Yearly doctor visit

[CBL4]

My doctor's office insists on seeing me once a year or they refuse to refill my prescriptions for allergies. So I had a two minute doctor's appointment that cost about $75.

Here is the entire medical examination:
Dr: Why are you here?
CBL: You won't fill my perscriptions if I don't.
Dr: How are you doing?
CBL: Fine.
Dr: OK. [Pulls out a stethescope]. Take some deep breaths. OK, breathe normally. OK, see you next year.

We spent more time complaining about the policy than talking about medicine. She says the policy is to prevent her from be sued. (The nurse also weighed me and took my blood pressure.)

Is this extortion standard?

CBL

 

[apoger]

Is this extortion standard?

Yes.

 

[Ashles]

Visited my doctor the other day - he had a trainee with him so he barely adressed me.

He asked me how I was - I said I felt much better since I'd given up smoking, I'd felt less stress and my blood presure felt lower.

He then turned to the trainee and said
"You see, patients are so stupid they think they can feel their blood pressure when obviously they can't. All the studies indicate that. Patients can be stupid in these ways."

I waved and said "Hello, I'm actually still sitting here."

I mean, Jesus, I'm sure he's right, but I was actually referring to generalised feelings of lowered stress and being more relaxed.

He still ignored me. The trainee looked really embarassed and said "Oh no he's not refering to you".

Still, he signed me off work which was the important thing.

 

[jambo372]

What allergies have you got ?

If it's just antihistamines you need, most of them can be bought over the counter eg Loratadine, Cetirizine, Chlorpheniramine. Still they are quite expensive.

I got a hay fever prescription for Desloratadine without even seeing the doctor for an initial prescription. I only need it in the summer anyway.

 

[Jas]

He then turned to the trainee and said
"You see, patients are so stupid they think they can feel their blood pressure when obviously they can't. All the studies indicate that. Patients can be stupid in these ways."

Um, you're joking, right?

 

[CBL4]

What allergies have you got ?

I am allergic to a lot of pollens.

Several years ago, I got samples of half a dozen antihistamines. Zyrtec worked best with fewest symptoms. If I use Flonase also, I am fine. Claritin works well but I am always thirsty. So I spend extra money for Zyrtec.

CBL

 

[yersinia29]

Is this extortion standard?

CBL [/B]

Uhh you are missing something. There was a case recently in which a jury awarded a man something like 20 million dollars in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The doc refilled the guy's medication for a couple of years without seeing the patient in person.

The guy never had any side effects before, but for whatever reason he developed some kind of reaction to the med.

So yes there is a reason for it. If you really dont like it, then I suggest you offer to sign a waiver absolving the doc of any responsibility and giving up your right to sue. I'm sure the doc would accept that in lew of the yearly required appointments.

 

[CBL4]

Uhh you are missing something. There was a case recently in which a jury awarded a man something like 20 million dollars in a medical malpractice lawsuit. The doc refilled the guy's medication for a couple of years without seeing the patient in person.

I think the jury was missing something not me.

I wish I could sign a waiver at every appointment and recieve 25% off but from what I know, the waivers do not work to well.

ETA: I think the doctors are probably doing themselve more legal harm than good. Without an appointment, they are likely to win a lawsuit. With a 1 minute appointment, all they are doing is giving people a case against them. I guarantee the doctor would not find 99% of the complications in the appointment I just had. If I actual get side affects in a month, now I can sue her with a lot more apparent justification.

CBL

 

[Chris Haynes]

My annual exams always include a urine test, a PAP smear, pelvic exam, a visual check for any skin cancer moles and filling out a long questionaire on how my year has been.

I am also at the age where I get an annual mammagram. Plus this year I gave a fasting blood sample to check my cholesteral and for diabetes. My cholestoral is high, so I will be going in later to see if the diet and exersize has improved the ratios.

My husband gets a prostate exam, a skin cancer look over and he also had his blood tested. His cholesterol is rediculously low.

Trust me, when you get older the exams will get more thorough.

I found that Allegra works best for me.

 

[Ralph]

I had my annual routine check-up just the other day.

Because I'm over 50 and because of family history part of the routine for me is the dreaded "finger wiggle" to check for prostate cancer.

I get up on the exam table and "assume the position"---at which point my Dr. says "Man--you have the UGLIEST ass I've ever seen".

This just cracked me the hell up---most MDs don't have much of a sense of humor.

I suppose I would have found it a lot more disturbing if he'd said I had the nicest ass he'd ever seen.


Anyway--MDs are like any other occupation---you'll find good ones & bad ones....

 

[Rolfe]

ETA: I think the doctors are probably doing themselve more legal harm than good. Without an appointment, they are likely to win a lawsuit. With a 1 minute appointment, all they are doing is giving people a case against them. I guarantee the doctor would not find 99% of the complications in the appointment I just had. If I actual get side affects in a month, now I can sue her with a lot more apparent justification.

You'd think so, but it isn't necessarily so. In fact, a lot of this defensive medicine is about perceptions about what might happen. I see quite a lot of questionably necessary stuff being done just because vets have got it into their heads that they might be sued if they don't - even if there's no evidence it's ever happened.

And waivers can be a two-edged sword. I've seen them used as what I would almost call moral blackmail. Insist on getting a waiver signed if the client won't have work done that in fact is not needed for that pet - most of the time that's actually a cute way of almost forcing the client to say, do it. Otherwise they're just tormented by guilt.

But why not just ask your doctor civilly if this is really necessary, or if there's a way to get round it? You offering to sign a waiver isn't the blackmail that insisting on a waiver if you won't have something expensive and unnecessary done can be.

Rolfe.

 

[jmercer]

I am allergic to a lot of pollens.

Several years ago, I got samples of half a dozen antihistamines. Zyrtec worked best with fewest symptoms. If I use Flonase also, I am fine. Claritin works well but I am always thirsty. So I spend extra money for Zyrtec.

CBL

I have terrible seasonal allergies, have had 'em all my life. Right now, I'm allergy free due to a combination of Clarinex, Flonase and Singulair. Talk to your doctor about getting those prescribed, then follow the regimen of taking them 100%.

 

[Rob Lister]

I have terrible seasonal allergies, have had 'em all my life. Right now, I'm allergy free due to a combination of Clarinex, Flonase and Singulair. Talk to your doctor about getting those prescribed, then follow the regimen of taking them 100%.

$75 seems high for a standard appointment. . . it's more like $50 here. Do some doc-shopping. The receiptionists love it when you call just to compare prices. It's so, so out of the ordinary in this day and age. I highly recommend it.

Jmercer: Hmm. $75 seems a bit high. Doctor Rogers, just a block away, is only charging $60 and he gives you a free prostate exam. I love those.

Recp: Uh. . . that's what we charge. Your insurance will cover it, except the co-pay.

Jmercer: Yea, the the co-pay is a percentage of the cost so I'm at least a buck or two ahead by going to Dr. Rogers. Dr. Miller will do it for $50 but he's like twenty miles away and his office smells like vomit and urine. I'll give you $65. How's that?

Recp: No ... erm... We have set fees for this sort of . . .

Jmercer: Okay, I'll go $70 but you have to remove this wart I have on my nuckle. Deal?

Recp: Sir . . . I don't . . . sir, let me get the Doctor. Can you hold.

Jmercer: Certainly. But chop-chop, I don't have all day.

 

[rjh01]

Move to Australia. I get charged about $A30 which is about $US21. This is for a 10-minute consultation.

 

[CBL4]

Originally posted by Rolfe
But why not just ask your doctor civilly if this is really necessary, or if there's a way to get round it?

I asked her nicely and she said she would understand if I got another doctor. I did not ask about a waver but it did not sound like she would go for that.

Originally posted byRob Lister
$75 seems high for a standard appointment.

It seems low to me. I paid $165 for a well baby appointment. Now I skip at least half the appoinments and get my kids immunized without an appointment.

The problem is that because most people have health care (e.g. copay) instead of health insurance (e.g. deductible) or paying for it themselves, the cost of the appointment is cheap e.g $10-$20. If people had to pay the entire cost, a lot of appointments would disappear. There is little incentive to economize on health care when it is dirt cheap for the user e.g. once the incredibly expensive insurance is paid for by your employer.

CBL

 

[Rob Lister]

The problem is that because most people have health care (e.g. copay) instead of health insurance (e.g. deductible) or paying for it themselves, the cost of the appointment is cheap e.g $10-$20. If people had to pay the entire cost, a lot of appointments would disappear. There is little incentive to economize on health care when it is dirt cheap for the user e.g. once the incredibly expensive insurance is paid for by your employer.

CBL

My feelings EXACTLY! You nailed that one.