it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

[Guest guest]

sometimes i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc. 

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her voice, " so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen... "

I state, " an hour or two.  i can see him today, tomorrow, or whenever he wants. " She says, " are you joking? " just my little story for the day

[Guest guest]

So if this were a facebook post, I’d

hit “like” J

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

www.prattmd.info

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Gordon

Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011

9:46 AM

To: practiceimprovement1

Subject:

it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

sometimes

i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.

received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a

patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed

back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc.

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt

think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...

she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her

voice, " so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen... "

I state, " an hour or two. i can see him today, tomorrow, or

whenever he wants. "

She says, " are you joking? "

just my little story for the day

[Guest guest]

i really need to work today rather than write emails but i got relay the now exact opposite...get a voice mail... " hi this is donna from dr. x's office - we have your patient here now and she said you did a bunch of tests but we dont have anything, please call us back, etc. "

since she didn't ring my cell and just left a vm i see it an hour later and call to speak with donna - somebody else answers and puts me on hold for a while - comes back say, " you're calling about patient X, she's getting a stress test and an echo. "  I repeated why i was calling and she tells me they have records from me and she doesn't know why they called.  i ask if donna or the cardiologist saw any of the records or my notes as to why the referral was ordered and she says, " i don't know. "  Even more absurd, the tests I had previously done was an ekg and a holter which were read by that cardiologist in the first place - now this lady is probably getting tests she doesn't need just because that is what cardiologists due...

 

,Thanks for sharing your story.  I have one also.  I am seeing a new patient who was referred by a current patient because she felt like he was getting poor care.  Guy in his 20's, a few months ago starting having ataxia, then slurred speech, and finally laughing uncontrollably.  Goes to urgent care, CT brain ordered.  Goes to radiology facility, told he has to give $500 cash before they can take him.  Somehow comes up with it.  Results come in a week later with call from urgent care telling him to go the University ER.  He gets admitted and worked up.  He and his family believe they were told he has a tumor since birth, they won't biopsy it or remove it because they don't have insurance.  Put him on steroids.  Gradually gets better (not back to baseline, but better).  Worry for weeks that he is dying of brain cancer because they don't have insurance.

I see him, find out he has a cavernous hemangioma in the pons, which because of location, is not surgically accessible.  Spend an hour with he and his mom, show pictures, explain best I can.  Just got this email from his mom:

I sincerely can't thank you enough for all the interest and time you gave us. I’m sure very few people have been lucky enough to receive that type of attention and concern from a doctor. My son felt very comfortable with you (which is not always the case with him). And more importantly, the visit with you made him feel much better - mentally and emotionally which will go a long way in his recovery.

Once again I can't emphasize enough my sincere appreciation for your kindness and time. God bless you and your family.I honestly didn't do much except take time to figure out what was going on and explain it.  I still have some work to do.....trying to figure out how long he needs to stay out of his construction work and what risks of flying are.  (He is afraid to ever fly again because symptoms got much worse when he had to fly to Guatemala for a family emergency.)  

It truly is the simple things that often make the difference.(But then the big things like not having health care available to all citizens, that's another thing.)

SharonSharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA  92617PH: (949)387-5504   Fax: (949)281-2197  Toll free phone/fax: 

www.SharonMD.com

 

There are so many more inefficiencies and misuse of resources-hospital nurses calling me to find out what my fax number is- they have never shown the hospital directory,-pharmacists calling me to " confirm " the dosages, which are perfectly fine- ( perpetuating the organisation's existence- org- being pharmacy oversight)

-Homehealth leaving a message to call them ASAP. I call, they ask for my fax number-( Its on the cover sheet that I faxed them the referral on)-I use phreesiapad to decrease my office's data entry. I find my front office staff filling in patient info before the visit, instead of letting the patients do it. Why? because its much more interesting than the other stuff I want them to do.

oooohh , as i speak,- just got a call from the charge nurse- for patient's preop clearance. Patient scheduled for surgey, was seen by cardiologyyesterday, there is a note on the chart, a note in the EMR, clearly stating the conclusion. Well its much easier to waste my time than look things up right?

 

So if this were a facebook post, I’d

hit “like” J

 

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

www.prattmd.info

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Gordon

Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011

9:46 AM

To: practiceimprovement1

Subject:

it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

 

 

sometimes

i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.

 

received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a

patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed

back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc. 

 

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt

think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...

 

she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her

voice, " so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen... "

 

I state, " an hour or two.  i can see him today, tomorrow, or

whenever he wants. "

 

She says, " are you joking? "

 

just my little story for the day

-- -- Sangeetha Murthy M.D7830 mont Mesa Blvd #287San Diego, CA 92111

www.mypcponline.com

PS PATIENTS-please remember  that email may not be entirely secure, Email is best used for brief  questions

Email replies can be expected within 24 hours-Please CALL  if the  matter is more urgent .

[Guest guest]

i really need to work today rather than write emails but i got relay the now exact opposite...get a voice mail... " hi this is donna from dr. x's office - we have your patient here now and she said you did a bunch of tests but we dont have anything, please call us back, etc. "

since she didn't ring my cell and just left a vm i see it an hour later and call to speak with donna - somebody else answers and puts me on hold for a while - comes back say, " you're calling about patient X, she's getting a stress test and an echo. "  I repeated why i was calling and she tells me they have records from me and she doesn't know why they called.  i ask if donna or the cardiologist saw any of the records or my notes as to why the referral was ordered and she says, " i don't know. "  Even more absurd, the tests I had previously done was an ekg and a holter which were read by that cardiologist in the first place - now this lady is probably getting tests she doesn't need just because that is what cardiologists due...

 

,Thanks for sharing your story.  I have one also.  I am seeing a new patient who was referred by a current patient because she felt like he was getting poor care.  Guy in his 20's, a few months ago starting having ataxia, then slurred speech, and finally laughing uncontrollably.  Goes to urgent care, CT brain ordered.  Goes to radiology facility, told he has to give $500 cash before they can take him.  Somehow comes up with it.  Results come in a week later with call from urgent care telling him to go the University ER.  He gets admitted and worked up.  He and his family believe they were told he has a tumor since birth, they won't biopsy it or remove it because they don't have insurance.  Put him on steroids.  Gradually gets better (not back to baseline, but better).  Worry for weeks that he is dying of brain cancer because they don't have insurance.

I see him, find out he has a cavernous hemangioma in the pons, which because of location, is not surgically accessible.  Spend an hour with he and his mom, show pictures, explain best I can.  Just got this email from his mom:

I sincerely can't thank you enough for all the interest and time you gave us. I’m sure very few people have been lucky enough to receive that type of attention and concern from a doctor. My son felt very comfortable with you (which is not always the case with him). And more importantly, the visit with you made him feel much better - mentally and emotionally which will go a long way in his recovery.

Once again I can't emphasize enough my sincere appreciation for your kindness and time. God bless you and your family.I honestly didn't do much except take time to figure out what was going on and explain it.  I still have some work to do.....trying to figure out how long he needs to stay out of his construction work and what risks of flying are.  (He is afraid to ever fly again because symptoms got much worse when he had to fly to Guatemala for a family emergency.)  

It truly is the simple things that often make the difference.(But then the big things like not having health care available to all citizens, that's another thing.)

SharonSharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA  92617PH: (949)387-5504   Fax: (949)281-2197  Toll free phone/fax: 

www.SharonMD.com

 

There are so many more inefficiencies and misuse of resources-hospital nurses calling me to find out what my fax number is- they have never shown the hospital directory,-pharmacists calling me to " confirm " the dosages, which are perfectly fine- ( perpetuating the organisation's existence- org- being pharmacy oversight)

-Homehealth leaving a message to call them ASAP. I call, they ask for my fax number-( Its on the cover sheet that I faxed them the referral on)-I use phreesiapad to decrease my office's data entry. I find my front office staff filling in patient info before the visit, instead of letting the patients do it. Why? because its much more interesting than the other stuff I want them to do.

oooohh , as i speak,- just got a call from the charge nurse- for patient's preop clearance. Patient scheduled for surgey, was seen by cardiologyyesterday, there is a note on the chart, a note in the EMR, clearly stating the conclusion. Well its much easier to waste my time than look things up right?

 

So if this were a facebook post, I’d

hit “like” J

 

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

www.prattmd.info

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Gordon

Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011

9:46 AM

To: practiceimprovement1

Subject:

it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

 

 

sometimes

i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.

 

received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a

patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed

back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc. 

 

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt

think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...

 

she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her

voice, " so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen... "

 

I state, " an hour or two.  i can see him today, tomorrow, or

whenever he wants. "

 

She says, " are you joking? "

 

just my little story for the day

-- -- Sangeetha Murthy M.D7830 mont Mesa Blvd #287San Diego, CA 92111

www.mypcponline.com

PS PATIENTS-please remember  that email may not be entirely secure, Email is best used for brief  questions

Email replies can be expected within 24 hours-Please CALL  if the  matter is more urgent .

[Guest guest]

i really need to work today rather than write emails but i got relay the now exact opposite...get a voice mail... " hi this is donna from dr. x's office - we have your patient here now and she said you did a bunch of tests but we dont have anything, please call us back, etc. "

since she didn't ring my cell and just left a vm i see it an hour later and call to speak with donna - somebody else answers and puts me on hold for a while - comes back say, " you're calling about patient X, she's getting a stress test and an echo. "  I repeated why i was calling and she tells me they have records from me and she doesn't know why they called.  i ask if donna or the cardiologist saw any of the records or my notes as to why the referral was ordered and she says, " i don't know. "  Even more absurd, the tests I had previously done was an ekg and a holter which were read by that cardiologist in the first place - now this lady is probably getting tests she doesn't need just because that is what cardiologists due...

 

,Thanks for sharing your story.  I have one also.  I am seeing a new patient who was referred by a current patient because she felt like he was getting poor care.  Guy in his 20's, a few months ago starting having ataxia, then slurred speech, and finally laughing uncontrollably.  Goes to urgent care, CT brain ordered.  Goes to radiology facility, told he has to give $500 cash before they can take him.  Somehow comes up with it.  Results come in a week later with call from urgent care telling him to go the University ER.  He gets admitted and worked up.  He and his family believe they were told he has a tumor since birth, they won't biopsy it or remove it because they don't have insurance.  Put him on steroids.  Gradually gets better (not back to baseline, but better).  Worry for weeks that he is dying of brain cancer because they don't have insurance.

I see him, find out he has a cavernous hemangioma in the pons, which because of location, is not surgically accessible.  Spend an hour with he and his mom, show pictures, explain best I can.  Just got this email from his mom:

I sincerely can't thank you enough for all the interest and time you gave us. I’m sure very few people have been lucky enough to receive that type of attention and concern from a doctor. My son felt very comfortable with you (which is not always the case with him). And more importantly, the visit with you made him feel much better - mentally and emotionally which will go a long way in his recovery.

Once again I can't emphasize enough my sincere appreciation for your kindness and time. God bless you and your family.I honestly didn't do much except take time to figure out what was going on and explain it.  I still have some work to do.....trying to figure out how long he needs to stay out of his construction work and what risks of flying are.  (He is afraid to ever fly again because symptoms got much worse when he had to fly to Guatemala for a family emergency.)  

It truly is the simple things that often make the difference.(But then the big things like not having health care available to all citizens, that's another thing.)

SharonSharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA  92617PH: (949)387-5504   Fax: (949)281-2197  Toll free phone/fax: 

www.SharonMD.com

 

There are so many more inefficiencies and misuse of resources-hospital nurses calling me to find out what my fax number is- they have never shown the hospital directory,-pharmacists calling me to " confirm " the dosages, which are perfectly fine- ( perpetuating the organisation's existence- org- being pharmacy oversight)

-Homehealth leaving a message to call them ASAP. I call, they ask for my fax number-( Its on the cover sheet that I faxed them the referral on)-I use phreesiapad to decrease my office's data entry. I find my front office staff filling in patient info before the visit, instead of letting the patients do it. Why? because its much more interesting than the other stuff I want them to do.

oooohh , as i speak,- just got a call from the charge nurse- for patient's preop clearance. Patient scheduled for surgey, was seen by cardiologyyesterday, there is a note on the chart, a note in the EMR, clearly stating the conclusion. Well its much easier to waste my time than look things up right?

 

So if this were a facebook post, I’d

hit “like” J

 

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

www.prattmd.info

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Gordon

Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011

9:46 AM

To: practiceimprovement1

Subject:

it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

 

 

sometimes

i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.

 

received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a

patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed

back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc. 

 

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt

think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...

 

she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her

voice, " so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen... "

 

I state, " an hour or two.  i can see him today, tomorrow, or

whenever he wants. "

 

She says, " are you joking? "

 

just my little story for the day

-- -- Sangeetha Murthy M.D7830 mont Mesa Blvd #287San Diego, CA 92111

www.mypcponline.com

PS PATIENTS-please remember  that email may not be entirely secure, Email is best used for brief  questions

Email replies can be expected within 24 hours-Please CALL  if the  matter is more urgent .

[Guest guest]

, Love your Story! "an hour or two, today or tomorrow"

Sorry about the time wasters. Get it ALL the time.

I'm joining Padma's complaint about the faxes. I swear fax machines eat them up like dryers and socks. (Love it when they give me one number but check a different machine.) Visiting nurses are my biggest time wasters -- confirm I saw the home bound patient within the last 6 months -- my note is not sufficient fill out this form and fax it back. 3 nurses today called me about a sugar of 62 but none called me last night when it happened! (I was a little grumpy witht he 3rd one.) Or VNA calls me to confirm I will see patient when I ALREADY saw patient the day before! Some of it is just Medicares stupid rules but the other is too many nurses seeing the same patient and not knowing someone else called me!

But back to the positives! "I was calling the doctor's office." "I'm the doctor." "OH!!!!!"

To: Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 2:44:43 PMSubject: Re: it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

i really need to work today rather than write emails but i got relay the now exact opposite...

get a voice mail..."hi this is donna from dr. x's office - we have your patient here now and she said you did a bunch of tests but we dont have anything, please call us back, etc."

since she didn't ring my cell and just left a vm i see it an hour later and call to speak with donna - somebody else answers and puts me on hold for a while - comes back say, "you're calling about patient X, she's getting a stress test and an echo." I repeated why i was calling and she tells me they have records from me and she doesn't know why they called. i ask if donna or the cardiologist saw any of the records or my notes as to why the referral was ordered and she says, "i don't know." Even more absurd, the tests I had previously done was an ekg and a holter which were read by that cardiologist in the first place - now this lady is probably getting tests she doesn't need just because that is what cardiologists due...

,

Thanks for sharing your story. I have one also.

I am seeing a new patient who was referred by a current patient because she felt like he was getting poor care. Guy in his 20's, a few months ago starting having ataxia, then slurred speech, and finally laughing uncontrollably. Goes to urgent care, CT brain ordered. Goes to radiology facility, told he has to give $500 cash before they can take him. Somehow comes up with it. Results come in a week later with call from urgent care telling him to go the University ER. He gets admitted and worked up. He and his family believe they were told he has a tumor since birth, they won't biopsy it or remove it because they don't have insurance. Put him on steroids. Gradually gets better (not back to baseline, but better). Worry for weeks that he is dying of brain cancer because they don't have insurance.

I see him, find out he has a cavernous hemangioma in the pons, which because of location, is not surgically accessible. Spend an hour with he and his mom, show pictures, explain best I can. Just got this email from his mom:

I sincerely can't thank you enough for all the interest and time you gave us. I’m sure very few people have been lucky enough to receive that type of attention and concern from a doctor. My son felt very comfortable with you (which is not always the case with him). And more importantly, the visit with you made him feel much better - mentally and emotionally which will go a long way in his recovery.Once again I can't emphasize enough my sincere appreciation for your kindness and time. God bless you and your family.

I honestly didn't do much except take time to figure out what was going on and explain it. I still have some work to do.....trying to figure out how long he needs to stay out of his construction work and what risks of flying are. (He is afraid to ever fly again because symptoms got much worse when he had to fly to Guatemala for a family emergency.)

It truly is the simple things that often make the difference.

(But then the big things like not having health care available to all citizens, that's another thing.)

Sharon

Sharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA 92617PH: (949)387-5504 Fax: (949)281-2197 Toll free phone/fax: www.SharonMD.com

There are so many more inefficiencies and misuse of resources

-hospital nurses calling me to find out what my fax number is- they have never shown the hospital directory,

-pharmacists calling me to "confirm" the dosages, which are perfectly fine- ( perpetuating the organisation's existence- org- being pharmacy oversight)

-Homehealth leaving a message to call them ASAP. I call, they ask for my fax number-( Its on the cover sheet that I faxed them the referral on)-I use phreesiapad to decrease my office's data entry. I find my front office staff filling in patient info before the visit, instead of letting the patients do it. Why? because its much more interesting than the other stuff I want them to do.

oooohh , as i speak,

- just got a call from the charge nurse- for patient's preop clearance. Patient scheduled for surgey, was seen by cardiologyyesterday, there is a note on the chart, a note in the EMR, clearly stating the conclusion. Well its much easier to waste my time than look things up right?

So if this were a facebook post, I’d hit “like†J

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

www.prattmd.info

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of GordonSent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 9:46 AMTo: practiceimprovement1Subject: it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to

others

sometimes i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.

received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc.

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...

she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her voice, "so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen..."

I state, "an hour or two. i can see him today, tomorrow, or whenever he wants."

She says, " are you joking?"

just my little story for the day

-- -- Sangeetha Murthy M.D

7830 mont Mesa Blvd #287

San Diego, CA 92111

www.mypcponline.com

PS PATIENTS-please remember that email may not be entirely secure, Email is best used for brief questionsEmail replies can be expected within 24 hours-Please CALL if the matter is more urgent .

[Guest guest]

Nice work Sharon!

To: Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 2:32:13 PMSubject: Re: it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to others

, Thanks for sharing your story. I have one also.

I am seeing a new patient who was referred by a current patient because she felt like he was getting poor care. Guy in his 20's, a few months ago starting having ataxia, then slurred speech, and finally laughing uncontrollably. Goes to urgent care, CT brain ordered. Goes to radiology facility, told he has to give $500 cash before they can take him. Somehow comes up with it. Results come in a week later with call from urgent care telling him to go the University ER. He gets admitted and worked up. He and his family believe they were told he has a tumor since birth, they won't biopsy it or remove it because they don't have insurance. Put him on steroids. Gradually gets better (not back to baseline, but better). Worry for weeks that he is dying of brain cancer because they don't have insurance.

I see him, find out he has a cavernous hemangioma in the pons, which because of location, is not surgically accessible. Spend an hour with he and his mom, show pictures, explain best I can. Just got this email from his mom:

I sincerely can't thank you enough for all the interest and time you gave us. I’m sure very few people have been lucky enough to receive that type of attention and concern from a doctor. My son felt very comfortable with you (which is not always the case with him). And more importantly, the visit with you made him feel much better - mentally and emotionally which will go a long way in his recovery.Once again I can't emphasize enough my sincere appreciation for your kindness and time. God bless you and your family.

I honestly didn't do much except take time to figure out what was going on and explain it. I still have some work to do.....trying to figure out how long he needs to stay out of his construction work and what risks of flying are. (He is afraid to ever fly again because symptoms got much worse when he had to fly to Guatemala for a family emergency.)

It truly is the simple things that often make the difference.

(But then the big things like not having health care available to all citizens, that's another thing.)

Sharon

Sharon McCoy MDRenaissance Family Medicine10 McClintock Court; Irvine, CA 92617PH: (949)387-5504 Fax: (949)281-2197 Toll free phone/fax: www.SharonMD.com

There are so many more inefficiencies and misuse of resources

-hospital nurses calling me to find out what my fax number is- they have never shown the hospital directory,

-pharmacists calling me to "confirm" the dosages, which are perfectly fine- ( perpetuating the organisation's existence- org- being pharmacy oversight)

-Homehealth leaving a message to call them ASAP. I call, they ask for my fax number-( Its on the cover sheet that I faxed them the referral on)-I use phreesiapad to decrease my office's data entry. I find my front office staff filling in patient info before the visit, instead of letting the patients do it. Why? because its much more interesting than the other stuff I want them to do.

oooohh , as i speak,

- just got a call from the charge nurse- for patient's preop clearance. Patient scheduled for surgey, was seen by cardiologyyesterday, there is a note on the chart, a note in the EMR, clearly stating the conclusion. Well its much easier to waste my time than look things up right?

So if this were a facebook post, I’d hit “like†J

Pratt

Office Manager

Oak Tree Internal Medicine P.C

www.prattmd.info

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of GordonSent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 9:46 AMTo: practiceimprovement1Subject: it's sad that efficiency and good care have become so surprising to

others

sometimes i love being an imp and how much the simple things shock others.

received a call from the psych er at our country hospital that a patient of mine that originally had moved to reno a couple months back showed back up in denver off meds for a month, etc, etc.

had a conversation updated er doc on his history - she said they didnt think he would have to be inpatients but the concern was follow up...

she asked in a very tentative way with obvious change of tone in her voice, "so how far in advance will he have to schedule to be seen..."

I state, "an hour or two. i can see him today, tomorrow, or whenever he wants."

She says, " are you joking?"

just my little story for the day

-- -- Sangeetha Murthy M.D

7830 mont Mesa Blvd #287

San Diego, CA 92111

www.mypcponline.com

PS PATIENTS-please remember that email may not be entirely secure, Email is best used for brief questionsEmail replies can be expected within 24 hours-Please CALL if the matter is more urgent .