Rant Rant Rant about doctors

[Neme]

First off sorry for the rant : )

Second my doctors are great : )

Now for the rant ! I've just rung up the surgery to get cholesterol test results to be told that yes they are in BUT that the doctor hasn't seen them yet so they can't be given out. ! So the the receptionist has seen them but I can't get them ! Who's bl**dy life is it anyway ?

Is it just me or do others feel the same way about the high handed way we are treated?

[Subby]

I was hoping for a much longer rant than that after reading you heading! :)

Yes I find that frustrating. But I myself am happy enough with the kind of reasoning behind it. If there was something terrible on a given test it is much better for a doctor to see it first and then give the ok, or flag to discuss it with you, than a secretary just give it over who may have no idea (and, to be realistic, a patient may not either).

So it's a rule that's probably necessary for a lot of tests and a lot of smart patients. But I think it's a wise precaution - to cover those unpredictable times when doctor explanation/intervention is required.

[Funnygrl]

NY state where I live has a law that patients cannot get copies oftheir test result unless the prescriber "prescribes" them to get one. I see where it's coming from. Who wants to get really bad news without support? And sometimes people don't understand the results and call repeatedly with questions, which is easier to do at an appointment. Or they go online and try and get their results interpretted, then the whole appointment is spent undoing misinformation.

But at the same time, I think it's ridiculous and a huge violation of patient rights, especially for routine stuff.

[Deetles13]

Yea that is really annoying.. I work in a Hospital and have access to all patient lab work and reports.. but the rule is we cannot access our own stuf.. I think its so silly! If I want to look at my Labs or the x-ray i just had, why shouldnt I be allowed? I can see everyone elses!

[shel]

Maybe this will put the situation in some perspective. Many years ago I was told by a nurse that I'd had a heart attack - based on some test results. Needless to say, I was very upset, and deeply shaken. The next day I got a call from the doctor - the nurse had been mistaken and misread the tests.

I've no problem waiting to discuss my test results with my doctor. Nor do I feel I am treated in a "high handed" manner. Over the past year I've had nothing but great care by caring doctors, nurses, and other staff.

[SueM]

First off sorry for the rant : )

Second my doctors are great : )

Now for the rant ! I've just rung up the surgery to get cholesterol test results to be told that yes they are in BUT that the doctor hasn't seen them yet so they can't be given out. ! So the the receptionist has seen them but I can't get them ! Who's bl**dy life is it anyway ?

Is it just me or do others feel the same way about the high handed way we are treated?

Neme, I agree it is very frustrating.
But there is a very good reason for this. The receptionist is not medically trained so could give you the wrong results.
Hence to save you stress of a wrong result/diagnoses the results are only given once a GP has seen them. If they are abnormal s/he will then ring you and tell you so. If they been ok'd by the GP the receptionist can then tell you the result.

[yannah]

I get mine at a hospital, I go back the next day and pick up a copy. why can i do that?

I can usually understand them, but not these last ones. I didn't understand the parathyroid tests. called the doctor freaking out.

[Funnygrl]

Yea that is really annoying.. I work in a Hospital and have access to all patient lab work and reports.. but the rule is we cannot access our own stuf.. I think its so silly! If I want to look at my Labs or the x-ray i just had, why shouldnt I be allowed? I can see everyone elses!
But don't you do it anyways? Everyone I know does. It's not like it blocks yours.

And it's still illegal to access anyone you're not directly caring for. Even though you CAN if that person isn't involved in what you're doing at that very moment, it's illegal for you to be looking at their chart.

[Funnygrl]

I get mine at a hospital, I go back the next day and pick up a copy. why can i do that?

I can usually understand them, but not these last ones. I didn't understand the parathyroid tests. called the doctor freaking out.
Depends on that state. And "called the doctor freaking out" is why many states or individual offices have rules against this.