Coordinating between NJH and your regular pulmonologist and ID doctor
I have an appointment in early April to visit NJH. I am very thankful for the opportunity. I'm wondering how the process works after you return home. Does your regular pulmonolgist and ID doctor just read the notes? Do you email NJH if you have a question or problem and copy your local medical team? What does follow-up look like after a visit to Denver? Do most people go just once or return periodically? Thanks for your insights! Jennifer
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@pjas972j, I know how this works at Mayo Clinic. Let me tag a few NJH patients who might be able to give you some guidance like @tdrell @jenblalock @esssbeee @judyhodgern
If you've been given a patient number or MRN from NJH, you may be able to ask this question on the patient portal.
my input is based on information from last visit over 2 years ago....am supposed to go for check ups every 18 months but due to Pandemic have not.
at that time (which was also prior to the addition to NJH of a new building) an auxillary office of medical records...for patient convenience....was on first floor easily accessible. So l went frequently and asked for print out of what ever was available that day and at the end...and filled out papers to have reports sent to my local doctors. I also would ask at radiology right after when l had CAT/MRI scans for the CD of it to have for my own files..I would get print out of pulmonary function tests ....doctors were amazingly quick to put notes on the Portal....same with lab work...final reports were on Portal after l returned home.
a phone call to medical records from home always worked to get additional reports to new doctors....had a sleep study there....pulmonologist here had to have information to order CPAP....they faxed over 40 pages of data to him ...very quickly and graciously.
does this answer your question....remember this information is from several years ago. I was impressed with how willing they were to share information...and give copies....to me...and in a timely manner...
also...l would bring all reports and cd's with me to them...don't assume they will be sent from local/
outside facilities to NJH.
I carried a small tote bag with records l was bringing and then used as l collected items from NJH...also snacks and stuff to work on between appointments.
Will be curious to hear from you ...if any of my information is outdated.Who will be your primary doctor?? Mine just retired....wishing you the best!!!terri @tdrell
@pjas972j - I visit NJH quarterly for checkups and also see my local doctor quarterly for checkups. My NJH doc won't treat flareups so I have to go to my local doc for that. All information should be shared between docs but I get copies and bring those to make sure each doctor has the most current information. I email my NJH doctor through his nursing assistants and they convey the information to him if they can't answer my questions. Unfortunately, the NJH docs can't do telehealth visits or anything like that at least to Arizona. Not sure if that applies across every state. @lindam272
Thank you, lindam272!
@lindam272 Hi, I see you are from AZ, I live in Sun City AZ. I would love to connect as I too am considering a visit to NJH, and have questions!
Thank you for the details! I received my preliminary schedule yesterday and looks like I will be seeing Drs. Griffinth and Daley. I don't know how you tell which one is primary. I see Dr. G the first week and Dr. Daley the second.
I appreciate your time and sharing! I hope you are doing well! 🙂
NJH might be doing things differently since l was last there in 2019...especially since dr Huitt just retired and l see they have two new doctors for the specialty....dr griffith being a new one...and a pulmonologist ....they actually work ...or at least did....as a team for all patients with NTM infections....l will be curious to hear how they do it now....
l called to make my follow up appt..,,,since it was so long since last appt....l get the feeling l am going thru the first time patient process....l was told they had to check my insurance (fully covered by medicare and supplement 5 years ago) and have nurse review. l will give it about 2 weeks and then will call back. Am feeling ok....under good care here in Wisconsin but will feel better when l have their experts read their CAT scan....I was not put on any meds so hope l can continue with that....terri s
Update....NJH no longer has a secondary Medical Records office on first floor😢tdrell
I can share my experience. NJH is an amazing place. I was there last May 2021 and have my follow up this June 2022. The staff, the coordination, the process…they have the drill down to a science. (I say this because I worked in Charlotte NC largest hospital for 4 years and never witnessed such professional care & consideration) Dr. Daley is “Chief” of ID clinic. They do perform as a united team of expertise. All departments communicate any and all results with him. He has ordered your “workup” and any additional testing is ascertained at intake wherein you should share any and all of your thoughts or worries that may not have been acknowledged by your team back home. These teams in Denver…are the “all stars”. They will modify daily even hourly any changes in your schedule and you will have a staff member walk you through “everything “. You are responsible for the “time keeping” …you must be at any scheduled appointment on time. They were constructing there new building last year so things were spread out on the campus…that may have changed…regardless they will give you a detailed tour of where every department is and a map. Trust in the system.
Then after all testing and multidisciplinary interviews…mine lasted 3 days…you will meet Dr. Daley. He is quiet impressive in my opinion…he listens and responds clearly. You must be your own best advocate and have questions and doubts and hopes ready to express.
When you leave you will have answers and a plan for treatment and NJH and your doctors back home will communicate. That is their responsibility after you share the contact information and request same. NJH is the “specialty hospital” with the rockstars in this field and will “jointly” share their opinions and findings with home doctors to deliver the best care you can receive.
I will not attest that all will be “easy”. These doctors are human beings as we…and suffer same mishaps in Denver as we do back home.
Last year when covid was spiking, they lost a lot of staff and months went by when I heard nothing and felt abandoned. You can write through the patient portal to anyone of your doctors…you can call and speak with caring nurses who will pass on your messages. You can print any and all results and summary clinic reports from that patient portal also.
I hope your experience is as good as mine was. You can tell Dr. Daley about this review (saw Regina Undorfer says😎) and I bet he will laugh.
Good luck and stay in touch.
Thank you for all the details! I am thankful for this opportunity. My visit is for nine business days. I'm guessing they have stretched it out because of staffing issues. Small price to pay for excellent care!