I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

[Guest guest]

Hi Liz--

ANd others who may have had problems with administration in Dr. H's office.

We have been asking for 's blood results since April of this year. I have

sent emails to Dr. H., send faxes, called, sent emails to the receptionist.

Unfortunately, the way they handle scheduling, paperwork and requests such as

copies of records is really abonimable. I have been thinking of contacting Dr.

New (chairman of the dept)..(They do, however, know how to bill for the co-pay

very efficiently.)

It really distresses me, because the Dr.-patient relationship doesn't just

consist of the interaction with Dr. H. It also includes all the other ways the

office helps the family.

In our case, there were specific reasons we needed 's blood work

results....('s local pediatrician wanted to run some blood tests, and I

didn't want to be re-pricked and have to go through blood testing, if Dr.

H's results could have satisfied what the ped was looking for).

Jodi...this is one of the reasons I reacted so strongly to the IGF 1 info dr. H.

gave you. Clearly, the blood results are important. I'm furious that neither

she

nor any fellow ever bothered to call us or write us. I don't even care if they

explain the results to us. I just wanted to have a copy for my own records. I

think I would get more good opinions on the results from all of you here than

from the Doctor!!

Sorry for venting...I have actually kept a lot of opinions about the office

practices quiet, because I didn't want to put a negative spin on Dr. H.,

especially those of you seeing her for the first time. She is a wonderful

doctor, but I feel neither she nor her boss, manages the office or seems to care

that the secretaries, paperwork, etc..is below any standard that I have ever

experienced. Yet, we are stuck. She is the best, when it comes to RSS.

And, I sometimes wonder if something important could fall through the cracks.

So, Liz....Don't just wait for the stim results. Call...fax...call..call Dr.

New...etc.

Sorry for the venting..If there are enough parents here concerned about this,

write to me privately: badt@.... Maybe we can write a joint-letter to Dr.

H. with a " Bill of Rights " that we expect as patients of hers!!!

Katy

Mom to , RSS, 4.5 years old, on GHT since 4/2000.

[Guest guest]

Katy,

I could not agree with you more on this. It is very hard when we really

like the doctor but cannot stand the other stuff that goes along with her.

It is amazing that this practice is allowed at such a prestigious medical

center. I, too, worry that things may fall through the cracks. Each time

Max has bloodwork done, I worry that something may show up and for some

reason or another it is not picked up. I can visualize the results coming

in, having them filed by the secretary, and Dr. H. never taking a good look

at them to see if there is a problem. What we have done to compensate is

demand that she pull out those records when we see her next and go over them

with us. Is it the ideal way? No. But it is the only way we have been

able to ensure that at some point our son's medical records are attended to.

Jodi

I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

> Hi Liz--

>

> ANd others who may have had problems with administration in Dr. H's

office.

>

> We have been asking for 's blood results since April of this year. I

have

> sent emails to Dr. H., send faxes, called, sent emails to the

receptionist.

> Unfortunately, the way they handle scheduling, paperwork and requests such

as

> copies of records is really abonimable. I have been thinking of

contacting Dr.

> New (chairman of the dept)..(They do, however, know how to bill for the

co-pay

> very efficiently.)

>

> It really distresses me, because the Dr.-patient relationship doesn't just

> consist of the interaction with Dr. H. It also includes all the other

ways the

> office helps the family.

>

> In our case, there were specific reasons we needed 's blood work

> results....('s local pediatrician wanted to run some blood tests, and

I

> didn't want to be re-pricked and have to go through blood testing, if

Dr.

> H's results could have satisfied what the ped was looking for).

>

> Jodi...this is one of the reasons I reacted so strongly to the IGF 1 info

dr. H.

> gave you. Clearly, the blood results are important. I'm furious that

neither she

> nor any fellow ever bothered to call us or write us. I don't even care if

they

> explain the results to us. I just wanted to have a copy for my own

records. I

> think I would get more good opinions on the results from all of you here

than

> from the Doctor!!

>

> Sorry for venting...I have actually kept a lot of opinions about the

office

> practices quiet, because I didn't want to put a negative spin on Dr. H.,

> especially those of you seeing her for the first time. She is a wonderful

> doctor, but I feel neither she nor her boss, manages the office or seems

to care

> that the secretaries, paperwork, etc..is below any standard that I have

ever

> experienced. Yet, we are stuck. She is the best, when it comes to RSS.

>

> And, I sometimes wonder if something important could fall through the

cracks.

>

> So, Liz....Don't just wait for the stim results. Call...fax...call..call

Dr.

> New...etc.

>

> Sorry for the venting..If there are enough parents here concerned about

this,

> write to me privately: badt@.... Maybe we can write a joint-letter

to Dr.

> H. with a " Bill of Rights " that we expect as patients of hers!!!

>

> Katy

> Mom to , RSS, 4.5 years old, on GHT since 4/2000.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

To everyone that has been talking about Dr. H's office - I am on

board with having a joint letter being written. na has been

going to that office every three months for 6 years and every time it

is incredibly infuriating. We call and email for results of blood

work, x-rays, etc. It is usually around the fourth call when I start

to get pushy and have a bit of an attitude and then someone calls me

back. The office is run so poorly. I have spoken with Dr. H about

it myself and nothing has ever changed, but I think if letter went to

her and the hospital from a good portion of Dr. H's RSS patients that

maybe things could change. It can't hurt to try.

Court, mom to na

[Guest guest]

I too have had problems with the office. When I needed a question

answered by Dr. H it took three days and six phone calls to get an

answer. However, the last time we saw her, she told us that when we

next had weighed at the pediatrician we should e-mail her his

height/weight and she would respond with his new periactin dose which

she did the same day. Maybe the answer is to email her directly and

not got throught the office. Jodi/, I may have another

answer for you but it is not something for me to discuss on this

site. If you will send me your phone number I will call you or you

can reach me at my office at or at home at .

Judith, Steve, Jaso (RSS) and (non-RSS) 18 mo twins.

[Guest guest]

My phone number is . The best time to reach me is after 6

because I am working at a day camp all day. I'd love to talk to you!

Jodi

Re: I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

> I too have had problems with the office. When I needed a question

> answered by Dr. H it took three days and six phone calls to get an

> answer. However, the last time we saw her, she told us that when we

> next had weighed at the pediatrician we should e-mail her his

> height/weight and she would respond with his new periactin dose which

> she did the same day. Maybe the answer is to email her directly and

> not got throught the office. Jodi/, I may have another

> answer for you but it is not something for me to discuss on this

> site. If you will send me your phone number I will call you or you

> can reach me at my office at or at home at .

>

> Judith, Steve, Jaso (RSS) and (non-RSS) 18 mo twins.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I just got your message. I take karate class (in this heat with no

air conditioning) tonight. If I have a chance, I will call when I

get home, otherwise I will call you tomorrow night.

Judith

> My phone number is . The best time to reach me is

after 6

> because I am working at a day camp all day. I'd love to talk to

you!

>

> Jodi

>

> Re: I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

>

>

> > I too have had problems with the office. When I needed a question

> > answered by Dr. H it took three days and six phone calls to get an

> > answer. However, the last time we saw her, she told us that when

we

> > next had weighed at the pediatrician we should e-mail her

his

> > height/weight and she would respond with his new periactin dose

which

> > she did the same day. Maybe the answer is to email her directly

and

> > not got throught the office. Jodi/, I may have another

> > answer for you but it is not something for me to discuss on this

> > site. If you will send me your phone number I will call you or

you

> > can reach me at my office at or at home at 914-674-

0714.

> >

> > Judith, Steve, Jaso (RSS) and (non-RSS) 18 mo twins.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

O.K., I haven't sent anything to the list for awhile, but I feel I *have* to

jump in on this one! I've been out of town for a couple of weeks (volunteering

for our church's summer kid's camp) and just now wading through the huge amount

of e-mails I have. Sure am glad I am receiving digests instead of individual

messages - I know it would have filled my mailbox!

Anyway....Some of you will remember that we traveled from Alaska to see Dr. H.

in July of 2000. She ran a complete battery of bloodwork, ran a bone density

scan and bone age, and sent us to see another Dr. to get her input on the

behavior issues we were/are dealing with. All of this ran between $7000 and

$8000. We did receive billing from the hospital within a month of that office

visit, so I re-sent to them our insurance info. and we heard nothing else for

months. Then our primary insurance paid the 2nd doctor, and the bone density

scan (both a separate billing from the NY Hosp. bill) but still nothing

processed on the bulk of the bill and no additional bills sent to me from NY

Hosp.. I called several times...and of course got voicemail & left

messages...but nobody ever called me back. I had heard that Dr. H. was using a

grant to cover some of her patients' testing, so I assumed that is what was

happening here. Imagine my surprise whan I received an EOB from my insurance

company showing they had paid NY Hosp. the end of March, 2001 (nearly 9 months

after the appointment!) My insurance is very quick to pay, always within a

month of receiving the bills, so I know where the holdup was....

As far as receiving reports from Dr. H. or the 2nd doctor we consulted with: I

heard nothing, so a little over one month after the appointment I e-mailed Dr.

H. Still nothing, so I called a couple of times, left a voicemail message, but

nobody called me back. Finally (about 7 weeks after our appointment) I paged

Dr. H. - she answered right away & took 45 minutes to talk to me (sort of an

oral report), and saying they were waiting for the lab results before issuing a

written report. A few days later one of the fellows called me (after 10 p.m.

New York time!) to talk about the lab results & she faxed this sheet to me, but

still no written reports from either doctor. I e-mailed Dr. H. 2 and 3 months

after our appointment with more questions that had come up, and to ask

(politely!) when I might be receiving her written report so I could proceed

here. She answered my e-mail, answering my questions, but still no written

report.

Finally, nearly 4 months after our appointment, I sent another e-mail, letting

Dr. H. know I was *still* waiting for her report. She e-mailed back, letting me

know she had signed it weeks ago & didn't know what had happened to it, but

would track it down. We received it within a week. The other doctor's report

finally came a month or so later.

(enjoying our beautiful 70 degree sunny summer weather, feeling sorry for

you who are baking in the east!)

mom of Charissa (16 yrs., 5 ft 2.5 in., 111 lbs. still, GHD, ADD, ???,

immature & late puberty, RSS(?),

and (13 yrs., none of the above

wife of Dave

>

> Subject: I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

>

> Hi Liz--

>

> ANd others who may have had problems with administration in Dr. H's office.

>

> We have been asking for 's blood results since April of this year. I =

> have

> sent emails to Dr. H., send faxes, called, sent emails to the receptionist.

> Unfortunately, the way they handle scheduling, paperwork and requests such =

> as

> copies of records is really abonimable. I have been thinking of contacting=

> Dr.

> New (chairman of the dept)..(They do, however, know how to bill for the co-=

> pay

> very efficiently.)

>

> It really distresses me, because the Dr.-patient relationship doesn't just

> consist of the interaction with Dr. H. It also includes all the other ways=

> the

> office helps the family.

>

> In our case, there were specific reasons we needed 's blood work

> results....('s local pediatrician wanted to run some blood tests, and I

> didn't want to be re-pricked and have to go through blood testing, if =

> Dr.

> H's results could have satisfied what the ped was looking for).

>

> Jodi...this is one of the reasons I reacted so strongly to the IGF 1 info d=

> r. H.

> gave you. Clearly, the blood results are important. I'm furious that neith=

> er she

> nor any fellow ever bothered to call us or write us. I don't even care if =

> they

> explain the results to us. I just wanted to have a copy for my own records.=

> I

> think I would get more good opinions on the results from all of you here th=

> an

> from the Doctor!!

>

> Sorry for venting...I have actually kept a lot of opinions about the office

> practices quiet, because I didn't want to put a negative spin on Dr. H.,

> especially those of you seeing her for the first time. She is a wonderful

> doctor, but I feel neither she nor her boss, manages the office or seems to=

> care

> that the secretaries, paperwork, etc..is below any standard that I have eve=

> r

> experienced. Yet, we are stuck. She is the best, when it comes to RSS.

>

> And, I sometimes wonder if something important could fall through the crack=

> s.

>

> So, Liz....Don't just wait for the stim results. Call...fax...call..call D=

> r.

> New...etc.

>

> Sorry for the venting..If there are enough parents here concerned about thi=

> s,

> write to me privately: badt@.... Maybe we can write a joint-letter t=

> o Dr.

> H. with a " Bill of Rights " that we expect as patients of hers!!!

>

> Katy

> Mom to , RSS, 4.5 years old, on GHT since 4/2000.

>

>

>

> >

> Message: 4

> Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 10:31:50 -0400

> From: magicrss@...

> Subject: Re: I'm mad - let's write a letter

>

> Katy - I think a joint letter is a great idea. I absolutely agree with you=

> 100%. I think that I told you guys before, but at our last appt in NY in =

> April, there was a new young woman helping in their office. Long story sho=

> rt, she actually was from a different dept, and was just horrified at how t=

> he chairman ran that dept. (It seems that it isn't Dr. H and Dr. V - but t=

> he funding, etc that comes from above.) The whole scheduling idea (double-=

> and triple-booking, since families are coming from different areas, and us=

> ually arrive at different times??), and more. She voiced HER absolute mort=

> ification at how bad things were. And she was going to go say something.

>

> So I think that things have gotten to the point that we HAVE to say somethi=

> ng. And I think using specific examples of how many times some of us have =

> had to call or email or combined to get return info is crucial. Katy, woul=

> d you own putting this together? Many of us on the list serve could give y=

> ou some good examples (you could pick and choose). I would even be willing=

> to take the heat to be the " bearer of the bad news " by mailing the letter =

> to her home address, with a note inside. You all could decide if everyone =

> wants to add their names or we want to remain anonymous. Perfectly fine ei=

> ther way with me, and I will deliver it. I just need someone else to write=

> it. Jodi can edit it! She is great at that!

>

>

>

> > Message: 6

> Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 11:17:21 -0400

>

> Subject: Re: I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

>

> Katy,

>

> I could not agree with you more on this. It is very hard when we really

> like the doctor but cannot stand the other stuff that goes along with her.

> It is amazing that this practice is allowed at such a prestigious medical

> center. I, too, worry that things may fall through the cracks. Each time

> Max has bloodwork done, I worry that something may show up and for some

> reason or another it is not picked up. I can visualize the results coming

> in, having them filed by the secretary, and Dr. H. never taking a good look

> at them to see if there is a problem. What we have done to compensate is

> demand that she pull out those records when we see her next and go over the=

> m

> with us. Is it the ideal way? No. But it is the only way we have been

> able to ensure that at some point our son's medical records are attended to=

> .

>

> Jodi

>

>

> Message: 7

> Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 11:19:12 -0400

>

> Subject: Re: Re: I'm mad - let's write a letter

>

> One more thing to add to this...A few years ago, Doris, one of the nurses,

> started a petition for the patients to sign because she was sick and tired

> of all the waiting that the patients have to do. I guess she was bearing

> the brunt of the parents' anger and she wanted to take some action. I

> signed. Many people signed. Did it make a difference? Not one bit. If

> anything, things are worse than ever.

>

> Jodi

> >

> Message: 8

> Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 11:28:43 EDT

> From: twinks898@...

> Subject: Re: I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

>

> My husband did get the results faxed to him, but I don't know what the norm=

> al=20

> values should be. I think the fact that he is a doctor helped speed up=20

> getting the results. We just received a bill for over 1500$ for the blood=20

> work and office visit. They apparently didn't submit it to our insurance. I=

> =20

> hope they aren't holding their breath waiting for the check from us to=20

> arrive-LOL.=20

>

> Liz-Mom of Nate(?RSS)and Sam-35 month old twins and Arianna-15 months

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the summary of what happened with Dr. H. and getting the reports

from her. I just do not understand how this can happen. It seems that it

is not all Dr. H., either. It is the system. They want their money right

away, but we don't get too much else right away, do we?

Now, for another matter.... It is not fair that you are enjoying that 70

degree weather. We are so hot here that we are all staying indoors instead

of enjoying the sunny days we have. It is too darn hot!!!! I thought that

maybe we would miss out on the heatwaves because we've had a relatively cool

summer. No way. Today it was almost 100 degrees at camp. We moved

everyone inside except for swimming and dance. Dance was done outside in

the shade with a sprinkler beside the stage that we use. We had to do this

outside - we had no more room indoors. Unfortunately, this is not supposed

to break before Friday night. (And my poor gardens - all that work for

nothing. The flowers are dying despite my watering.)

Jodi

Re: I'm mad! (waiting for results...to Liz)

> >

> > My husband did get the results faxed to him, but I don't know what the

norm=

> > al=20

> > values should be. I think the fact that he is a doctor helped speed

up=20

> > getting the results. We just received a bill for over 1500$ for the

blood=20

> > work and office visit. They apparently didn't submit it to our

insurance. I=

> > =20

> > hope they aren't holding their breath waiting for the check from us

to=20

> > arrive-LOL.=20

> >

> > Liz-Mom of Nate(?RSS)and Sam-35 month old twins and Arianna-15 months

> >

> >

> >