Setbacks and Frustration

"This is Lisa, I'm returning your call," I said as my doctor's office answered the line.

"Oh yes, I left you a message because we were reviewing the notes in your file and Your Primary Care Doctor cannot give you clearance for your surgery unless you're having it at Winchester Hospital."

"I don't want to have it there.  I already had a surgery there with one of the doctors and I want to go with the surgeon I chose."

"I understand that, but we can only give clearance for doctors that are within our network."

"That doesn't make any sense.  My insurance will cover it regardless of where I have it, so why does your network matter?"  I was starting to get really angry.

"Because we only refer within our hospital network."

"That's bullshit.  Listen, I'm not going to start all over with all of these doctors.  I've already set up appointments with the dietician, cardiologist, pulmonologist and went for my first visit with the psychologist. I've been a patient of Primary Doctor for over a year, this is ridiculous."

"I understand you're upset, but this policy is for the benefit of our patients."

"Listen lady, I work in the field and that is the biggest crock of shit I've ever heard.  Your policies are not in place to protect your patients.  They're to ensure that your office and the physicians within your network get the maximum reimbursement from our insurance companies.  Screw it.  Send me my files and I'll find another primary doctor."

"Well, we don't want to lose you as a patient..."

I cut her off, "It's a little late for that.  I'm not going to switch all of my other doctors when I could just easily switch this one."

This probably would not have made me so angry if they'd told me this three weeks ago when I called them to set up the physical and explained that this is what I was doing it.  I even told them where I was having it and no one raised this concern then.  So now, I've got all of these appointments set up and have even started going for some of the exams and tests needed, and they want me to start all over?  More importantly, they want me to go through their network which means I have the choice of two doctors in the entire state.  But even more importantly than that is that I'd already met with one of the two and decided I didn't want to have the surgery with him. 

In my opinion, the surgeon in this case, is the most important piece of the puzzle.  How many successful surgeries they've performed; The success their patients have had; the exact procedure they do; the recovery time; their program's requirements both pre- and post-surgery; these are all the most important pieces.  All of the others are to supplement that.  Why would I change such a key piece now, when I'm already so far along in the process?

So, I sent off a written request to have my records transferred and got on the phone callng a dozen other primary care doctors in the hospital network I've chosen.  What a pain in the @$$!

Last week, I had my echocardiogram so this morning I will meet with the cardiologist to review the findings.  I also have an appointment with my new primary care doctor.  My records have not been released yet, but they should be in a week or two.  It will be helpful to ensure I'm comfortable with this new doctor and talk to him about his process for clearance.  I'm due for another physical next month, so I'm hoping I can get my clearance by the end of May/early June.  I'd ideally like to have the surgery in late June/early July.