Health Appointments
Yanno...
I am really not certain how other people deal with the quagmire of booking appointments at clinics when they are on some sort of assistance program. For starters, I have been on hold for almost as many minutes as calling the scheduling department of the cable company--which is somewhere between the billing departments for your average credit card and the telephone company. So, a fairly long time, but not long enough to complete an online game or a letter to one's mother.
Then of course, there is the trauma of attempting to schedule multiple appointments in multiple clinics over the least number of days since I drive four hours to said clinics at the University of Iowa Hospital. I actually think I am getting quite good at that part--especially the parts where I leave "room" for alternate tests and diagnostic procedures. So, as of this moment, I was able to schedule Cardiac Clinic (along with an electrocardiogram and accompanying blood work) at one end of the hospital, and Internal Medicine at the other end (which will likely call for an abdominal ultrasound and other blood work ups, as well as a wonderful exam involving stirrups without the leather or pony). The next [late] afternoon I was able to book Rheumatology, which is cutting it really really close, as I know they are also going to want further blood work and I am going to ask for further x-rays and a shot of cortisone in my finger joint as it has become really unbearable. Maybe I will stop in there the day before to see about getting the blood work and x-rays out of the way. Whew! That only leaves OB/Gyn and they will not book me an appointment until my referral gets re-referred or some such gobble-dee-gook.
So...two days in Iowa City in December. That appears to be a pattern for me. For the rest of you, that means snow. It always has snow-ed in December when I go to Iowa City. As in BIG SNOW. Heads up people. I'm just warning you just in case.
I actually like and respect my health care providers as part of the Iowa Care Program. Yeah, it's a drive and a half to get to them, but they have done a fabulous job. They talk to me in language I understand in terms of my illnesses and in terms of my lack of insurance. They don't appear to treat me like a second class citizen because of my lack of insurance. And they all seem like they want me to get better for myself's sake, not for insurance's sake. If that makes any sense. No one appears to order unnecessary tests or procedures. Yes, the huge downside is that I wait months (as in MONTHS) for appointments sometimes. But I really believe if I showed up (after driving four hours--like *that's* going to happen) with some sort of emergency, they would really try to work with me.
Oh! gotta go...one of the registration information verification operators just clicked on the line. How's *that* for a job description?
Take care & be well!
I am really not certain how other people deal with the quagmire of booking appointments at clinics when they are on some sort of assistance program. For starters, I have been on hold for almost as many minutes as calling the scheduling department of the cable company--which is somewhere between the billing departments for your average credit card and the telephone company. So, a fairly long time, but not long enough to complete an online game or a letter to one's mother.
Then of course, there is the trauma of attempting to schedule multiple appointments in multiple clinics over the least number of days since I drive four hours to said clinics at the University of Iowa Hospital. I actually think I am getting quite good at that part--especially the parts where I leave "room" for alternate tests and diagnostic procedures. So, as of this moment, I was able to schedule Cardiac Clinic (along with an electrocardiogram and accompanying blood work) at one end of the hospital, and Internal Medicine at the other end (which will likely call for an abdominal ultrasound and other blood work ups, as well as a wonderful exam involving stirrups without the leather or pony). The next [late] afternoon I was able to book Rheumatology, which is cutting it really really close, as I know they are also going to want further blood work and I am going to ask for further x-rays and a shot of cortisone in my finger joint as it has become really unbearable. Maybe I will stop in there the day before to see about getting the blood work and x-rays out of the way. Whew! That only leaves OB/Gyn and they will not book me an appointment until my referral gets re-referred or some such gobble-dee-gook.
So...two days in Iowa City in December. That appears to be a pattern for me. For the rest of you, that means snow. It always has snow-ed in December when I go to Iowa City. As in BIG SNOW. Heads up people. I'm just warning you just in case.
I actually like and respect my health care providers as part of the Iowa Care Program. Yeah, it's a drive and a half to get to them, but they have done a fabulous job. They talk to me in language I understand in terms of my illnesses and in terms of my lack of insurance. They don't appear to treat me like a second class citizen because of my lack of insurance. And they all seem like they want me to get better for myself's sake, not for insurance's sake. If that makes any sense. No one appears to order unnecessary tests or procedures. Yes, the huge downside is that I wait months (as in MONTHS) for appointments sometimes. But I really believe if I showed up (after driving four hours--like *that's* going to happen) with some sort of emergency, they would really try to work with me.
Oh! gotta go...one of the registration information verification operators just clicked on the line. How's *that* for a job description?
Take care & be well!