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We Are Home!

We are home!

Vince still has testing to be done but we’re waiting for an appointment with a cardiologist in Abilene so all the heart tests/treatments, except for a couple of new meds, are on hold til we see a new doctor.

There is no permanent cardiologist in our town. The way I understand it, there’s a group that is contracted with our hospital and one is here one week, a different one the next week so you never know who you’re going to see. The cardiologist Vince saw and liked yesterday was gone and a new one started today but he never came by.

Vince was scheduled to have a nuclear stress test today and the cardiologist yesterday kinda acted like he wasn’t thinking that was an urgent test to have and then someone told us that if you have it as an inpatient, it’s a lot more expensive than if you have it as an outpatient and since we pay a percentage of our medical bills until we’ve had about $10,000 out of pocket, the price matters. We started yesterday trying to find out the difference in cost and whether it was, in fact, necessary to have that test NOW. A nurse tried to call the “case manager” who had already gone home. She got in touch with her and the case manager had to call someone else who apparently had to call someone else and as of about 10 a.m. today, we didn’t have an answer. I was about at the end of my rope. How hard is it to get an answer on something like that? Every time a different nurse would come in, we would get something like “I’ve talked to the case manager and yes, it’s a different rate for inpatient vs. outpatient.” I would say “What are the rates? How much difference?” No one knew. Finally, I said “If the case manager is in the building, we need her in our room ASAP!” Fairly soon she arrived and she still would not tell us the price difference. She said something like “If you have it is done while you’re admitted, it will all be included in your bill!” WHAT?? So, if we do not have a nuclear stress test, our bill may be $12,000. If we do have it, will our bill still be $12,000?” No. At that point, I said “We will arrange to have the stress test done somewhere else!” Then I picked up my phone, called a friend here and asked who their cardiologist is in Abilene. I think the hospital here is so desperate for patients and money, they got into action at that point.

The guy showed up who was going to do the nuclear stress test and during the conversation, we found out that they were going to do the test in two parts. Usually, they do Test A first but on Vince, they were going to do Test B first. Vince asked why and the guy kinda fumbled around and didn’t say much. I said “Is it because you don’t have the dye to do Test A?” Hmmm . . ummmm . . yes . . we don’t have the dye today.

Vince said “We’re leaving! We’ll do all this in Abilene. The hospital doctor showed up. I do not like him at all. Didn’t like him yesterday (He was not the ER doctor), liked him less today. He obviously wasn’t any more fond of me than I was of him. He told Vince he would order his meds and Vince could be discharged. The nurse came in and told Vince it would take about two hours to get the discharge papers ready. Vince, at the end of his rope, said “I am NOT waiting two hours!” By now, it was after noon and Vince had not had a bite to eat or a drink of water since about 5 p.m.  yesterday. The nurse was back in about 30 minutes and told us we could go. We had a friend there visiting and I wanted to say “Can we just stay here til we’re done visiting?” but I figured it was best we all part company and go our separate ways.

Vince had an echo cardiogram done and no one ever talked to him about the results. We had to go by the clinic to pick up papers and for the first time ever, there was no one in the waiting room. That clinic is always packed! We were able to talk to our doctor and Vince mentioned that no one had told him anything about the echo and Richard said “Oh, I got the results.” So, he told Vince what the echo showed . . probably nothing out of the ordinary for an almost 65 year old. Richard wasn’t worried about what he saw. He’s sent all our paperwork over to the cardiologist he recommends in Abilene and is waiting to hear back when we can see him. Richard is also scheduling a sleep study for Vince to do in Brady.

The funny thing is that Vince was discharged with no mention of scheduling the nuclear stress test as an outpatient . . just forgotten about. Vince said they probably don’t want to ever see him again. Vince wasn’t going to do it anyway til he sees a cardiologist and gets his opinion on whether it’s necessary or not.

I left the hospital today thinking the state of our medical care in this town is even worse than I had heard and am back to thinking I’ll just stay home and die rather than go back to the local hospital .. but I hope that doesn’t happen either.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. We went through all that cardiac hysteria when my husband had to have an urgent surgery with physicians we trust, and the cardiologist said he wouldn’t approve it. Long story but let’s say I have just enough medical knowledge to get your apt attention if you’re a physician, and I know what BS is and isn’t. All is well now and has been for the last year.

    Now – get yourself to Abilene where it sounds like care is much better; have faith in your family doc; and continue to be a strident and involved couple in all this. Some medical professionals will not like your involvement but those aren’t the ones you want to see or talk to or have them involved anyway. You’ll do just fine and I’m sure Vince will as well (I like your family doctor’s style). And continue to insist on knowing exactly what’s going on. You’re doing all the right things!

  2. I think you should wait and see what the cardiologist wants to order. According the the appt hubby had yesterday – they would/will do nucleaur stress test for 1 of 2 reasons – he cannot do a treadmill or the treadmill indicates a need for it. So we are waiting for the insurance to approve that and a cardiac ultrasound. But not because of the concerning symptoms Vince has been having – because of questions that my husband has and his family history. Hoping his follow up appts go much better. (My daughter’s father in law was discharged from the hospital recently without ever seeing a case manager – which does not surprise me because of how non confrontational her mother in law is – but come to find out, if hospital discharges to rehab SNF Medicare pays for – if discharged home and then placed in rehab SNF the individual pays for it. SIL has spoken with case manager and they are submitting it for review to Medicare since the hsopital screwed up)

  3. Oh, wow! What a medical adventure! Thank God Vince wasn’t having a cardiac emergency. Who knows what would have happened. I think it’s about the same though in most smaller hospitals and the truth is that the doctors & nurses never know what procedures and medications cost. They just expect you to do what they say and foot the bill. I’m more like you and want to know what the cost is before I jump. I won’t even buy a car without knowing exactly what the price is, not just what the monthly payment will be.

    • Actually so long as he was in the ER, I was comfortable with the care he was getting. We knew pretty quickly that this wasn’t an urgent life and death situation or we would not have stayed here. We have friends who have had heart incidents in Abilene and were happy with the care they got. You are so right about knowing what you’re paying for before doing it. Heck, I look at the prices in the grocery store and there are some things that I can afford but still will not pay the price they’re asking.

      • I just had knee replacement surgery, and the money issue was the very first thing the hospital was concerned about…. they told me what the cost would be, then demanded a deposit, 75% more than what we actually owed after insurance… then, we got 3 different hospital bills, all within 1 week of each other, all 3 had different amounts due and payment due dates. This health care system stinks.

  4. Our healthcare system is broken, and it’s not just in your town. It’s everywhere. My husband hyas had severe, debilitating back pain for a year. He has not been able to drive, ride in a car and hasn’t left the house except for medical appointments in a year. He has tried physical therapy, but he was in too much pain to participate. He had an MRI. He saw a neurosurgeon, who said his back is a mess, but that if he did surgery it wouldn’t be one operation, it would be several, he wouldn’t know where to start, and he couldn’t guarantee it would help the pain. He sent him to a pain clinic where he had two epidural steroid injections ($5000 a pop) which did nothing. He had two procedures called rhizotomy that cauterize the nerves and are supposed to help with the pain. They did nothing. In the meantime, our family doctor refused to prescribe any pain medication because he was going to a pain clinic … except that this pain clinic only does injections and don’t prescribe any medicine. In early February, he ended up in the emergency room when he collapsed in the bathroom because his legs went out due to the pain. Two of my boys came over and they were able to get him up into a chair, but could not get him out the door into a car to go to the hospital, so we called an ambulance. The ER drugged him up and sent him home, where he sat in a chair for 12 hours because he was in too much pain to get up. We had a come-to-Jesus meeting with our family doctor the next week, who ordered better pain medicine … except that no pharmacy in town had it because it was recalled by the manufacturer. He referred us to another pain clinic that does medication management and the soonest they could get him in was 6 weeks. So hubby is still sitting here, in excruciating pain all day, every day. Needs help to dress, to bathe, to go to the bathroom. He’s nauseated from the pain. He cries out in pain every time he has to move. The meds don’t help. I had asked the doctor about a back brace and he gave us a prescription. We went today and he was fitted for a brace and as soon he had it on, he had some relief from his pain. He could walk without the walker. He still hurt, but he could move around. We didn’t get to bring the brace home today because they have to get documentation from our doctor for Medicare, but as soon as they do that, I can pick it up. In all that time, NO ONE has ever actually EXAMINED his back. It’s been a year. He’s had probably 50 thousand dollars worth of “treatment” that did nothing, and a $400 back brace gave him enough relief that he could stand up and walk!! The whole system is just broken and I don’t think it can be fixed. . .

    • Terri, that is inexcusable push around by the medical providers! Call a lawyer and threaten to sue for lack of care. I am a pharmacist and give out waaay too much pain medicine daily to folks who have the system figured out! It may not be much help at this time, go to the nearest pharmacy and get the 4% lidocaine patches so the poor man can get a bit of relief (even if you have to put the whole box of patches on his back, do it!) It may take several boxes of patches to get the pain nerves to calm down, it is better than doing nothing. If the doctor’s are too afraid to treat him for his pain (yes, a lot of the pharmacies do not carry the newer meds due to cost of inventory. We ordered a drug for someone whose insurance refused a prior authorization (usually have to use some of the older ones first and show treatment failure) and the store now has over $2000 invested in a drug that may never get sold.
      Again, there is NO excuse for them not giving him medication for his pain when they are dishing it out right and left for people who are not using all of what they get each month (opioid crisis root cause!)

  5. OMG, I heard healthcare in the US was good but all your stories make me really appreciate our system in Canada.

    • It depends on your location, but generally, there is problem with rural America. In my state (Oklahoma), some of the larger healthcare systems in OKC and Tulsa have taken over the operation of some of the rural hospitals since they consider them to be “feeders” into the larger facility. They have invested in telecommunication systems so that the specialists are available for consultations. It is comforting to have this capability.

    • Yes, we have great medical care here in Baton Rouge, lots of access and plenty of really good doctors and hospitals. Glad to hear he is taking care of this problem. Frank has a-fib so we have lots of experience with cardiologists!

  7. There is a difference where have stress test with the drug. The. drug it self comes from San Antonio they have to call order it. Sometime they make you pay for it or at least your copay to make sure you show up. It is only good for so many hours. So check hospital a d office see which is cheaper. I can tell up more if You need more Info

  11. I have heard this story Many, Many times! I hope you can get in to see Pat’s doctors! They do all the tests in one building, the same as the doctor’s office!! They have one doctor in the building that comes to Brownwood at least once a week. Dr. McKlisch (?). This is exactly why I told you to get him out of there and to a real hospital with real doctors! They even care about their patients!
    Wishing you the best of luck with all of this! We should not have to go out of town to see a good doctor or get good medical treatment! Also check into the LifeGuard insurance. You can get a copy of the application form from the office across from the ER. Like I told you if you mention I told you, you will get more time on application. (I think that is what they said) And for $65 a year, it is well worth it! It is better than paying $60,000 to fly from here to Abilene or San Angelo!
    I wish you and Vince the best of everything, you are both still in my prayers because until you get some answers from someone, you will be ill at ease until you know something for sure. I pray it is “nothing to be worried about” but you remember our saga there at the ER!!

  12. Please find out the name of the corporate owner of this hospital and send a letter to both the corporate office and to the COO and CEO of the hospital. Often times they have no idea of some of the things that are going on in their own hospital! I have been in the medical field for over 50 years and sad to say medicine has become big business, not necessarily about patient care any more!

  13. Oh, my goodness! That was completely different from yesterday, wasn’t it! I’m glad you’re going to Abilene.

  14. I hope that you will stash an overnight bag when you travel up to Abilene. Keep track of your expenses, including miles, since it may be deductible for taxes. Of course, that depends on what the rules are for medical expense deductions in 2018.

    It may be a good idea for you to get a physical copy of the lab work and the tests from the clinic as well as the hospital. Start your own medical record binder. I did that for my mom when I brought her down from MI to OK. When we went to see some specialists in OKC, I brought the book with me. Some of the doctors asked if they could have it for a few days for review purposes. It helped in that Mom wasn’t subjected to the same tests as well as the doctors could see a trend over the years.One doctor looked at it and asked if I was an accountant or a librarian. We laughed and I told him that I was the accountant and my sister was the librarian. I’ve started one for myself since it sometimes hard to remember when I had a shot or a test and what the results were.

    If the doctors or hospital complains about giving you a copy, tell them that 1) it is your right to have a copy of the medical record and 2) you travel to MO and LA frequently, so you may need to have it for emergency purposes. I just checked on the website, there is a form to fill out and Vince may have to sign it. Contact the Medical Records Department before you drive there to make sure what is needed.

    Hang in there…

  15. Hope all goes well for you guys in Abilene. Last June when we went for our 6 month check ups my husband mentioned to the Dr. he had been having a burning feeling in his chest. The Dr. immediately did and ekg and set him up for an appointment for further heart testing. Long story short he had a triple bypass done in July and is doing really well. He hadn’t said anything to be about not feeling well thankfully he did to the DR. if he hadn’t and had just continued on he probably wouldn’t be here today. Good luck I hope you get the help and answers you need.

  16. Glad Vince is home and I understand your frustration with the care. We were told not to bother with any of the medical practices in our rural town that accepted new patients. We see a PCP in Fort Worth who has been wonderful. And the office isn’t too far from us if we take the toll road. We probably need to look at buying the “insurance” for an ambulance ride but I need to check if that’s worth it or not.

    Best wishes for a quick appointment and a great outcome.

  17. So frustrating! and sad. Gone are the days when ones G.P. or Family MD came in and oversaw the whole things. Glad you are home and hope things go more smoothly with the rest of the medical tests.

  18. You’ve had all the wrong kind of excitement lately! I’m happy to hear that whatever was wrong with Vince isn’t so bad that it can’t wait until you get to Abilene. It’s a shame that the rotating doctors don’t seem to care much about their patients. Maybe they ought to have chosen a different profession. The stress they induced with their jackassery probably doesn’t help, either.

  19. Does Vince have a gall bladder? And sometimes a hiatal hernia causes chest pain. Hope all goes much smoother for you both. Judy, my husband’s doctor does not like me because I ask a lot of questions and question some treatments. I don’t really care if he likes me or not. We are paying for his service and I am not very good and just going along with anything a doctor says. Just refilled my meds and after four phones calls with Walgreens mail service and two weeks they came one at a time. One did not show up as insurance does not cover allergy meds and it could be purchased over the counter. Really? It is not cheap OTC. On the fourth phone call I mentioned I might need a prescription for Valium to continue with mail service as this was stressful for me. It was a good thing I had not waited to the last minute to do my refills.

  20. Access to adequate health care may well be a key player in where ever you end up retiring to. I recently saw a “25 Best Places to Retire” from FORBES and health care or the lack there of was mentioned as a Pro/Con in each.
    Hope Vince is feeling better quickly!

  21. so sorry to read about vince. it’s so important to have a doctor who knows you and your medical history and sometimes even your frame of mind through the years, since that also affects your well-being. it sounds like you’re on the right track now, but if you’re still considering retirement locations, please consider health care as an important part of the decision. we’re none of us getting younger.

    as for waiting to be discharged: if discharge papers don’t apprear as fast as they should, discharge yourself. you’d be amazed at how fast they move when tthey think you may hurt yourself and sue them. my husband did that and they actually pulled him into a wheelchair and pushed him to the exit and helped him into the car even though he didn’t need help. they didn’t even wait for him to sign anything – he just kept walking away from them until they grabbed him.

    the next time you get the run-a-round, immediately call the insurance company and find out what you’re entitled to and what the copays are. i always found that to be the most helpful source of information no matter what the company was.

    i wish vince a speedy recovery and good health.

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