HA!!! My sleep doctor fired ME!!!!

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:33 am

Sometimes life is just too funny.

When my sleep doctor verbally refused to give my a copy of my sleep study data, I sent him a registered letter stating my legal right to my medical records and gave him 30 days before a complaint would be filed with the Ohio Medical Board.

So yesterday, I receive my data , also by registered mail, along with a cover letter suggesting that I find another sleep medicine doctor! I'm tempted to write back, "But why? We were just starting to understand each other!"

Anyway, I finally got my data! [insert animated happy dance character here]

Thanks for all your help and advice to get me to this point.
Cathy

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:38 am

That is too funny, as if he couldn't figure out that you most likely would never be back anyway.

Good riddance.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 8:51 am

What a jerk! He just had to "fire a parting shot"..... after you'd given him 30-days to hand over your data.

You're doing well. As the old guy said in the movie Jeremiah Johnson....."You've come far, Pilgrim"......

Gerald

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:34 am

Giggle. He obviously wasn't worth keeping. On the other hand, for those others who will have to resort to a written request for a copy of their sleep studies full data, leave out the threat to contact the state licensing board, etc. No need to threaten or forewarn. Just a reminder that the full data from those studies are a part of your medical record and that in the USA you have a LEGAL RIGHT to copies of your medical records is sufficient.

He wasn't any too smart either, or else his office secretary wasn't. Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested is sufficient. Registered mail is not necessary. (Certified is considerably cheaper).

Anyway, good on you for getting your full data, Tangent!!! Any new sleep doctor you decide to see, if there are any questions why you left the previous sleep doctor, just tell the new sleep doctor its because you expect to work w/your doctors as a team and your previous sleep doctor refused to provide a copy of the full data from your sleep studies w/o a lot of hassle.

blowfish · Post by **blowfish** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:39 am

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 9:58 am

Is there a course in medical schools that teaches these people to be "JERKS"???
This "God Complex" they get, is hurting their professions.

I thought my sleep doc was going to go "ballistic" when I told him (at my first meeting with him after I started my therapy) that I had changed my pressure from 18 cm to 10 cm....and then showed him the reports to validate my decision (which he didn't want to believe).

They don't like to be challenged or questioned or told they were wrong.
WE are ultimately the ones who are paying their fees....so WE don't have to take that kind of treatment.

Ya done good!

Hang in there.

Den

jum001 · Post by **jum001** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:08 am

Before I retired, I had to deal with doctors and attorneys all day long. My conclusion (after almost 40 years) is that only someone with an over sized ego goes into these professions in the first place. Considering I have no desire to hold someone else's life in my hands, I guess I am glad they choose to do so. But is does make it difficult to form a relationship between ordinary human and little tin god:)

Julie

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:28 am

....."You've come far, Pilgrim"......

Were it worth the trouble?

Heh? What trouble?

Love that movie, Gerald, and am tickled pink at the comparison. Thanks!

Slinky, you're probably right that I should have omitted the threat of complaint, but I really don't think he would have sent me the data without it. He's that arrogant, IMHO.

I had drafted a letter to my primary care doctor, which Wulfman very kindly proof-read for me. Now, since sleep doc CC'd him on my "pink slip", I'll have to revisit that letter! Thanks so much for your help, Den. I've certainly learned what NOT to do!

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:33 am

Perhaps because their "business" is referred to as a "practice" has something to do w/their "defensive" mentality and development of apparent "ego" and how they coined the term "patients" for their clientel??

We are expected to be "patient" while they "practice" on us and develop their "ego" only to become "defensive" when an educated "patient" questions them??

I don't think so!!!! The world is changing and these educated idiots would do well to shake their medieval mentality and realize, not only do they no longer walk on water, they never did!

Thank God for the GOOD doctors out there!!!!

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:52 am

Ouch Tangent, I guess you rattled his cage.

Do you have both your sleep study and titration study. The details, not a summary.

Also make sure you have the prescritpion for the CPAP.

I wish you the best. I hope your primary care doctor is much more invovled.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:01 am

As long as you're quoting one of my favorite movies (and probably one of the reasons I just HAD to move to Wyoming).

Bear Claw Chris Lapp: "Skin that one, pilgrim, and I'll get you another!"

Cathy,

Well, you got one "skinned"..... (there's plenty more out there)

Edit: (after reading SelfSeeker's post) If you have your prescription you should be fine. If he never gave it to you, you can still demand it from him or get a copy from your DME (even if your doctor is dispensing your equipment). It's YOURS and it's good for life.....they can't prohibit you from having it.

Best wishes,

Den

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:36 am

I'd consider that a blessing. A doctor that doesn't want to share your own test results with you is afraid of being sued for malpractice.

where did you get your machine? was it a DME recommended by him? If so, most likely on a Rental, he's probably still getting a cut of it, I'd take it back go to your GP, give them a copy of the PSG and get a new script and buy an autopap or one that records data.

Doctors are a dime a dozen, get one you can work with.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:41 am

While we are quoting movies and stuff, the cc ing of the pink slip reminds me of the Seinfield episode where Elaine couldn't get a doctor to treat her since just as she got into the office the phone would ring and she would be refused treatment.

lvwildcat · Post by **lvwildcat** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 11:44 am

Hmmm... were your study results top secret or something??? Talk about being possessive-did he have something to hide??
You're better off without him. GOOD RIDDANCE!!

tangents · Post by **tangents** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 1:07 pm

snoregirl Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

While we are quoting movies and stuff, the cc ing of the pink slip reminds me of the Seinfield episode where Elaine couldn't get a doctor to treat her since just as she got into the office the phone would ring and she would be refused treatment.

I've been thinking of that too! Pretty soon I'll have to go to a Vet...
Nah, I don't need no stinking doctors, I've got all of you!

Thanks for the support, everybody. (Slinky, your anger on my behalf is really touching!) I now have both my baseline PSG details and my titration study details. Also, I do have my prescription (he didn't want to give me that, either, but I managed to out-argue him). He probably thought he was being clever by not including the pressure on it - he just wrote CPAP and signed it. Since that was exactly what I wanted, I just smiled and said "Thanks".

My doctor has the DME deliver the machine to his office, and "issues" the patient the equipment so that he can directly bill my insurance. He got paid $1200 for about $400 of equipment. I wish the tools in my shed were a little sharper - I might have caught on to his scam sooner - but I was really tired at the time....

Mask

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