EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE TO MALTREATMENT OF PATIENT..........or not?. I was talking to a professional recently about a patients experience with a PCP at a facility which offers help to those without health insurance. The gist of this post is the response from facilities involved and especially that of the medical professional after I asked her opinion. The patient, Becky, had requested the healthcare office, lets call it We Give You Hope, to send a referral for her to see a specialist in another office for an accident related injury. She had not slept for months and after dental work the pain had not gone away either, and she had no other visible problem. We Give You Hope sent the first referral which read general illness. Of course, wouldnt you think, the first referral was declined. A general physician could treat that, as was their response. When Becky called WGYH the office clerk said for Becky to go to a hearing aid place to test her hearing, and to take some OTC meds for her pain. She also told Becky that she was told they declined the referral because the patient had no insurance. Becky called the receiving medical office. They said it was not about insurance; it was the wording of the referral. The patient contacted We Give You Hope to send another referral, this time in an email so she could quote what she was told, and to specifically state that Becky had an injury believed to be from a car accident. Becky also thanked WGYH in the email for all their trouble. The office clerk never responded to Becky about the request. After many days passed and no one had contacted her, Becky called the receiving facility who stated her referral was declined, no details. After trying to think what course of action, Becky asked them to call WGYH and tell them why the referral was declined. She had no idea what else to do. Shockingly, after five days, Becky was discharged from WGYH and received a certified letter stating such. Becky was surprised, contacted the person in the letter, and asked why was she told not to come back? She was told that by simply informing a nurse at the other facility to ask for the nurse at WGYH instead of the desk clerk since she was moody, they (WGYH) felt Becky was dissatisfied with the services and should find someone else to see her. (WOW!!!!!) After telling her side of the story, the discharge was retracted and he offered her to come back to WGYH. Politely she declined. WOW>>> Now, when I first heard this story, my first thought was why isnt the receiving office taking the referral if that is policy: must have a referral from the PCP and why. Next, why would an office clerk, not a PA (physician assistant) or doctor of other QUALIFIED person, tell a patient what care to seek? Also, why isnt anyone calling the patient back and letting her know the status of the referral: accepted or not and why? Additionally, why wont the receiving office tell the patient why the last referral was not acceptable? Also, why did the PCP not examine her exactly for the problem for which she asked a referral when HE requested she come in so he could examine her FOR a referral and then he never did? Why did the nurse in the receiving office even TELL the PCPs office what the patient said about the office clerks personality? Oh, and why didnt WGYH contact the patient about her satisifaction IF they actually cared whether she was satisfied or not? And finally, my last observation was, obviously the office clerk IS MOODY if she ran to tattle tell that a patient called her moody. The worst part of this is when I told the story to medical professional who works in medical ethics, she simply said, and I am almost quoting her, Well, if the office gave her another chance, then she should take it. She doesnt have insurance after all, and she should be glad to get the help she can. I really cant see where she has a problem with WGYH or how they handled things. She should just move on and forget it...... Really??? Is this what this country has become? A pot of self-indulgence and self-centered bigotry and hypocrisy? Neglecting the helpless and allowing others with money and power and knowledge to muscle themselves into, through and past the helpless or poor, the weak and feeble?? I wonder, truly wonder what God would say to her response. The medical profession has an obligation to HELP others, to treat their patients with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights, and when the patient seeks the physicians professional help, A physician shall, while caring for a patient, regard responsibility to the patient as paramount, and this is a quote from their ethics book. He did not find out why they declined her referral nor direct that office to find out why and try to resolve AN referral for the patient. I guess since the physician is retired that his ethics are retired as well. Sadly, I guess the message here from professionals who HAVE money or HAVE health insurance or do NOT HAVE health issues is, Take it or leave it, as my daddy said, since you aint got a pot to piss in. So, if you need healthcare, keep your mouth shut, say Yessah boss to the professionals and pray you get treated properly. We seem to be subservient to and at the mercy of those in the profession. PLEASE NOTE 1-This facility advertising they promote Christian attitudes towards the community is FICTIONALLY named here, and is NOT CHRIST COMMUNITY CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even close! 2-To the doctors, staff and related healthcare professionals who have taken care of me and really cared whether my health was cared for, I can never thank you enough. Thank you and I appreciate everything you have ever done for me, my friends and family!!! Special thanks to Dr. Porubsky, who retired, Dr. Marschalk, who retired, and Dr. Colville Ferdinand, who was so nice to me he made me cry!! Oh, and belated Happy Birthday, Dr. Ferdinand!!
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 23:42:13 +0000