Ridiculous quotes and deeds by doctors and DMEs

Shellie, now you know the reason for medical malpractice insurance.

Shellie_p wrote: .. Why the heck is out medical field so clueless??

"Sleep" is not a sexy daytime job like surgery, oncology, neurology, or pharmaceuticals and therefore does not attract the best and brightest.

That is my hypothesis.

Shellie_p wrote: Scary ain't it, and many of these have MEDICAL DEGREES (Not counting RT's and or DME's)
its what 8-12 years of collage & medical school & Internships etc..

Now when I first got diagnosed 15 years ago I would expect to hear allot of this kind of things, But 15 years later!! We make our teachers attend refresher seminars every so often at least our school corp here does.. Why the heck is out medical field so clueless??

They are too busy taking refresher courses on how to deal with small, rectangular portraits of Presidents, and how to amass more of the same.

I am convinced that some of these so-called 'medical professionals' would make good lion food. They could be fed alive-- mo mess, no fuss. And since they have no feelings, they would never suffer while being eaten.....

I never see a sleep doc on ER, Chicago Hope or Grey's Anatomy. And those are some pretty sexy shows.

Tielman wrote:After my tritation I saw my general practitioner (GP) with this conversation:

Me: My sleep study showed severe apnea with ....
Doc: I didn't think you could have sleep apnea, you don't have a thick neck.

the psychiatrist i was seeing for my clinical depression back 10 years ago, upon sleep problems continuing despite not experiencing any depression symptoms anymore, said i needed a sleep study because she never saw somebody with such a thick neck.

had my sleep study two months ago. when i had my initial visit with the sleep med doc i mentioned that and she said that i did not have a thick neck by any means.

My dumb and dumberer experience this summer. Needless to say, I am now my own doctor.

First follow up visit at the second location that I have met the Doc. Way out of the way.

Doc: Everything looks great, but I need to see you in 3 months so we have more data to go over. It must be at my third office.
Me: Why there? It's so far from where I met you the first time.
Doc: Because it is our main office and I'm there most of the time. Also, we have nurses and home health techs in house in case you have any questions, as well as a full stock of supplies in case you want to change your mask or anything.
Me: Ok.

Second follow up visit at third location. Way out of the way.

Nurse1: I've gone over your machine data and you have a major problem with leaks. You need to change masks.
Me: Really? In the beginning I tried all sizes before I landed on the medium FX, and have had very little air leaks since.
Nurse1: Nope. The data doesn't lie. I can't allow you to continue using that size. However, we don't have any supplies here, and I only have an extra small for you to try. Let's hook it up to the machine.
[She fiddles with the machine]
Nurse1: Uh, how does this hose go on?
Me: Right here on the only hole coming out of the machine. Here, I'll do it.
Nurse1: [Looking at the S9 with a blank stare] How do you turn it on?
Me: Right here with the big round "On" button.
[After putting on the extra small and having it slip loosly into both nostrils]
Nurse1: Yep. That's the one. You need the extra small.
Me: I Don't think so. It jambs all the way up my nostrills, and does not seal as well.
Nurse1: Well that is the one "our office" recommends for you. You'll get used to it. I'll send in a Tech.

Tech: I understand you requested a size change?
Me: No, the nurse said I did because of the machine data. I think the Medium fits fine.
Nech: Well, she should know. I'll have to special order that one. But why do you want to jump two sizes down, when you already have a small on hand?
Me: Again, I didn't request it, she did. I'd be happy to try the small again, but pretty sure I'll get the same result.
Tech: Ok, I won't order anything, call me if you want a change.

Nurse2: I looked at your data. Everything looks fine. So why do you want to change mask size?
Me: As I told the last guy in here, I don't. Nurse1 came in and insisted because of the machine data.
Nurse2: But according to the data, you have virtually no leaks.
Me: Thats what I thought.
Nurse2: It looks like someone set your machine up wrong.
Me: [getting concerned] Oh no, whats wrong? I've gone over the info many times, and seemed correct.
Nurse2: Too many setting are user accessible. I've got to lock your machine down. [Meaning EPR, AHI, and Leak Info]
Me: But I opened those up for easy access so I can fine tune and monitor my treatment.
Nurse2: Don't touch anything, it is illegal for you to change anything.
Me: It's illegal for me to monitor and care about my own health?
Nurse2: No, only to change any setting on this machine.
Me: But I didn't change anything to do with the prescription, only those that pertain to my own comfort and usage value.
[Nurse2 procedded to change the EPR setting and remove everything from the user access screen. I fixed it when I got back home.]
Me: When will the Doctor be in? I've been here over an hour (in the room).
Nurse2: Oh, the Doctor is really busy today. You will not be able to see him without waiting 1-2 more hours. So unless you have anything urgent, have a nice day and set another appointment up for 6 months on your way out.
Me: So why did I take off work and drive all this way?
Nurse2: For your regular Doctor follow up visit.
Me: But I didn't see the doctor!

Receptionist: Sounds like everything is going good. Did you get all your questions answered?
Me: Not a one. And I did't even get to go over my data with the Doctor.
Receptionist: Oh, the Doctor almost never looks at the data himself. We only use it to show compliance for insurance billing. When would you like to come back?
Me: Uh, I'll call you. (No really)

---- You can't make this stuff up! I actually felt dumber as I walked out the door. -----

Note to self: Don't drive angry. Don't drive angry.

FlyingB wrote:My dumb and dumberer experience this summer. Needless to say, I am now my own doctor.

First follow up visit at the second location that I have met the Doc. Way out of the way.

Doc: Everything looks great, but I need to see you in 3 months so we have more data to go over. It must be at my third office.
Me: Why there? It's so far from where I met you the first time.
Doc: Because it is our main office and I'm there most of the time. Also, we have nurses and home health techs in house in case you have any questions, as well as a full stock of supplies in case you want to change your mask or anything.
Me: Ok.

Second follow up visit at third location. Way out of the way.

Nurse1: I've gone over your machine data and you have a major problem with leaks. You need to change masks.
Me: Really? In the beginning I tried all sizes before I landed on the medium FX, and have had very little air leaks since.
Nurse1: Nope. The data doesn't lie. I can't allow you to continue using that size. However, we don't have any supplies here, and I only have an extra small for you to try. Let's hook it up to the machine.
[She fiddles with the machine]
Nurse1: Uh, how does this hose go on?
Me: Right here on the only hole coming out of the machine. Here, I'll do it.
Nurse1: [Looking at the S9 with a blank stare] How do you turn it on?
Me: Right here with the big round "On" button.
[After putting on the extra small and having it slip loosly into both nostrils]
Nurse1: Yep. That's the one. You need the extra small.
Me: I Don't think so. It jambs all the way up my nostrills, and does not seal as well.
Nurse1: Well that is the one "our office" recommends for you. You'll get used to it. I'll send in a Tech.

Tech: I understand you requested a size change?
Me: No, the nurse said I did because of the machine data. I think the Medium fits fine.
Nech: Well, she should know. I'll have to special order that one. But why do you want to jump two sizes down, when you already have a small on hand?
Me: Again, I didn't request it, she did. I'd be happy to try the small again, but pretty sure I'll get the same result.
Tech: Ok, I won't order anything, call me if you want a change.

Nurse2: I looked at your data. Everything looks fine. So why do you want to change mask size?
Me: As I told the last guy in here, I don't. Nurse1 came in and insisted because of the machine data.
Nurse2: But according to the data, you have virtually no leaks.
Me: Thats what I thought.
Nurse2: It looks like someone set your machine up wrong.
Me: [getting concerned] Oh no, whats wrong? I've gone over the info many times, and seemed correct.
Nurse2: Too many setting are user accessible. I've got to lock your machine down. [Meaning EPR, AHI, and Leak Info]
Me: But I opened those up for easy access so I can fine tune and monitor my treatment.
Nurse2: Don't touch anything, it is illegal for you to change anything.
Me: It's illegal for me to monitor and care about my own health?
Nurse2: No, only to change any setting on this machine.
Me: But I didn't change anything to do with the prescription, only those that pertain to my own comfort and usage value.
[Nurse2 procedded to change the EPR setting and remove everything from the user access screen. I fixed it when I got back home.]
Me: When will the Doctor be in? I've been here over an hour (in the room).
Nurse2: Oh, the Doctor is really busy today. You will not be able to see him without waiting 1-2 more hours. So unless you have anything urgent, have a nice day and set another appointment up for 6 months on your way out.
Me: So why did I take off work and drive all this way?
Nurse2: For your regular Doctor follow up visit.
Me: But I didn't see the doctor!

Receptionist: Sounds like everything is going good. Did you get all your questions answered?
Me: Not a one. And I did't even get to go over my data with the Doctor.
Receptionist: Oh, the Doctor almost never looks at the data himself. We only use it to show compliance for insurance billing. When would you like to come back?
Me: Uh, I'll call you. (No really)

---- You can't make this stuff up! I actually felt dumber as I walked out the door. -----

Note to self: Don't drive angry. Don't drive angry.

You should report that doctor to the state medical licensing board for his lack of ethics. He has a direct conflict of interest in trying to sell you equipment. The runaround you got is strong evidence of that.

It's a monster HMO. They have more legs than a centipede, but every step is an "independent" entity (owned by them).

Cat food, for sure!

That story is a classic!

On another forum I've been helping out a person who was sold an FX by a ResMed REP at a local OSAA meeting. The Rep told her that he would need to "special order" extra small nasal pillows for her (at an additional cost) because the smalls he fitted her with were too big.

Why?

He had them crammed up her nose and her nose blew up like a balloon with every inspiration. According to him, the small size was too big.

This was a ResMed Rep, folks!!!!!!!!

When I coached her through fitting her nasal pillows correctly, she needed MEDIUMS!!!!!!!!!!!

I got one! Maybe we're not the only 'mushrooms'
At the CPAP support group meeting in July; I was discussing machines with a DME provider (a competitor to our own)
Me: I really like my S9 Elite.
DME: Those aren't even out yet.
Me: Well, I've had mine since April--Others online have had their S9's even longer.
DME: My Resmed rep say they won't be available for months.
Me: I think he's stonewalling you.
I would love to be a fly on the wall with him on the phone the next day)

Whoa!, JanKnitz!!!!! That Resmed Rep needs to be reported to Resmed!!! The Reps are NOT ALLOWED to SELL DIRECT to a patient. They can help a patient out by ordering a specific item for them and seeing to it that that item is delivered to the patient's local DME provider BUT the SALE HAS to go thru the local DME provider!!!

Now, I have heard of a few manufacturer reps who from time to time have provided a patient w/a mask, or a hose, or some such, GRATIS w/o going thru the local DME provider - but note that this was done GRATIS, the item was NOT SOLD to the patient. One accepts the item gratefully and gracefully and then keeps their mouth shut about it - or if the item works well one is allowed to brag about how good the item is W/O mentioning how they came by that item.

bump

I think my sleep doctor needs a hearing test. My first follow up, I very distinctly stated that I felt like everything was going badly, and that I was unhappy with my therapy. The next follow up, he pulled out my chart and said "So things are still going well?"

My otherwise decent DME: Resmed doesn't make a bi-level PAP machine. The V in VPAP stands for Ventilator.

Some careful coaching and providing appropriate printouts did educate them and they were willing to order me a Resmed (S8 based) VPAP Auto 25 last December if I'd wanted one.