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Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist
Visiting Mayo Clinic | Last Active: Nov 10, 2021 | Replies (231)Comment receiving replies
@sunnyflower My husband has had a rude awakening recently. For the last 30 years, his insurance was through Kaiser Permanente. He enjoyed having drs under one location, for the most part, and dedicated hospitals. Everyone took their time with him, and he received excellent care before, during, and post-kidney transplant. Now we have moved where he doesn't have access, and had to source out [basically I did the research and let him make final decision] new providers. His new nephrologist also runs a dialysis unit. My husband had to find out the hard way that to this Dr, the more patients seen in a day, the more he can bill, so appts are very brief. Fortunately he is very healthy and has no problems.
Ginger
Replies to "@sunnyflower My husband has had a rude awakening recently. For the last 30 years, his insurance..."
@gingerw, Your hubby is fortunate to have a helper to research new providers. Take a bow, my friend. And yes, I've appreciated my good medical coverage through retired teachers, formerly Aetna and currently Humana where all my docs and procedures were covered without question or hassle. Always a bit nerve wracking with any changes for this old bird but particularly with news of a new provider. We are changing again in January and can only hope coverage will continue as before.
Glad your guy is doing well. My nephrologist Also is part owner in the next door dialysis unit and while, very thankfully I'm not needing dialysis, her "agreement', whatever that means, with the lab she assigns has me vigorously nodding in agreement that some docs are far more interested in the number of patients who can be seen per day than the current health issues of the patient. Can't wait for a new neph. and can only cross my fingers that I get one more interested in patient care.
@gingerw, Unfortunately, your husband's rude awakening sounds very like my most recent visit with my nephrologist who insists on using a specifc lab for tests and not allowing me lab results until following her visit.
When I told her at my last visit what had occurred at the lab...no temp taken, no sanitary wipes provided, no anti-bacterial soap, and the biggest alarm: no mask worn until tech finally sat to draw blood, she replied: "That was unfortunate." Unfortunate? I should have reported the lab same day to the local health dept!
When asked if she would order next labs at the hospital/clinic all other labs are done, she responded: "We have a special arrangement with this lab and I prefer it". Really???? Hard to believe but True! Third chance for her to provide some guidance; three strikes, she's out and waiting for referral to new neph!
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Hi Ginger, wow, you guys have been through a lot! I 'm really sorry to hear about this but very glad to hear that your hubby is doing well!
I am a Kaiser Permanente patient. I love my insurance plan (Medicare Advantage) and what the HMO affords me. I use outside preferred providers when I want.
The problems I encounter a lot are usually system failures. It can be easy to fall through the cracks and I have several times!
Otherwise I am very grateful to have the care that I do. I feel very blessed.
Fondly, Sunnyflower 😊