Summary-line: 3-May nick@icad.COM #dealing with the medical establishment *** EOOH *** Return-Path: From: nick@icad.COM Date: Fri, 3 May 91 10:30:47 -0400 To: mfoley@arisia.xerox.com Cc: immune@weber.ucsd.edu In-Reply-To: <9105030129.AA15004@arisia.Xerox.COM> "mfoley@arisia.Xerox.COM" Subject: dealing with the medical establishment > Date: Thu, 2 May 91 18:29:19 -0700 > From: Mary Ellen Foley > > I would like to hear how others have dealt with the problem of > ill-treatment at the hands of doctors' office staff. well, I haven't any direct experience of this but I can offer some general advice... > > My doctors are really nice, but the dragons that are stationed at the > door to keep the sick people away can be a real problem. I get the > distinct impression that they are as tired of seeing me as I am of > being sick...but I don't have a choice. I feel like they wish I would when you say "I get the distinct impression" what exactly do you mean? Do they say disparaging things to you? Or is it their general attitude that puts you off? If it is, consider that it might have nothing to do with you, but might reflect a) their basic outlook on life b) their dissatisfaction with their job, etc. etc.... This helps me, anyhow. In any case, if they are treating you badly, one thing you should do to avoid reinforcing this behavior is to ignore it. Don't respond in the way that they are hoping, by being put off. In fact, if you can, act bright and cheerful around them. Smiling is physiologically good for you, and is will irritate the hell out of anyone who's trying to annoy you.... :-) > just have the good manners to get myself healthy and not bother them > anymore. I assume that others with chronic conditions have encountered > this...is that so? What did you do about it? nope. I have never had a doctor's office staff treat me badly. I did have a doctor who was so busy you could *NEVER* get to talk to him- he was a department head at the hospital and was always in meetings, etc. I have since switched doctors (for other reasons besides lack of access) and it was certainly a good decision. > > I'm tired of being treated like a lower form of life, but am almost > afraid (who am I kidding, I *AM* afraid) say anything (to them OR to > the doctor) for fear of making them mad, because they control my if you feel you have a legitimate grievance with the office staff, and your doctor is a reasonable person, you should *DEFINITELY* seek redress... dont be afraid- your doctor is the one who should be worried. And you can always switch doctors, right? Even in an HMO. > access to health care! (I'm in an HMO where nothing's paid for unless > it is ordered by your Primary Care Physician.) Unless your doctors are looking for lawsuits, they cannot cut off your access to medical care. If these doctors turn out to be jerks, you should switch doctors. Don't stay with a doctor you aren't happy with, and if the HMO is limiting your ability to find a specialist for your problem, you should switch to blue cross/blue shield or a similar kind of insurance. If you continue to have this problem, and your doctor doesn't seem to be helping you, you might suggest s/he recommend a specialist. s/he shouldn't be offended by this; if s/he is, find another doctor. (begin diatribe against HMO's) IMHO, HMO's are fine- as long as you dont get sick. But get some condition more complex than a simple infection, and you can be in trouble. It is really important to be free to choose your own doctor. I suffer from a rare form of autoimmune disease which disrupts my kidney function; most kidney specialists have never seen it and most doctors who have seen it are pediatricians, as it usually occurs in children and they outgrow it! In a few cases adults have relapses, which may (?) eventually go away. I finally found a doctor (a researcher who also does some clinical work) who has treated people like me. If I was in an HMO, I doubt if I ever would have found such a doctor. (end diatribe) --nick caruso++ nick@icad.com