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It is possible that your recent bill came from the doctor who interpreted the results of the machine's scan. Was the bill from a radiologist? The way our healthcare system is set up, you have to pay for the test, and you have to pay again for a specialist doctor to evaluate the test results! That doctor probably did not even see you face-to-face.
I recommend that you go in person to the hospital and sit with billing services to get an explanation for each item on your bill.
Our family used Presbyterian/Novant in Huntersville a couple of times and there were no billing issues.
I agree with you that this may be the best way to solve billing issues (I have had to do that with several hospitals over the years).
However, OP wanted to complain about the SERVICE he received as well as make a direct complaint about one nurse, in particular.
To do that, he needs to contact the CEO and VP who is over ER, Nursing, etc.
You know, something just seems off about all this.
Yes, it does.
In my experience, drug-seeking behavior is so common in ERs . . . I recently did a study on that very subject (for a hospital).
I do know the caution could possibly make it difficult for someone who has a legitimate complaint, but if their main request is for pain medication (and I am not insinuating that this is the case . . . I am simply SPECULATING) . . . then it becomes a matter of "observing" the patient while working up whatever other tests/scans are indicated.
I have had to wait over 7 hours in an ER so I know it can be frustrating. But ERs are triage areas and they have limited beds, too. We don't know what else was going on in the ER at the time OP was there.
I am not trying to be dismissive about OP's distress over his treatment. However, the logical way to handle complaints is to write a letter to the correct folks . . . and open a dialogue.
In my experience, drug-seeking behavior is so common in ERs . . . I recently did a study on that very subject (for a hospital).
Right. I'm looking for drugs. The hospital can get my pcp records to see my history and see that it is part of an earlier reported prob.
I got a $10,000.00 deductible, so I'm gonna go to the ER and rack up $4,000.00 in expenses for a day's supply of pills? Right. Like some people say.... something just seems off about all this.
The day I posted first time, I wrote an email (from there websight) to the Nursing Licensing Broad and complained. Two days later, I got a call from Novant telling me that my account has been credited in full. I'm waiting for a letter.
Something just seemed off about all that and they knew it.
Right. I'm looking for drugs. The hospital can get my pcp records to see my history and see that it is part of an earlier reported prob.
I got a $10,000.00 deductible, so I'm gonna go to the ER and rack up $4,000.00 in expenses for a day's supply of pills? Right. Like some people say.... something just seems off about all this.
The day I posted first time, I wrote an email (from there websight) to the Nursing Licensing Broad and complained. Two days later, I got a call from Novant telling me that my account has been credited in full. I'm waiting for a letter.
Something just seemed off about all that and they knew it.
Thanks everyboddy for your input.
I hope this took care of your situation and you feel it is resolved.
PLEASE NOTE:
I was in no way saying you are a drug addict. I was saying that it is very likely the nurse has been trained to be skeptical of anyone showing up and asking for pain relief.
I hope this took care of your situation and you feel it is resolved.
PLEASE NOTE:
I was in no way saying you are a drug addict. I was saying that it is very likely the nurse has been trained to be skeptical of anyone showing up and asking for pain relief.
It's likely that you got an opinion about everything.
I'm in no way saying that what you said wasn't offensive.
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 11-08-2013 at 09:06 PM..
Reason: flaming
I was denied pain meds once while I waited for the surgeon to come in. He had to see exactly how much pain I was in at the time and did not want the pain meds to mask a serious condition. I'll take pain over missing an exploding addendix that could kill. But that's just me...
Hi. I'm a newbie here and am glad I found this form. I had a serious problem with a staff at the Presby ER. Crazy unprovoked screaming by a nurse and five hours not seeing a doctor until I got up to get dressed. I don't want to go into details because the rest of the story could be pretty serious , and i don't want to mess things up if I have to get a lawyer.
My question is who can I contact outside the hospital about this. I got two form letters from the hospital, but I think someone else needs to know about this. AMA? Who controls the nurses? I am really getting angry about this and I really dont think the hospital cares.
And one more thing. I got a bill from a doctor for an exam that I didn't even have. It wasnt through the insurance company. It was from his billing service. I would know if a second doctor touched me. That's not the kind of thing I'd forget.
What to do?
You can contact the North Carolina BON (board of nursing) regarding the nurse, but you will need the name.
From their site
If you believe that a nurses’ performance is incompetent, negligent or unsafe, you have a right and responsibility to file a complaint with the Board.
The joint commission certifies hospitals to provide certain services.
I hope you do complain. Too many nurses here who are in it for the money and don't have an ounce of compassion (or maybe it's just "bad manners" to show any- but I doubt it). I will take UK NHS staff over any of those I've met in healthcare here-doctors, nurses etc alike.
First of all, it is not uncommon at all for hospitals to contract with an outside company for ER physicians.
Secondly, the big movement in ER healthcare today is "drug-seeking patients." People come into the ER with one request: painkillers. Narcs are all over it and docs have lost licenses. So that is why the legitimate cases get treated like druggies . . .
You need to stop with the phone calls and put things in writing.
And this is where the lack of good old clinical examination,history taking and clinical reasoning falls flat on it's face her. Pain is only 1 sign/symptom of many conditions and I guess it's fairly easy to fake.
BUT this is when any nurse or Doctor worth their salt will do a focused history and exam and make a provisional diagnsosis based on those, and then order appropriate tests and give analgesia.
People being left in pain is not acceptable- whatever the reason and as for not giving pain relief because it might mask the symptoms -that's complete BS. Never heard anything so unethical and incompetent in my life. Even in head injury patients where pain killers may make full neurological exam difficult there are options.
I went to ER at CMC University with abdo pain. In triage the nurse did vitals and then the doc came in and felt my stomach, whilst I was clothed and standing up.
No one did a proper exam or took a proper history.
I was told they were going to do an abdo ultrasound and nearly leapt off the table when the US tech went under the sheet with a snake like probe. Nobody had told me that it would be an internal US and she wasn't even looking at where she was going to put the probe!
My PCP (also Carolinas Healthcare system) always examines me through my clothes for heavens sake. I always joke and say I wonder if he would put on a blindfold if he did my PAP smear and use one of those helping hand disability aids.
This isn't the way to practice medicine.
Right. I'm looking for drugs. The hospital can get my pcp records to see my history and see that it is part of an earlier reported prob.
I got a $10,000.00 deductible, so I'm gonna go to the ER and rack up $4,000.00 in expenses for a day's supply of pills? Right. Like some people say.... something just seems off about all this.
The day I posted first time, I wrote an email (from there websight) to the Nursing Licensing Broad and complained. Two days later, I got a call from Novant telling me that my account has been credited in full. I'm waiting for a letter.
Something just seemed off about all that and they knew it.
Thanks everyboddy for your input.
Good for you- but bet that nurse is still practicing.
Sorry I didn't see this before I started posting. I was just so irate that these things seem to happen.
I used to think I was ashamed to say I was a RN in England, but I'm quite glad that I never got the chance to practice here. I think I would have found it very frustrating.
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That doctor probably did not even see you face-to-face.
