New PCP

[Purple Banana]

I really want to cut off the head of the medical profession right now.

I recently got a new Primary Care Physician after my other one didn't work out. This one seemed okay. I've had 3 appts with her discussing my neurological issues and how severely they are impacting upon my performance in college (I've had to drop out 2 times- went from the Dean's List to academic probation in two years despite quitting smoking, and even then it didn't affect my learning) and at work. I can hardly drive anymore, nor speak the way I used to without fumbling my words.

I got an appointment with a neurologist downtown 3 months ago, and requested the referral from MY PCP's offic to be faxed, left it on their referral answering service. I call back a few weeks later to assure it's going to be faxed. They said yes, they'll do it the week of.

This was the week of my appointment. It is Monday, and my appointment is Wednesday. Sure enough, the office calls, stating "We cannot process your request for a referral because Dr. X did not know of any neurological condition which you have had, and she can't make referrals for things she knows nothing about."

I hang up on them, pissed. I call back once I've stopped yelling obscenities, and request to talk to Dr. X. The secretary won't connect me to her office line because "She already said no."

So by this point, I am in tears, and I try to find another PCP. All of the ones within an hour of me don't have appointments for new patients for 3 months at the least. I have to cancel my neurology appt, and the next available one is not for 8 months.

I am about to scream. Does anyone have any advice?

[notransfer]

why didnt the pcp refer you...i dont get this....you discussed your problems with the doctor then the doctor claimed you have no problems or wasnt aware/ had no information about them?

do you have a psychiatrist? perhaps they can refer you...

are you looking to pick up neuro-medication to help you better function?
are you hoping the neurologist can diagnose your problem exactly?

[Purple Banana]

I have no psychiatrist to refer me, I just needed a referral to a neurologist for severe functionality issues for a diagnosis. I've been searching for a diagnosis for well over 4 years now.

I have no effing clue why she didn't refer me. Or even wish to speak with me about it. I wasn't yelling (on the phone) or even have an upset tone. I was firm. We have had 3 appts. together discussing my problems, and she told me to find a neurologist and to get a referral from her. I'm done with their office now, anyway. Fuck them.

[notransfer]

that shits odd

this is besides the point but im bipolar and when my meds wear out i feel like my heart is palpatating...i get anxiety and paranoia...almost symptomatic of an anxiety disorder rather than mood swings and psychosis

the right meds can help you feel completely normal given conditions

I hope everything eventually works out for you because i empathize with not being able to function

so your pcp stabbed you in the back....

[FUNKNUGGET]

hahahaha i was expecting to see some angel dust

[notransfer]

lol funk

[Kid Dynamite]

threads about PCP aren't allowed anymore.

Mods!!

j/k

[birdgirl73]

Definitely get yourself a new PCP as soon as you can. This current one sounds like a loser. And the equally bad offender in the whole situation is your insurance, which, of course, has that referral system bureacracy in place for precisely this reason: to be a hassle that impedes your getting the care you need so they don't have to pay for it. I'd be curious to know if your plan is one of those that incents PCPs for not making those referrals. I'd bet anything it is. (That ought to be against the law, and in many places it will be before long.)

Is there any way you can keep that Wednesday neuro appointment and simply pay for it out of pocket? A basic fee-for-service neuro office visit without any testing is, for me, one of the most affordable appointments there is, at least here in the Dallas metro area. I hate for you not to be able to at least get in for the initial visit. Then, once you've seen a new PCP and gotten an official referral, you can go back in for a longer followup and be referred for any testing they think you need.

The only other thing I can think of would be for you to go into the ER with your complaint and see the neurologist on call but that's going to be a far more expensive prospect than just paying for that Wednesday basic office visit up front.

If you still want to try and finagle a referral from Dr. Holdout, does she have a nurse or a PA or a nurse-practitioner, by any chance? You can often get those professionals on the phone more easily and then engineer a referral that way. What I want to know is what happened. I mean, if she made you that verbal assurance she'd give you a referral, is it she who's standing in the way or is it a breakdown somewhere on the office-staff level? Is it some misconception she has about you or your symptoms?

I know it's frustrating. Once you get through this and get to the point you can tell that PCP to take a flying leap, I'll be happy to help you construct a letter if you want to.

[Purple Banana]

Unfortunately, I can't pay for the neuro appt. OOP, as it's at least $350 (he's a major specialist). But the semi-good news is, I got a new PCP with only 2 weeks until my appointment. So maybe she can find me a neurologist appt. earlier, or something. I don't know. I just want everything to be somewhat better.

It's not a question of the insurance, really, because my insurance will cover practically anything and everything. I think my old PCP's office just don't want to fax the paperwork and my chart again. But that's their loss. I told 12 of my friends who currently have this bad PCP, and they're switching. SO TAKE THAT.

EDIT: I just realized people might have mistaken the Primary Care Physician (PCP) for the other type of PCP. LOL.

[thcbongman]

God you gotta hate the system with PCPs and referrals. It's a pain in the ass.

You just gotta shop around and find a doc who knows his role is no more than writing referrals and basic prescriptions. It just makes thing alot easier. It doesn't make any sense to keep renewing referrals every 1 or 2 months if you use a specialist regulary. But this is the messy healthcare system here, makes you want to pull your hair out.

[birdgirl73]

Glad you've found another PCP to try with. Maybe it is just laziness on the office staff's part. I hope you have good luck with this next one. Glad you've already helped lighten their patient load, too. Hope you'll take the time to tell them you've done that and why--so they'll know that that sort of crap ends up costing them more money than just doing the right thing. (And don't kid yourself that insurance is a willing payor. It may seem like that. But if that were truly the case, they wouldn't have everyone jumping through hoops to obtain, give, receive or hedge on referrals.)

For a $350 basic office visit, he'd better be the chairman of the neurology faculty at your nearest medical school. Let's hope that's his fee for an extended evaluation/workup visit!!

[Purple Banana]

He works alongside with Dr. Ben Carson, so he's damn good I hope :]

I'm making another appt. as soon as I get in with my new PCP.

[TheFatKid]

I read this thread expecting a new form of the drug PCP =(.


But that sucks with your issue man, I hope things straighten out.

[MastaChronic]

i read the title and thought this was going to be about something completely different....

[Knucklecallus420]

dont know what to tell you man /:
that just fucking sucks.
god damn.

[birdgirl73]

Oh my gosh, Dr. Ben Carson is a legend! But you're seeing an adult neuro and not a surgeon, right?

Everyone in medicine loves and worships Ben Carson. I mean that. There are pictures of him in the hall here at Southwestern Medical School, along with other great, highly published doctors in the world. I would personally love him if he weren't married and had two kids (or I weren't!). What a gentle, sweet, gifted surgeon. Had our son ever needed neurosurgery, that's who we'd have wanted. I'd have gladly flown to Maryland to get that care.

If you see him, kiss him or get his autograph. He's a medical rock star.

[Purple Banana]

I've met him before at a conference, he's astounding! So full of charisma and passion...

He's an adult neurologist, not a surgeon. But Dr. Carson would perform his surgery cases. Let's hope I need surgery so he can autograph my prefrontal lobe :D