Accepted for Cardiology, denied internal medicine, need collab team!
TL;DR: Denied by internal medicine, but then accepted by cardiology. I need doctors that communicate across specialties, how do I get appointments with other providers despite denial? Is there no hope?
List of specialists farther down in post (NO, I don’t want to see them all, but a few).
Hi, hoping someone can give guidance or encouragement as this far it’s been a very frustrating journey. Sorry this is long… I’m a 42yo F that recently experienced a rare type of Heart Attack with no previous heart issues. I am however treated for several other conditions, and now that I’m a cardiac patient, things are even more complicated, especially with meds. After my 3rd hospitalization in 4 months, my cardiologist (at northwestern, so a very reputable program) suggested Mayo as he feels some of my other conditions are at play with what’s going on and he knows hearts, but not the other stuff.
It seems to be especially challenging as there aren’t a lot of female cardiac patients my age so a lot of the doctors aren’t used to having some of these conditions cross.
My initial application through internal med was denied, and quite frankly, I was devastated. I let my cardiologist know and he was shocked and told me to call cardiology directly.
I called cardiology directly and when telling them my diagnosis and such, they got me in, and FAST. Like less than 2 weeks fast. I explained that one of the complications I was having was treating my other conditions in conjunction with the heart issues and she said when I’m there, the cardiologist may be able to write me referrals to other departments. Great!
Then, the next day I got an email saying never mind, the doctor said I’d have to go through internal medicine for any additional appointments. I called internal medicine and they said since I was denied, I’d need to wait 12 months before applying again, but there were some departments I could contact directly. She did send me the link again and say I could try to reapply, but I will most likely be denied because the doctors will see they just denied me. (Which is exactly what happened).
So now, I’ve spent countless hours on the phone, on hold with various departments going back and forth. I do not expect to be able to get everything in, especially with the fast turnaround (at this point, I fly in to MN in 72 hours, and it’s a weekend), however, the whole thing with Mayo is they are supposed to set you up with a team that works together, especially when dealing with multiple conditions. They tout making it “easy” with central scheduling making sure you see all the necessary providers and creating an itinerary to maximize your time….
But so far, after hours and hours on the phones, I’m still only scheduled with cardiology. One department said they would get me in while there if cardiology refers me, but cardiology said they won’t be able to do that, I’ll need to go through internal med for everything else.
Any condition that goes through internal med, they tell me no, I’ve been denied. If I ask about it being related or impacting the heart stuff which I’m already accepted for, they still say I need to wait a year and try again.
One department is STILL reviewing my application, another claims they can probably get me in but asked for certain documents…my doctor sent them 3 times, I sent them twice, I confirmed the fax number twice, but they keep saying they don’t have it.
Others say they can’t even go through the questions because I’m denied…even though I’m accepted in cardiology, and others spend 30-40 minutes on the phone with me to either give me a mile long list of requirements they seem to need months in advance, or tell me I need to go to said department and ask to be a “checker” while I’m there, though I may end up waiting literally all day and not being seen.
I’m already under so much stress and this process has had me in tears, literally.
I don’t understand, if the whole point is for you to have a cohesive team that works across multiple specialties, how/why is it that you can be accepted in one area and then denied access to see ANY additional providers?!
Again, I’m not asking to see every type of specialist I need, but two or three doesn’t seem ridiculous given it’s the whole model for the place! And I’m fine coming back, but with having to book so close, my air and lodging alone is already over $1500, I’m unable to work and not yet approved for disability, I can’t keep doing trips like this for one provider.
Does anyone have any suggestions/relatable experience?
Will it get better/easier once I arrive? Or, is it really just an exhausting game where you waste all your time to get denied over and over? Can I expect that I will get to work with a team of providers that work together on my case, or is it just a bunch of BS?
If anyone has any insight about ANY of the following areas, I’d appreciate it.
Allergy testing
Genesight testing
Genetic counseling
Rheumatology
Medication therapy management
Pain management/fibromyalgia
Sleep medicine
Spine care
Plastic surgery (related to spine, not cosmetic)
Urology
GI
Neurology (the ones still reviewing application)
Gynecology (the ones who never receive the documents)
Psychiatry (the ones who say they will see me if cardiology refers me)
Audiology (The ones who say to come as a “checker”)
I KNOW that’s a long list, and no, I didn’t put that ALL on my application because I read about people being denied for being “too complicated”. And like I said, I’m not delusional thinking I’ll get a team with all of those covered, but please, how do I get anything in addition to cardiology?
Having Northwestern telling me they aren’t sure what to do with all the co-morbidities was so discouraging. Then they suggested mayo and after reading I thought I had my answer.
The first denial had me really down and then when I was so easily accepted by cardiology I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel. Now I feel like there’s just a bottomless pit.
I get in late Monday night, Tuesday have ECG & ECHO, Wednesday have bloodwork and cardiology consult, will be done by noon. I’m not set to fly out until Saturday morning because 1) surprisingly the airfare was much less and 2) I had foolish hopes of having additional appointments.
If you got this far, thank you for your time.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Visiting Mayo Clinic Support Group.
@doesitcomeinglitter
Wanted to check in with you on how your cardiology appt went.
Were you able to get any additional appointment scheduled?
Are there case managers available at Mayo for people like doesitcomeinglitter? Most of us deal with one department at a time, but for others who need more than one, a coordinator/manager may be able to schedule multiple appointments more efficiently.
Yikes! It is cRazY, huh? One of my Mayo gift shop finds is my favorite vegetable peeler. Would that compliment your blender?
LOL. I think I may have purchased the same veggie peeler!!
In response to @doesitcomeinglitter:
I have just received their “canned” rejection email from neurology, suggesting I continue to work with my local doctors/specialists. I live in a community of 15,000 people, 4 hours from any major medical facility and my podiatrist submitted 15 pages of information along with my required questionnaire. Guess it wasn’t good enough to consider exploring what is going on regarding possible neuropathy in my foot and calves. It is my understanding there can be MANY causes and subsequent treatments, if possible. I am now left to try to find other options with no explanation from them, except we can’t serve everyone….blah, blah, blah..,,.I am a Mayo patient for other issues but it took years to get in neurology many years ago ( it was a poor experience vs the excellent experiences I generally have) and I have never been accepted by internal medicine. Thus, I am extremely disappointed but will move on and will find my answers somewhere!
What a blow! I have heard the same, "for every one person we help, several more come." It has to be frustrating all around. I hope you take a hot minute to react to this news and then somehow find strength to keep pushing to live your best life.
May I ask.....what problem are you trying to address? You have obviously gone through so, so much to get to this point just hearing how much information you have passed on to Mayo Neurology. And, you mentioned a poor history with them but you are still hopeful to get into to see them again? I guess I am wondering if they don't think there is anything they can do to help you, or maybe they aren't seeing a concise problem/opportunity to help as they weed through all the info, enough to understand specifically what can be addressed. You certainly wouldn't want to be seen only to hear the same news. Can you ask them if they truly just aren't seeing new patients, or possibly they could throw you a bone as to a specific direction to what direction to try next. Does going through this process help you at all, maybe able to refine what you are trying to accomplish, what would help you the most? Sorry to be so full of questions. My brain just tends to go to solving problems and I'm sad to hear about yours.
Wishing you the best in your marathon, @migizii !
Mine is ORANGE!
Oh, we’re kindred spirits. So is mine! 😅
I have some of the colorful wooden spoons too! They make me smile.