Monday, October 14, 2013

Physician dropped me

I had the shock of a life time. My rheumatologist dropped me as a patient. I found out when I needed prescription refilled and they wouldn't do it.
I didn't see my doctor that day. I saw her PA. Now her PA either doesn't care or she's just over whelmed with patients.
Her name is Bethany Kerwood. It takes on average 3 - 7 days for her to refill medication even when given the 72 hr notice from the pharmacy.
When I had an appointment with her (my doctor was on vacation), she snapped at me when I asked if she could give one refill, ONE REFILL, on my medication. She said she couldn't. It was against the law. I replied that my doctor did it all the time. That's when she snapped. She said something to the effect that because she's a PA, she couldn't do it.
I only asked because of my past experience with her not filling my medication on time. I mean, who prescribes a medication and when you run out, the physician makes you wait 3 - 7 days before refilling it? To me, that's just very bad practicing.
When she left the office, she said she would ask my doctor about a cream for my neck. That's the last contact I had. When the nurse came in, I told her I didn't ever want to see Bethany again. Then the nurse, Susan, and I talked about other stuff. I made another appointment to see my doctor but couldn't get in until December.
A week later, I had the pharmacy send in a request for a refill. The refill came in for half the dosage. So I called the doctors office and left a message for the nurse asking if the dosage had been changed.
I got a returned call telling me my rheumatologist dropped me as a patient. I was shocked! I was told a letter had been sent to me. I told her I've not received a letter. So she read a copy to me. Again I was shocked! I asked for another to be sent and I also left a message for the office manager.
Later that day he called me. He said a copy of the letter had already been sent in the mail for me. He said since he was not there to witness what happened, there was little he could do. I wished my doctor the best and that was that.
I was angry and hurt. I wasn't asked what happened that day. Just dropped. My rheumatologist is the best in the state. So I know there was no reason to try and find another.
I went online to write a review. Low and behold I am not the only person who had trouble getting medication filled on time and not the only person who's phone calls weren't returned. So that was a bit of validation for me.
I left my review and haven't looked back.

No one besides yourself should take top priority in your health. When something isn't right, you speak up. If you don't, physicians can do whatever they please regarding your health. I'm writing this to let other's know, if you believe your health care isn't going the way it should, you need to say something about it. But know that speaking up could lose you a doctor. But your health isn't going to get better by kissing ass.
Luckily, I have a family physician who knows all about my fibro and degenerative disc disease. So it wasn't too big a loss.

1 comment:

  1. I was just wondering how you are doing. I noticed that you haven't blogged for 2 months and I wanted to see if you are okay. Warmly, Valda

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