Health Care Is Sick

I spent the better part of the day yesterday trying to figure out what to do about my leg, which showed little sign of improvement over the weekend and actually started to hurt again despite like 30 days of strong antibiotic ingestion. I called my doctor. I asked her what she thought. She said sounding more like any clueless coed off the street than a medical professional, "To be honest...I don't really know what to think." She really didn't need to say that after talking to me on Thursday about surgeons and infectious disease specialists, and then Friday doing a complete about face by advising me to just finish out this antibiotic. She'd see me at my physical on the 12th...problem solved now go away. With an about face like that, I don't need my own M.D. to determine she is in way over her head. To be fair to her, she is new. New to me and new to the practice of medicine. To be fair to me, there is a time and place to admit you are out of your league and to call in the more experienced doctors in your practice. Instead, she called a surgeon she knows somewhere. The same doctor she was going to consult with after my visit last week, but who never called her back so she just decided that I should stay the course on her own. "Miraculously" (her word not mine) this doctor's surgery was cancelled yesterday, she was able to get right in touch with him this time and he said I need to get an MRI ASAP. They were on the phone for no more than 2 minutes so I'm not sure what he's basing his recommendation on. I'm confident something needs to be done, but I'm not confident in what...in them. This is costing time and money and peace of mind, but I feel like I'm being dismissed. The choices I have at this point as I see it are to keep taking this perscription and pray that it works. or to get the MRI, or to go get another opinion. For various reasons, the MRI is winning today.

The insurance website suggested shopping around for reasonable rates with these types of diagnostic tests. I decided that was wise and responsible given the fact that I do not agree with the way our health care system is being run or used. If I want to get on my soap box, I better do my part. My doctor's office wanted me to go to the diagnostic facility affiliated with them and when I told them what I was going to do, they tried to tell me I couldn't at first. Then they tried to tell me that I shouldn't, and finally that most people wouldn't. That only made me more suspicious and determined. The test there will cost me, my insurance company, and taxpayers and insurance users in general, around $5000 before a radiologist actually reads the scans. They couldn't be certain of the charge because although I obtained the 5 digit numerical code they use to bill this procedure, they still weren't willing to commit to the integrity of their quote and the certainty of the procedure.

I called 2 independent centers. One was suggested by the insurance company and the other by a friend who has used their services on more than one occasion. The first was a flat $600 for the scan and the radiologist. The second was $1800. There really is nothing more to say about that except that our current health care system is septic and something major must be done.

I'm beginning to think that we live in a world where you just may be better off having no insurance at all since everyone seems to be OK with someone else picking up the bill no matter its cost.

So today I called to ask my doctor's assistant to fax the all ready written order to the appropriate party and I was told that wasn't possible. It wasn't possible because both my doctor and her assistant are off on Tuesdays. So I asked, "Can't someone else fax it? A nurse? A clerical worker?" I was told a flat out "no." I felt my blood pressure rising as I calmly asked, "Is that because it is not possible or because it is not their job?" The answer was as I suspected...it's not their job. I don't remember exactly what I said after that, but within 5 minutes my order was faxed.

I'm pretty sure that I'm back to square one. I need to find a new primary care physician and maybe a good lawyer too. I'm hopeful that my leg will be healed soon, but my blood pressure may be elevated for good and it's all their fault.