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I hope your condition is not too serious (I know nothing about it) and gets resolved quickly but, yeah sounds like it's time for a new doctor for you too.
Maybe it is that some are letting their conditioning influence their response. It is a little surprising. I had no expectations when starting this thread, but some responses seem to be aggressive, angry, hateful. (maybe they are doctors who didn't get paid)
Once, in conversation regarding healthcare in America, I mentioned something similar to what a poster wrote about doctors only going for The Paycheck.
I said 'with politicians trying to fix healthcare in this country, maybe the Gov should pay for medical school for those who want to become doctors, with the caveat after graduation there is a limit on their salary, say 150k per year or ?) with annual col raises. (that is still a nice salary)
That would get rid of the doctors who are only there for the money and get people who really have a passion for the medical profession and a desire to want to help people.
Wow, I wasn't ready for the response to that. I was called a communist, glared at and called anti-American.
I only meant it as a simple comment in passing conversation. Oh well, takes all kinds to make the world go 'round and I guess I'm one of 'em.
So you don't find your suggestions bizarre in any way? Really?
I have an issue with doctors that don't or can't diagnose, do not address the symptoms that the appointment was made for, say "I don't know" then tell you to pay at the front on your way out.
1st appointment - I see a doctor for multiple symptoms that started at the same time. Doc says 'I don't know, lets get a blood test'. (OK that's a good starting point.)
2nd appointment we review the blood test. I ask what could be causing these symptoms ?
Doc says 'I don't know, let's do this other test and make another appointment for 1 month and see how you feel'. That sounded kinda goofy, but I agreed.
3rd appointment. Doctor reviews the other test and recommends a prescription medicine.
I ask 'Because of the test results, do you think I should really be taking that ?
Doc looks at the report again and says 'Oh No you shouldn't that could be bad'. (We share a pause and eye to eye moment)
Then with no more hesitation the Doctor says 'I see your blood pressure is higher than it's been, maybe we should start you on some blood pressure meds'. (my blood pressure was the lowest of all 3 appointments)
I ask 'What about the symptoms I made the original appointment for that I'm here to see you about' ?
Doc says ' I don't know, would you like me to order the blood pressure meds for you' ?
I got up and walked out.
Now 4 1/2 months later I get a bill for almost $300.00 for the 1st appointment. 4 1/2 months
I don't think I'm going to pay any bills from this doctor. I did use their time, but their time was useless.
Would you feel like you should pay for this ? and would you ?
You saw your Dr, you pay your Dr. Or, as my friend, the Judge, says, "if you can't do the time. don't do the time"
Went to the primary physician. After the usual 20 minute consultation he referred me to a specialist. Went to the specialist and did the usual stuff, fill out papers, blood pressure, weight, temperature. Specialist comes into the room and asks "What can I do for you" ? (or something like that)
I tell him and he says "Sorry, you were referred to the wrong place, I don't do that". You'll need to go back to your PCP. Spoke to him for a total of 2-3 minutes for that conversation. So I leave. 2 weeks or so later I get a bill from his office for $235.00.
Who should pay this specialist ? or should he even request payment ?
Who should pay this specialist ? or should he even request payment ?
I would not pay. In fact I might charge him. In theory he has people out front to assess what you are coming for. They should be made to be more careful. Since everytime I go to a doctor now, they make me fill out a 997 page paper on my medical history (that I am sure they don't read) - I think they can be a little more careful.
I saw lately doctors are wanting to bill for email questions on the portal. No way.
I would be willing to allow it for someone who does it all the time (like the first 5 are free) but it is impossible to talk to a doctors office by phone and get anyone who knows anything. Plus I have some doctors that test my blood after the appointment so my only way of knowing what they mean is following up by email.
I hear your frustration. What does it cost you to see a GP? Do you have to pay for the blood tests too? Is it possible your main frustration is having to pay out of pocket and not get the results you expected, so it seems to you to be a waste of good money?
If the doc is not your family GP, it's pretty hard to see you for 15 minutes for the first time and expect him to diagnose your condition after one round of blood tests. He might have had an idea what the problem was, but the blood tests did not bear that out, so he has to try something else.
Did he refer you to another doctor?
Went into my PCP because my foot hurt; she sent me for xrays. A week later, she emails that the xrays show my foot isn't broken. I waited a few days for more info, then sent her a curt note to please give me a referral to a doctor who could actually help figure out the problem.
The podiatrist said I had arthritis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and something that didn't end in -itis. He told me to wear rubber clogs with good arch supports. That works a charm.
You're the only one advocating for your health, so YOU have to push them to provide answers. It really sucks that they lose interest in a patient's problems so quickly.
Interesting responses, thank you for your thoughts.
I guess I might be hung up on the fact that multiple symptoms occurred at the same time like
(5-6 things/symptoms) something happened or changed.
But the doctor wants to prescribe pills for 1 or 2 of them with admittedly not knowing what's going on and says 'doesn't know what to do'. With one of the prescriptions having a high probability of stopping my heart. (because of conditions the doctor had on file under 'My History'.) To me that's an issue.
I don't know if I'm going to pay this doctor, but I do plan on paying for the tests that were done.
Looked at pubmed. I'll spend time figuring it out. Thank you
Yes, that is a big red flag to not continue going to him. I'd pay the bill because I wouldn't want it turned to collections and effect my credit.
Went to the primary physician. After the usual 20 minute consultation he referred me to a specialist. Went to the specialist and did the usual stuff, fill out papers, blood pressure, weight, temperature. Specialist comes into the room and asks "What can I do for you" ? (or something like that)
I tell him and he says "Sorry, you were referred to the wrong place, I don't do that". You'll need to go back to your PCP. Spoke to him for a total of 2-3 minutes for that conversation. So I leave. 2 weeks or so later I get a bill from his office for $235.00.
Who should pay this specialist ? or should he even request payment ?
You do realize you need to be a willing participant in your own medical care. It is not uncommon for any doctor to ask what they can do for you. They like to hear your symptoms from you. If its a specialist they have gone over your chart before you get there. They STILL want you to tell them what is wrong.
I am thinking you just don't like to pay your bills. I also think you may be a hypochondriac. If you keep going to doctors and they are not finding anything wrong with you maybe, just maybe, there is nothing wrong with you.
Pay or don't pay, just don't try and justify your action. You don't like your diagnosis so you are refusing to pay. One day your credit history is going to sting you in the butt.
You do realize you need to be a willing participant in your own medical care. It is not uncommon for any doctor to ask what they can do for you. They like to hear your symptoms from you. If its a specialist they have gone over your chart before you get there. They STILL want you to tell them what is wrong.
I am thinking you just don't like to pay your bills. I also think you may be a hypochondriac. If you keep going to doctors and they are not finding anything wrong with you maybe, just maybe, there is nothing wrong with you.
Pay or don't pay, just don't try and justify your action. You don't like your diagnosis so you are refusing to pay. One day your credit history is going to sting you in the butt.
This.
OP has already said that credit score and credit history doesn't concern them. It (using gender neutral pronoun here) is not worried. "Pretty sure I'm not paying this doc. With perfect credit, I'm not concerned with a ding on my report."
People like this always have an excuse for their failings like not paying bills.
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