Urologist - Do I Have the Right to Be Irritated?

In most doctors offices the doctor does not order the testing. The office staff does this. The doctor does not have to sign off any papers for these tests to be scheduled. The doctor I go to uses the Swindle or PC Imaging for all testing. A year ago my ultrasound was set up to be done at Swindle even though I told them at the office I wanted it done at PC Imaging. When I went and complained to the doctor after the testing was done he said he was not aware of any of this. He told me his office staff sets up the routine testing to be done. So my guess is that the doctor didn't even know what his staff had done. This year the girl was going to send me to Swindle and I told her right out I talked to the doctor and that PC Imaging was fine to use. It cost me $1100 through Swindle and nothing at PC Imaging. If you have a question on any tests being ordered you need to talk to the doctor and not the staff. Next time tests are ordered stop in the office and insist on talking to the doctor and ask questions. That is what I do. This way there are no questions. There is really nothing the doctor can do now that you already went and had the tests done. Sorry you had to learn the hard way like I did but I haven't made that same mistake since.

unacceptable. My daughter has a grade 2 and we went to John's Hopkins for our consult. My doctor who is heading a major stud on rivur says that the follow up vcug should be every 2 years at most. You do not mention the results of the dmsa? And for the love of God please tell me that they did one. It measures what if any damage to the kidneys. You are having a lot of follow up testing.

I would drive and go somewhere else. There is with a lot if insurances a difference on what test they cover at the hospital. You might get hit with a higher co-pay for it.

Sorry is not a response. Did he ask for the name of who you spoke to? Do they have an office manager?

There should be NO discrepancies.... from a Doctor nor his office.
Lives/conditions... are affected or made worse.

I would, speak/to them about it.
I am sure, this is not the first time.

It's disturbing to find a disconnect between what the doctor wants and what his office staff communicates to you. The best doctor in the world will be dragged down by ineffective/inattentive office staff and they are bad for his practice. Hopefully he'll reprimand his staff but if he won't or can't, it's time to find a new doctor.

Shame on him. You are correct.
best, k

Do you do the vcug at the hospital? If so, wouldn't it be easier to have the u/s done there too....do them both on same day? I feel like I'm missing something, this doesn't seem like a big deal to me. I don't get why you are havign an u/s every 6 months. My kids had vcug and renal u/s on same day once every year to year and a half.

Cora W....not all kids w/ reflux need a DMSA. Two of my kids were born with it and neither ever had an infection, so their kidneys were perfect on u/s so no DMSA was needed. Their reflux was caught so early (in utero) that they started a/b on day 2 of life and never had any infections.

My daughter ended up having the surgery so we don't have to deal with it anymore...thank goodness.

I would be annoyed that the office staff and the doc did not agree on their story. Next time just call and ask them to have the doc call you back. They might say he can't and what do you need but just tell them you need to speak to him personally. He should return calls sometime during the day, it may be late in the evening but her should call you back. His nurse might do the calling and she may actually go talk to him with your question but I would want to hear it from the horses mouth.

I can tell you, as a pharmacist that works in a hospital, it is VERY common for doctors to sign orders written by others without truly reviewing them. They are in a hurry and assume that someone else (typically the nurse) has taken the time to do things correctly. IMO it's wrong, if you're signing something, you should be sure it's accurate, as you are taking responsibility. Since this wasn't something harmful, just an annoyance, I would take it as a lesson that doctors sometimes do make mistakes. And just continue to be proactive about your health care and question, as you did, when you feel something is not right.

I know that dealing with any health issue with a child is stressful and you do not need one more thing to add to this stress. Yet, I think this was a mistake and unfortunately they happen...even in regard to doctors. Luckily it was not something that had an ill effect on your daughter's health. However, I think in the future you should ask for a return call from the doctor, even in another situation or with another doctor, to avoid any mix ups. When dealing with an office there are just too many hands involved. I agree with the other moms and that a second opinion from another urologist is a great idea. I have had a few things like this happen before and I know it is frustrating but then i think about all the mistakes that I have made and try to put them in perspective. I hope your daughter is well!

I would write a letter and have someone neutral read it before you send it. You can put it in terms of wanting to make sure office procedures were followed, that you feel a mistake was made between the doctor's orders and what you were told, and that you are confused about the conflicting information. You do not want to tick off the doctor but you do want to make sure you get a logical answer. If you called the office then they should have checked, and if he did not order it this way, then someone made a mistake.
This one is not a life-or-death mistake, but maybe the next one will be. Put it in terms of wanting to help them, not in terms of being angry (which I would be too, but honey catches more flies than vinegar).