People in wheelchairs, please use your flight powers to ascend the stairs

[rachelmanija]

I'm still recovering from my vacation. Since I think it would make a bad impression to go out and cough on people I'm trying to sell stuff to, I'm not back to the day job yet. I did poke at chapter one of Secret Project # 1, with the result that it's (maybe) improved but also now far too long. Dammit.

I should mention at this point that I went to sleep last night at 11:00, and woke up an hour ago at noon. I hope that helped, though probably not with the Secret Project, unless a bunch of gremlins or my cats edited it while I was asleep.

I went to my new orthopedist, a guy at Kerlan Jobe, who immediately struck me as about a gazillion times better than the old guy-- this one actually listened to what I had to say, for one, rather than poking my back for three minutes and then running out the door, and also dictated his impressions from the examination into a hand-recorder in front of me, so I could hear what he thought and what was actually on the record. (Summary in layman's terms: "There's obviously something wrong but I'm not yet sure what's causing it.") He wants to see my X-Rays, CT scan, bone scan, etc, saying that they're only as good as the person interpreting them. So I collected my 20th new prescription and went to Cedars-Sinai, where I filled out a form so I can get the bone scan and CT scan (on CD, I think) on Thursday.

Then I went to the former orthopedist's office. (He does not yet know that he's former, and you'll see why in a moment.) I should have known this was not a good place when I showed up the first time and found that it was on the second floor and the elevator was broken. Anyway, I went to the front desk and asked for my X-Rays.

"Why didn't you call first?" asked the Snotty Receptionist-- I should mention that all the receptionists are snotty at this place. (They were polite, friendly, and professional at Kerlan-Jobe and Cedars-Sinai.)

"Because it's impossible to get through to anyone on the phone," I said. "Anyway, I'm here now, so may I have them, please?"

"No," said SR.

"They're my X-Rays," I said. "I have the right to get them from you."

"Well... the guy who does that isn't here now."

"These aren't new X-Rays," I said. "They're old ones, they're just sitting in my file, all you have to do is open my file and take them out."

"No, they're in the X-Ray room, and there's only one person who can get them, and I don't even know where she is. I haven't seen her since one o'clock."

"Then PAGE her!" I suggested.

Noticing that all the patients in the lobby were getting overly interested in this conversation, SR had me sit down and wait.

Soon she beckoned me back up to the desk. "She can't find them," said SR with every evidence of satisfaction.

"What do you mean, she can't find them? Aren't they in my file?"

"I dunno, she says she can't find them."

("A haaaaandbaaaaag?") "Do you mean to tell me that you LOST my X-RAYS?!" I said, projecting throughout the lobby.

"No, no!"

"Well, if you haven't LOST my X-RAYS, then take my file off the wall, pull them out, and GIVE THEM TO ME."

"Yeah, but the guy who knows where everything is isn't here, so it's not that simple, so you'll just have to go back home and call him."

"When's he in?"

"I dunno, he's out sick."

"OK, fine," I said. "I will call him every day until I get them. What's his extension?"

SR rolled her eyes. "He doesn't have one."

I'm thinking it might be easiest if Kerlan-Jobe took their own X-Rays.

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Good Lord. What crappy service!

[minnow1212.livejournal.com]

>Noticing that all the patients in the lobby were getting overly interested in this conversation<

This is one of the reasons why I think you're awesome. Good luck in getting the X-Rays. (Hmmph. Bad office.)

[tweedkitten.livejournal.com]

You are quite the patient one. They would never have gotten me out of there until I either had my xrays or was prying my fist out of someone's mouth. :D

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

What are you doing tonight? I have PANTIES for you.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're seeing a new orthopedist. I'm also with a new orthopedic surgeon, for my knees. I have not been able to get my old records out of the old place - the first receptionist I talked to refused point blank and said that I couldn't get copies of my own records - but at this point I don't think I need them so I'm not going to waste any more time on it in the meanwhile.

My new guy is really good, and I have an excellent PT also. Although I have to drive a long way.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear about your new orthopedist and PT.

I wanted to get a copy of my file too, but I figured the X-Rays were a bigger deal and it would be easier to get them if I didn't make a fuss over the file first.

[hokelore.livejournal.com]

Ummm, being in that line of work, I can say that lost X-rays are not unusual. They are victims of mis-filing, of non-return, things like that. I'm not sure what all causes these disappearances; I take the images, but I try to avoid the file room as much as possible.

That's hard-copy films, mind you.

This office sounds more fucked up than most. If they've gone completely digital, as we all are headed, they should be able to just burn another CD for you.

"They're my X-Rays," I said. "I have the right to get them from you."

This always pisses people off: From a legal standpoint, they aren't yours. They are a legal document, and the hospital is responsible for them (though in this case, not terribly responsible). At your request, they ARE required to either loan the originals (with a specified return date), print copies (there may be charge), or make a digital image (again, there may be a charge).

This place should have done one of those. Making a CD of your images from a PACS system shouldn't have been any big deal.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Interesting, I didn't know that. It wasn't so much the missing X-Rays which got to me, but the consistent rudeness of the staff; all the same, wow does that kind of thing make a bad impression.

[hokelore.livejournal.com]

Interesting, I didn't know that.

Most people don't. That's why I have the patter so well-rehearsed; I say it a lot.

The rudeness, well, many private practices seem to have that. I'm not sure why. I can't and won't defend it.

[thomasyan.livejournal.com]

To get copies, might you not also have to sign some release form?

Anyway, Rachel, I suggest you entertain the idea of going in every day and coughing on Snotty Receptionist.

[hokelore.livejournal.com]

Copies, probably not. At least, it isn't required where I work. Originals, very likely! We require a signed release, and we always get the name and contact info the destiniation. After a prescribed amount of time, if the films haven't been returned, the phone calls start.

[misia.livejournal.com]

Aaaaaaaaaigighghghghghg! I KEEEL THEM for their incompetence! I KEEL THEM WITH RUSTY IMPLEMENTS OF KEELING!

That is precisely the kind of stonewalling incompetent bureaucratic STUPID that makes me go nuclear. You deserve a medal for not having just exploded right then and there.

Here's hoping good things come of the new orthopod.

[canandagirl.livejournal.com]

Gee, sounds like my experience at the doctor's office, my experience with the INS, my experience with the cable company, with the phone company, with...

[(Anonymous)]

Kerlan Jobe rocks. But if they want to send you to HealthSouth for physical therapy, ask for alternatives. (The therapists are great, but the business office is a bunch of pirates who can only be bludgeoned into honoring their word by a really scary lawyer or two.)

--Emma