New Change In Hospital Organization?

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

I am wondering if any of you have run across this business model in health care?

Story:

Two weeks ago, DH was in the hospital, I fell down the dark bedroom stairs a 4am (Shadow had to potty) forgetting to turn the light on.

Both ankles were swollen (one had a bone chip), my back was very sore, and I heard several (cracks) out of my neck.

My DIL took me to urgent care who took foot x rays and gave me a light weight boot; making me an appt with the ortho place upstairs for a hard boot.

The ortho place with a walk in clinic, (appointments come from new appointments and rechecks) told me EACH area that I want looked at will be a separate appointment!

"We can only look at one body part at a time.".

That means I will have 4 copays for one situation in addition to copays for rechecks for a possible total of 8!

Our health care system was bought by another group several years ago. I have spoken to nurses that are very unhappy.

The company also bought other hospitals around us as well.

NicksmomESQ · ‎08-19-2014

If you went in stating all your injuries at one time they should take it as one visit. These doctors offices are acting more like corporations than healthcare facilities.

A few years ago my DH had to see an orthopedist for sciatica & back & knee pain. I went into the exam room with him,where a PA came in & asked a lot of questions. We were very clear about all the areas my husband was experiencing his pain. The doctor came in examined him, gave him some meds & said to come back in 2 weeks.

When we went back the sciatica was better but his knee was worse. The doctor said that was something new & he had to make another appointment & come back.Well I objected & told him it was mentioned & recorded at the first visit. The doctor & PA denied it. I insisted. The doctor called for the records from the first visit to be printed out & showed it to us. Guess what? I found the mention of his knee pain!! The doctor turned red & proceeded to X-ray my DH's knee. He prescribed PT & said if it doesn't work he would need an MRI. After 12 weeks of PT his knee was as good as new!!

@ECBG If the doctor is going to make you come back for every complaint you have,I would find a new doctor. You have to be your own advocate. I'm sorry you were hurt. I hope you feel better soon!

On It · ‎03-15-2021

i hope you and your husband are on the mend. It sounds like a nightmare. Being sick or injured is now complicated by corporate bureaucratic policies.

The hospitals in our area are being swallowed by corporate takeovers. There is a video game about fish where the fish eats a smaller fish. It increases size. It keeps eating fish and growing until a giant one swoops in and gobbles him up. The smaller hospitals are disappearing. What were independent major medical facilities are now being bought by out-of-state conglomerates. They are bringing new rules, regulations, computer systems, and time constraints on doctor/patient visits.

MamaWick · ‎03-09-2010

I think that's bull $%@# and should be reported somewhere.

My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness ~ Dalai Lama XIV

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace ~ Jimi Hendrix

AZfem · ‎04-13-2016

Can you get a referral from your primary care dr. to an ortho on your plan? Don't use the urgent care drs. Find your own. Good luck with healing & feel better.

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@ECBG why a walk in clinic? I would prefer to see a private ortho. I wonder if that's why it's done this way?

Hope the back pain goes away so you don't have to have it looked it. Hope it's just sore and nothing serious.

Those Clinics are there to make money. Just last week I took someone who was visiting from oversees to a Clinic and before she could see the Dr, she had to pay $150 and if anything else had to be done it would cost more. I remember when it was $50 but now it's $150. It ended up costing her $210 because he had to listen to her heart and prescribe medication. It's a big rip off.

Steward Health Care is certainly taking over everywhere.

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@AZfem wrote:
Can you get a referral from your primary care dr. to an ortho on your plan? Don't use the urgent care drs. Find your own. Good luck with healing & feel better.

@AZfem

No, not really. My Dr has only been here since the pandemic. The really good one retired. This one dosen't give out any info. I have to ask a direct question.

There is another one I like 1 mile further. Same story.

chrystaltree · ‎05-10-2010

It's not a business model. It's about where you chose to go. Why didn't you go to a hospital emergency room? Your injuries certainly warranted an emergency room. In the ER, all the specialists would have assessed you and treated you . They would have done all the necessary X-rays. You went to an urgent care facility which usually isn't equipped for injuries like yours, they did an assessment and the orthopedic doc took care of the foot and determined that you needed to see other orthopeds for the other injuries. So, yes. Multiple appointments with separate copays..

Sage04 · ‎07-10-2011

@AZfem wrote:
Can you get a referral from your primary care dr. to an ortho on your plan? Don't use the urgent care drs. Find your own. Good luck with healing & feel better.

@AZfem that's what I was thinking also.

bikerbabe · ‎03-09-2010

I’m sorry!

From my experience, there are a couple of factors and play:

1 - insurance driven both for multiple charges but also the doctors are severely limited by how much time they can spend with each patient. With multiple areas of concern, they can’t address it in the time allotted and insurance won’t allow for the billing in one visit.

2- orthopedists tend to specialize in certain body parts. Someone who deals with backs, won’t treat hand injuries etc.

3- you can experience similar issues if you require PT. You may have multiple appointments focusing on each body part. insurance won’t allow them to bill and spend the time in one visit.