How would you handle this?

S

steve85249

New member
My mistake-that's what the doctor said. That's what has me worried-if I go ahead and keep the appointment without hearing from them and the surgery is scheduled 5 weeks later it won't fall within the time frame and I have to get another. And since it is a community health center is is hard to get appointments. They do have same day appointments if you call when they first open so I might just go that route after finding out when the surgery is.
 
Okay, I need surgery on my feet. Two weeks ago the volunteer doctor at the Community Health Center told me to give the guy a week at her office to set up a surgery date. Well, I've done just that. Last week I called and asked if the guy could call me back and let me know if the surgery has been set. No call.

I called again this past Monday and asked again. Leave your name and your number and I'll have him call you, the receptionist says. Once again, no call returned.

I am starting to get a little mad. I can't go to anyone else because I have no insurance and they only have one podiatrist who volunteers there. And she is very nice-I have no problem with her. It's just her rude office staff. How much time does it take to return a phone call and let me know what's going on?

The main problem is that I need to have a pre-surgical physical at the Community Health Center at least 30 days before the surgery. I have already canceled one appointment because no one called and rescheduled it. Plus, my feet hurt like heck.

If this were you, what would you do? Besides finding another doctor.
 
Unfortunately, doctor's offices not returning phone calls is a pretty common problem. Give them another call, be polite but clear, "I need to know when this surgery is going to be. Could you please let me know as soon as possible, or, if there are problems, let me know about that?
 
And gently remind them about the requirements for a physical (generally it's "within" 30 days of surgery not "at least 30 days before").
 
The hospital has a pre-surgical clinic. Last time I had my surgery I had to call and make an appointment and they did a vitals and ordered any labs that needed to be done.
 
I would call back and ask to speak to the dr. I will assume that won't be possible so I would ask who is in charge of the clinic as you have left two messages to schedule the clinic and you haven't had any response. If there is an office manager ask for that person.
As previously stated a pre-op is usually close to the surgery date. A week or two ahead.
 
One thing you need to remember is that this is something that the podiatrist doesn't get much out of this. And seeing you aren't a paying customer, you can't too arrogant about it. It may irritate the heck out of you, but you have to just keep the pleasant tone and keeping gently pushing. I would talk to the nurse rather than the front desk, and ask her if there is something that you were suppose to do that you haven't done and that's why the surgery hasn't been scheduled yet. This way you take the blame so they don't get defensive and put you ffaaaaaarrrrr down on the list. JMO
 
FYI-I am not a non -paying patient as you out it, I am still paying a surgical co-pay to the hospital and a fee to the podiatrist. So I would hardly call myself a non-paying patient.

Do you have the perception that those who go to the Community Health Center don't pay? Well, we do. Just like those with insurance I pay a co-pay for all my visits and my medications. It's not "free" health care as you a implying.

The podiatrist might volunteer her time for the clinic but since I am having surgery I have to go to her office for the pre-op and post op appointments-any visit to her is not covered by the program I have. So that is money right of my pocket expenses-I can't deduct the money I am going to pay her for office visits from the co pay cap which I was depending on.


Try educating yourself about things like this before trying to give an opinion. I really resent you implying that I am a non-paying patient.
 
Thanks everyone. I'm going to wait till next Monday to call-my preop physical is next Thursday so I'm just going to tell them that. My doctor told me 2 weeks ago to schedule it two weeks from then which I did. It was supposed to be tomorrow but since no one called I canceled and rescheduled.
 
I've decided to just go ahead and cancel the appointment for next week since the guy who does the surgery appointments is on vacation this week(he started it yesterday) I don't know why he hasn't called back-it's just plain rude IMO.

I rescheduled it for the following week instead and the girl at the CHC told me if that doesn't work to just call and reschedule. Which is weird because you usually have to call on Monday morning to make appointments but I guess they have special situations.

Takes a load off my mind. Now I won't worry about the surgery appointment.
 
If it were me, I would wait for that Doctor by he's car at after work!!! I've been know to wait for that special Dr., and wait, wait, wait by there car. I also have everything I want him to know in a letter just in case he refuses to talk to me after hours. Then, if still no results, I would go to the hospital board and I will bet you, you will get answer pretty quick. Insurance or not, you are an AMERICAN, and you have the right to seek medical attention. I would even goto the emergency room, THEY HAVE TO SEE YOU BY LAW!!!!! And when you get your bill and all you can afford is $5.00/mo., they have to except the payment. AS LONG AS YOU MAKE SOME SORT OF PAYMENT, THEY CANNOT SUE/STOP TREATMENT. I had a Judge tell me this information.
 
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