Trolling for advice...
Jun. 29th, 2004 03:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kickaha(panthermoth, if you could toss this one towards the everlateone, I'd appreciate his input)
So the surgery looks to be a *SCREAMING* success (okay, I've only done that a few times) with my mobility almost, nearly, notquitebutwe'reworkingonit the same as my 'good' arm. Which is amazing, since I have congenitally loose shoulders to start with. The surgeon says I already have 'normal' mobility, any difference between my shoulders is only due to my left one still being a freak of nature.
The entire process wasn't too bad... with one exception.
On June 17th, I had that appt with Pre-Care to discuss my anesthesiology. I made an appt with the pre-care office, and talked to the same nurse I had before. She was able to answer my questions, with a couple of exceptions. She left me to read my chart (which was really cool), while she 'found someone who could answer them for me'.
In she walks again with a doc in scrubs. "Umm, that's ours" he says, and *yanks my chart out of my hands*. Okay, buddy, strike one. Instantly, I'm not liking this guy, but I figure what the hell, I'll get my questions answered and get out of here and never have to deal with this idiot again.
He introduces himself as Dr. Yue, Prof of Anesthesiology at UNC. Fine, good! Well, less than 10 minutes later he leaves. He couldn't *wait* to get out of there... and I'm only partially satisfied with the answers. Strike two. Enh, I have enough to mull it over and I finally made a decision on my own.
Today a bill came for a 'Consultation' with Dr. Yue... $150.
Bull. Fucking. Shit.
I never *asked* to talk to him. I never made an appointment with him. He was unprofessional. I was not treated with respect or courtesy. I left with my questions only partially answered, in part because I just wanted him to leave the room.
And he wants to charge me for it.
Wrong.
Advice?
I am writing a formal letter of complaint right now, but it will have to be forwarded to the Administrator of his dept, who will then yay or nay it (any guess on what it will be?), and then send it back down to the UNC Physician's & Associates billing center, which takes 30+ days.
Anyone have any experience in fighting something like this before? I'm happy, willing, and able to pay the remainder of the bill, and am thrilled with everything else.
But *THIS* will not stand. Period. If I have to pay, I'll make damned sure that it costs them more than $150 to get it.
So the surgery looks to be a *SCREAMING* success (okay, I've only done that a few times) with my mobility almost, nearly, notquitebutwe'reworkingonit the same as my 'good' arm. Which is amazing, since I have congenitally loose shoulders to start with. The surgeon says I already have 'normal' mobility, any difference between my shoulders is only due to my left one still being a freak of nature.
The entire process wasn't too bad... with one exception.
On June 17th, I had that appt with Pre-Care to discuss my anesthesiology. I made an appt with the pre-care office, and talked to the same nurse I had before. She was able to answer my questions, with a couple of exceptions. She left me to read my chart (which was really cool), while she 'found someone who could answer them for me'.
In she walks again with a doc in scrubs. "Umm, that's ours" he says, and *yanks my chart out of my hands*. Okay, buddy, strike one. Instantly, I'm not liking this guy, but I figure what the hell, I'll get my questions answered and get out of here and never have to deal with this idiot again.
He introduces himself as Dr. Yue, Prof of Anesthesiology at UNC. Fine, good! Well, less than 10 minutes later he leaves. He couldn't *wait* to get out of there... and I'm only partially satisfied with the answers. Strike two. Enh, I have enough to mull it over and I finally made a decision on my own.
Today a bill came for a 'Consultation' with Dr. Yue... $150.
Bull. Fucking. Shit.
I never *asked* to talk to him. I never made an appointment with him. He was unprofessional. I was not treated with respect or courtesy. I left with my questions only partially answered, in part because I just wanted him to leave the room.
And he wants to charge me for it.
Wrong.
Advice?
I am writing a formal letter of complaint right now, but it will have to be forwarded to the Administrator of his dept, who will then yay or nay it (any guess on what it will be?), and then send it back down to the UNC Physician's & Associates billing center, which takes 30+ days.
Anyone have any experience in fighting something like this before? I'm happy, willing, and able to pay the remainder of the bill, and am thrilled with everything else.
But *THIS* will not stand. Period. If I have to pay, I'll make damned sure that it costs them more than $150 to get it.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-06-29 08:06 pm (UTC)Still, you should get this out of them in flesh.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-06-30 12:01 am (UTC)Yeah, I'm going to be pushing this one through like a madman. If this situation doesn't result in both financial and personal satisfaction, I'll take it to the state and the media. Screw this idiot.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-06-29 08:19 pm (UTC)Since you didn't ask to speak with him or make an appointment, it's crazy that they would expect you to pay for an impromptu "consultation".
I'm going to get in touch with my mom (she's an RN, among other things) and see what her take is.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-06-29 08:58 pm (UTC)Hopefully the admin will see where you're coming from and take those charges off your bill.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-06-29 09:05 pm (UTC)I was sure to detail his lack of professionalism, and that I would like to discuss it in person with the appropriate officials... including snippets from their own Patient Rights and Responsibilities webpage that he violated.
I figure that if I threaten to make enough of a stink regarding him, they may decide that if they remove the charge, I'll forget about it. Ha. Not now.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-06-29 09:54 pm (UTC)beware!
If it was covered by insurance
Date: 2004-06-29 11:07 pm (UTC)Re: If it was covered by insurance
Date: 2004-06-29 11:10 pm (UTC)Good call on the cc... I'll add it.
on the other hand
Date: 2004-06-30 06:27 pm (UTC)I have, on many an occasion, enjoyed the adrenaline rush of righteous indignation.
I understand that your angry and that he provided poor care and an unexpected. Yes, I bet you can win this if you fight it. But consider this - is this the most important thing you can be doing? Moreover, is the feeling of being wronged the one you want to dwell in? Overall, the surgery yielded the best possible long-term result. Be happy, skip the drama, get on with the fun.
Yes, I know, thems "fightin' woids", but, just give it a moment of thought.
Nancy
Re: on the other hand
Date: 2004-06-30 06:42 pm (UTC)But... I have a serious problem with the way our medical system is run. I can't change the whole thing, but if I can bring to light *one* instance of it that affected *me*, then I'll feel like I've done *something* about the situation.
Basically, it gives me a right to be self-righteous about it later. :D
The more cases where people just say "Eh, I'm not going to bother", the worse it gradually gets. The letter is written, the calls have been made, at this point I'm done with it until a response comes back. If it isn't to my satisfaction, then I will pursue other avenues, including contacting the state medical review board and local media outlets.
Overall, I'm a nice and pretty easy going person. But I don't fight nice. I fight to win.