Thing that made me go "Hmmm"
Friday has come and gone, with no pump. I checked in with my new best friend Shari at Smiths Medical, and as of 10:30 AM EST, they were still awaiting the medical necessity statement from my endo.
Wednesday I faxed my endo a quick note giving him a 'heads up' on my pump order and letting him know that my current pump is failing. I even was so bold as to mention that it conked out on me (batteries wore out) rather unexpectedly at about 3AM one day last week. My point being, in a very passive way, that I need a new pump sooner rather than later.
So, today, when the form hadn't been received by Smiths, the prudent thing to do would have been to hop on the phone to the endo's office and ask them to get crackin'. But I hemmed and hawed about harassing them... they're busy, right? It's not like they're going to just blow off the request, right? Can you tell I don't like to call people on the phone and ask for things? I could never pursue a career in phone sales, that's for sure.
By the time I got on the phone, it was after noon. And on a Friday, that means my endo's office is closed. Yes, he's pretty much the only show in town and can close up shop at noon on Friday.
Here's the kicker, though. When you call after hours, you hear a message. The message informs the caller that the office is closed, tells you when the office is open, and states that you may only leave a message to cancel an appointment.
At some point it dawns on me: I have no idea how to reach my endo after hours. Absolutely no clue.
One of the reasons I chose a local endo was so that, in the event of an emergency, I'd be connected to someone who could have a say in my care at the local hospital. But that point might be moot, considering I'd have no way to reach him!
I will admit I'm completely spoiled. I spent time in Massachusetts and as a Joslin clinic patient. I had docs (Joslin and otherwise) call me late into the evening and visit me after hours while in the hospital. Should I expect that of all endos? Am I being unrealistic?
When I call on Monday to ask about the pump form, I'll ask them how I reach the doctor if I need assistance after hours. And then, depending upon their answer, I guess it might be time to consider schlepping up to DC or down to Richmond for diabetes care. Sigh. At least I'm living a life that makes it possible to take the better part of a day to go to the doctor.
posted by Kassie @ 10:09 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Kassie,
Brendon's endo at Children's gave us her beeper number so that we could beep her directly rather than go through the hospital to do it. She said we could beep at all hours of the night too.
His nurse educator did the same and even gave us her direct office number so that we didn't have to leave a message on her voice mail (which has a separate number).
So, I don't think you're being spoiled at all by expecting to be able to reach your endo whenever you need him.
In fact, our kids' pediatricians have an answering service that will beep the Dr if we call after-hours and need medical assistance (like for an earache or something).
Your endo should at least provide a way for him to be beeped.
Ask Dee where he takes his daughter.
I should add that we rarely call his endo and we typically call after we've tried everything and finally need their assistance.
But anyway, it's disconcerting that your endo leaves no way for him to be reached.
If you can find a group with more than one endo, they tend to make themselves available because they can rotate the oncall duties.
My endo. gave me her personal cell number to get up with her at all times. If she is unavailable she leaves an alternate number on the answering machine to call. I think any good endo will have a way to get up with them at any time. Like Shannon, my ped. Dr. has an answering service that pages the Dr. on call after hours.
I think it's unacceptable and irresponsible for any doctor not to have emergency information on their answering machine/service. I would definitely bring it up when you speak to them today. Id' be pissed if I had no way to get in touch with my GP.
My children's ped. has called me at night and on weekends when I've had them in there for various and sundry ills. The endo and the CDE have both called me at night, at home. We go to Joslin now but when Olivia had Dr. Alter - what a great guy he was - at UMass, he was the same way.
I know Craig Alter! he was a camp doc way back in the day. He was a fave of campers and staff.
God, the D world is so freakin' small. I'd better start being nicer.
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