Another rant,,,long as my rants generally are

[LizStreithorst]

The surgeon who will take out my appendix wanted me to have a colonoscopy first to make sure I didn't also have colorectal cancer since that would mean a totally different surgery. The gastro place scheduled it for some time in May, which I didn't think would make my surgeon happy. I called him, he called them, and they rescheduled it for tomorrow. I called the gastro place the other day because I had received no information about prep, They said they'd call the day before the procedure to let me know. I still hadn't heard from them today so I called them again. I was told that my appointment was not for the procedure, that it was for me to come in, talk about the procedure and schedule it for a later date. I don't want to talk about it. I want to have the damn thing done

I am pissed, and I'm sure my surgeon will be as well. I called his office, told the nurse the story and she will call me back. I hope my surgeon raised holy hell at them.

[jwcarlson]

Other than advancements in care... I'd love to know something that has improved in US healthcare since the 1980s/90s. We have a pretty good PCP, but she still has her hands tied by corporate non-sense. Maybe things are better elsewhere in the country. But EVERYTHING sucks about medical care here locally anymore. MercyOne has come in and bought up basically everything medical related and I wouldn't be even remotely shocked if you told me it was a money laundering operation. Billing is a joke. Bill paying is a joke. The bills have absolutely zero detail on what you're paying for... just a bill in the mail from 5-6 months ago and congrats, you owe $248.15. For what? Glad you asked... good luck figuring that out. They screwed up the insurance on my wife's account (she has separate insurance from me and the kids) and billed my insurance. How that happens, I have no idea considering she has never been on this insurance. I really hope I live long enough to see some sort of revolution in healthcare... and I probably don't agree politically with most anyone here on how it should be changed. But at this point, I'm not convinced it can really get a lot worse.

It's not worth much, but I'm sorry you're going through all this crap, Liz. I'm going to guess that you'd be meeting with 2-3 people who are there strictly to soak up some more money and you wouldn't even see the doctor or whoever would be doing the procedure. And if you did, it would be 15 seconds.

[LizStreithorst]

It's not worth much, but I'm sorry you're going through all this crap, Liz. I'm going to guess that you'd be meeting with 2-3 people who are there strictly to soak up some more money and you wouldn't even see the doctor or whoever would be doing the procedure. And if you did, it would be 15 seconds.

Yep.

[LizStreithorst]

You were exactly right, Jacob. They called back from the surgeon's office. She said that the provider always has to see me before the procedure. When I said it was just so that they could make more money she said that I was correct, but that's the way the process works.

Oh well...Onward and upward.

[jwcarlson]

When I said it was just so that they could make more money she said that I was correct, but that's the way the process works.

Well... one point for honesty at least.

[Iminit]

Yes this is true. Got to see any doctor first before they will do a procedure. You’re never going to get a colonoscopy right away. You’ve got to be off some meds for a week before. Plus you’ve got to drink that stuff the day before or take the pill (they cost $65). I hear ya that it sucks but our medical field is heavily overworked! Yes I get they only see you for 15 min at best but they see over 30+ people a day. Just not enough doctors! And they are being robbed by insurance prices! Lawyers have made it simple to sue over anything! And the lawyers just get settlements before it goes to court. Number 1 reason insurance is so expensive. If you really look into it every lousy thing in this country has a lawyer behind it! Oh and all is free for illegal emigrants. Yes your paying for them too.

[brewmaster15]

Yes this is true. Got to see any doctor first before they will do a procedure. You’re never going to get a colonoscopy right away. You’ve got to be off some meds for a week before. Plus you’ve got to drink that stuff the day before or take the pill (they cost $65). I hear ya that it sucks but our medical field is heavily overworked! Yes I get they only see you for 15 min at best but they see over 30+ people a day. Just not enough doctors! And they are being robbed by insurance prices! Lawyers have made it simple to sue over anything! And the lawyers just get settlements before it goes to court. Number 1 reason insurance is so expensive. If you really look into it every lousy thing in this country has a lawyer behind it! Oh and all is free for illegal emigrants. Yes your paying for them too.

Tom, Scapegoats are great, aren't they? It so easy to blame problems on one group of people or profession when the real causes are unpleasant or inconvenient to face.

[jeep]

You were exactly right, Jacob. They called back from the surgeon's office. She said that the provider always has to see me before the procedure. When I said it was just so that they could make more money she said that I was correct, but that's the way the process works.

Oh well...Onward and upward.

They actually admitted it?

[LizStreithorst]

It was just the girl at the desk. The health workers have to go through the same stuff. They know what it's like.

I got back from the gastro dr just now and will have the procedure on the 17th. I'm not looking forward to it, but nobody looks forward to having a someone look up their butt.