Now I don't get an appointment the next day but since I am not dying, and trust me in Canada people with the most serious issues get dealt with first and that is the way it should be. Well the secretary who is on vacation who gave me the appointment apparently is going to be dealt with over this matter when she gets back. I got my appointment now and it was in three weeks so I can't complain and it is for free. Some Canadians just don't know how lucky they. Canadians are spoiled and act lack spoiled teenagers sometime.
@sissy15 (12214)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Well that's probably your issue then. They have so many patients. Here not every doctor will see everyone and has less patients. Making it easier to get to everyone, but often times what I said above is true and is the issue here. Doctors aren't as concerned about others issues because it's still not theirs or a loved ones well being. I have a lot of thoughts on this, but it's kind of hard for me to put into words. I know a lot of people I have talked to in Canada have said the same thing that their health care is free, but they have to wait forever to get into a doctor. Here it's not so much of a wait, but we do get the run around. There are a ton of people here thought that can't get into a doctor because of lack of insurance.
1 person likes this
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
9 Apr 13
that is too bad. i used to think that issues like that were limited to Ontario where i live (because we have 'free' health care - i mean waiting 6 months for a specialist when you are suffering now is crazy) Anyways, i hope that you get everything sorted out and you get relieved of your pain.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
these things can happen anywhere
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
21 Apr 13
I got my appointment for three weeks from now. I can't complain.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Do you have government run health care? Government run anything is usually very inefficient and also wasteful, the reason being it's not their own money or resources involved, so less conscientious. This is to say nothing of lumbering bureaucracy. I said a prayer for your health.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (156813)
• United States
10 Apr 13
I am sorry that happened to you. I think in many instances they are trying to get more done with fewer people and that leads to more mistakes. And we all are busy or need to sleep. especially, if we have a chronic illness like you do. I hope they figure it all out.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
yep I think so too. I have to wait now for my real appointment don't know when that will be. They have to take the most important cases first.
• United States
9 Apr 13
some just keep you coming back as much as I hate to say it because each visit they get paid more.. I have had fibroids and had a hysterectomy . if ever you have one I suggest do a total one not part because you always end up back for the other part anyway.. I know it is hard about going back and forth to the doctors we all have to sometimes, hope you feel better soon. I hate the waiting in an office sometimes take too long.. keep in touch let us know how you are.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
no they didn't see me so they didn't get paid. Doctor already had a full day. Secretary asked if he could take me anyway and he said he didn't have the time. It had patients coming in all day long. He wasn't even going to have lunch.
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Thats awful...But that just happened to my friend today she paid $38.00 in a taxi for her and her daugher to go to the doctors because they called to say she had a appointment...we she got there they just advised her that she need to pick up a perscription to go the the blood lab for some test. She was livid and I can't even blame her at all...
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
wow imagine that two of us. They don't take into consideration our cost to get there and it is not like we can bill them like they bill us.
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
12 Apr 13
Ah, that is too bad. I am sorry your day was wasted and bus fare too. It is true that more and moe people are older and needing care and fewer young people support the aging population, especially in Quebec where you live, that has now the lowest birth rate in Canada. So mistakes happen, sometimes there is also a language barrier, I imagine. I don't think there is an easy solution. It has happened to me that I came to my specialists office and was told my appointment had been cancelled, only no one had told me. I also wasted a morning. In the end. however I am so very grateful I live in Canada and have universal health care, flawed as it may be. I have diabetes and I know of people in the U.S who have had to give up their house, their savings and their quality of life just to pay for their medications and care. I don't have a solution to the dilemma of aging populations, illnesses caused by bad diets and lifestyles and a shrinking young working population to support the cost of more and more hospitals and other care.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
12 Apr 13
yes I agree with you. Though in hospitals they speak english and french her. Albeit they speak more french in some cases, but I have never had a problem with somebody who was french and didn't understand me.
@Lakota12 (42602)
• United States
9 Apr 13
ours here one word obamacare and DOctors quiting
1 person likes this
• United States
9 Apr 13
Thanks to Obama we have less insurance coverage for more money. Still, I can't say I've had inept care or anything.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
pointless has great care
@AmbiePam (84424)
• United States
13 Apr 13
I've heard this is a problems of socialized medicine. You may get your health care relatively free, but you have to wait a really long time to have things done.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
14 Apr 13
we get our health care free and we don't have to wait that long, imagine having cancer getting free treatment and getting treated right away. I wouldn't trade my system in for the world.
@AmbiePam (84424)
• United States
14 Apr 13
Then the book I read must have been talking about England and its problem with socialized medicine. It was Canada or England. Since England has more people I can understand why it would have a larger problem.
@celticeagle (157281)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Apr 13
I think that each and everyone of us needs to follow through and make sure that these lunatics that aren't doing their jobs right are reported. The incompetency and negligence is like a virus. And it seems to be spreading fast.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
yes it certainly is spreading that is for sure.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157281)
• Boise, Idaho
11 Apr 13
Yes, sadly, you are right.
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
10 Apr 13
i think the economy in both our countries is having a lot to do with what we can get help for in medical, etc. so that is causing us to have to deal with poorly educated and uncaring medical people that dont want to do their job the right way. its like a blow back of problems when the economy goes. all things get worse and there are more unqualified people that are put in positions to work on our things.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
I think it was a clerical error and to err is human, the secretary must of had an appointment for someone else and called me instead. I hope that other person got his or her appointment.
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
I always would call the hospital before my appointed time. That way, i get to know if the doctor will be in or may be somewhere for an emergency. It's a waste of time and fares indeed to go to a hospital for nothing. Thus, i do the above always now.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
9 Apr 13
the office does not open before my appointment I could not call but I had an appointment given to me so there was no need to call in the first place.
• United States
9 Apr 13
That sounds like an inept bunch of people. You were called so your name had to come up as your turn. I would be totally pissed about that. Nothing like that has ever happened to me. We don't have government run health care and I'm glad we don't. When I have an appointment it is because I made it and I get a courtesy call from all of my docs offices to remind me a day or two before my appointment. Not once have I been turned away and told I don't have an appointment. They don't sound very efficient. I think someone need to reimburse you for your bus fare at least, because they are the ones that called you. Whoever called you, or the one who denied your appointment should be held accountable. That's just my opinion.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
it had to be a clerical error, I think the secretary called the wrong phone number, she was supposed to be looking into another person's file.
• United States
9 Apr 13
Never had experienced anything like that before. Whenever we received a call back with an appointment for testing it was always set and the tests went as scheduled. It does seem that the system up there doesn't work as it should. It is a shame you wasted the day for nothing. Hope you can get it all straightened out tomorrow.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Apr 13
you can't generalize this is one of those things that happened it never happened to me or anyone else I knew before. Mixups happen everywhere. I read a few mix up with doctors appointments and social workers this week in the USA different states, on mylot.
1 person likes this