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Great People, New Facility, Horrible Policy

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Before you go to a Convenient Care Clinic you may be interested in my story. This may not apply to everyone as I am retired, on Medicare/Medicaid and am on a fairly fixed income so DOLLARS are a factor in the story and the second factor is simply TIME.

 A small amount of background: Minot is a small city of 50,000 and we only have one hospital, Trinity Health. We had two but that is another story (of trickery) about Trinity Health.

A little more background about my blog post title. I have liked every employee, doctor, and administrator I have met from Trinity Health including the hospital President. The horrible only applies to my experience with policy.

The situation: While walking to the front door of the church for Sunday worship both feet slipped out from under me. I landed HARD on my left shoulder. People came running to help me and I knew I had damage from the fall. I opted to sit through the worship service as opposed to going to the emergency room. I decided to go to the convenient care clinic on Monday.

Enter Dr. Christina Cabrera, my angel of mercy. She examined me, sent me to x-ray, and had me come back to her immediately after. Nothing was broken but it appeared that my bicep had detached. Unfortunately this is not new to me as it happened to my other arm 20 years ago. She prescribed a muscle relaxer to help with the swelling and pain. Policy kept her from prescribing a pain killer as Trinity's policy is I would have to get that from my primary care Dr. Dr. Mattern. I love Dr. Mattern as she has been our kind and caring family Dr. for 20 years now.

Time and money!

Here is the rub. Both Dr's. work for Trinity Health. I was hoping to save time by going to the convenient care clinic being Dr. Mattern is usually booked 3 months out. I was trying to save money by limiting my number of Dr. visits. Dr. Cabrera knew what was wrong and she knew how much pain I was in so I assumed (you all know what that means, ass-u-me) she could prescribe the appropriate pain killers for my injury. WRONG! Dr. Mattern had to do that which meant no less than two more Dr. visits and most likely an MRI. Ka-ching!!!

Dr. Cabrera sent a note to Dr. Mattern suggesting a pain killer to help me deal with the pain and I also called Dr. Mattern three times asking for her or her nurse to call me back. It wasn't until the 3rd call until I gt ANY response and the response was exactly what I was hoping to avoid... you have to come in for an examination.

I was already examined by a Trinity Health Dr (Dr. Cabrera) but that was not good enough for Trinity Health???

WHAT!!! Because Dr. Cabrera works in Trinity Health's convenient care clinic she is somehow less credible then my primary care Dr.?

Lesson learned... go to another hospitals clinic in town in the future that doesn't have STUPID policies.

 

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Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Bob,

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It would have been so simple for Dr. Cabrera to issue a prescription for you. Another example of how inefficient our government polices are! Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist is rigt..it will only get worse.

Nov 09, 2023 07:21 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Bob and I have experience some thing like this in the past about 3 years ago when cutting down a tree and ended up with pain killers but someone missed something.

 

Nov 09, 2023 09:12 AM
Mercedes E. Santana
Santana Property Group - New York, NY
Investment Properties

One of my biggest pet peeves is the inefficiency of our Healthcare System. Specifically emergency rooms, but there are plenty of other areas that need reorganizing. Why do we have to continuously fill out forms when we go to see a Doctor, only to have the Doctor walk in and ask why I am there? and then do an intake that the receptionist already had me do?  A Walk in clinic Doctor should be allowed to issue a prescription without getting authorization from your primary. Hope you are all healed from this insanity.

Nov 09, 2023 09:20 AM
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

Ahhh policies and politics, how close a line they run.  Hope you get to feeling better.  m

Nov 09, 2023 11:02 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

This Sunday will be one month Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist and I still have to much pain to sleep through the night. It sucks but I am not going to pay for 2 more Dr's visits... at least not to this hospital!

Nov 09, 2023 11:11 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It should be called the Health Care Cash Cow Mr. Crappy. Thank you for the feature in CRAP-TACULAR   Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist 

Nov 09, 2023 11:12 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I agree Dorie Dillard Austin TX but Dr. Cabrera did what she had to to maintain her job. I just hope she realizes that Trinity doesn't see her as a full fledged Dr. but something less.

Nov 09, 2023 11:14 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I remember you posting about that incident Will Hamm . We go to the hospital hoping to feel good but getting screwed that way does not feel good.

Nov 09, 2023 11:20 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

You nailed my biggest health care pet peeve as well Mercedes E. Santana : filling out forms, explaining to underlings, and having the Dr. walk in and say what's the problem. I tell you Doc, the problem is I'm to weak to smack you right now!

Nov 09, 2023 11:22 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho . At the rate I seem to be healing I should be fine by Spring... 2025.

Nov 09, 2023 11:23 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Bob- very sorry you've had to go through this experience. When you're injured, in pain or sick the last thing you want to do is have to "doctor hop".  The medical industry (not a profession anymore) is like anything else...driven by the dollar. 

Nov 09, 2023 06:59 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

I have noticed similar odd policies with my health care provider, Kaiser, as well, Bob.  Some things just don't make sense.

Nov 09, 2023 08:10 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

CONGRATULATIONS Bob, on having this blog FEATURED in the Old Farts Club group!  

Nov 09, 2023 08:16 PM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Medical policies in the United States are so terrible, I listen to the struggles that my parents have with pretty much anything these days.

Nov 10, 2023 05:01 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Oh my goodness, Bob. How awful! We have tons of those "convenient care" facilities around Charlotte. I think of them as rent-a-docs. Fortunately, we have a great emergency facility with Novant Health literally three or four minutes from our home. And my husband's doctor has hours twice a week for walk-in patients. 

Nov 10, 2023 05:59 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It really is all about money isn't it Kathy Streib . Just look at the billions given away to big Pharma for a worthless vaccine. 

Nov 10, 2023 06:42 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

It sure does not make sense to me Myrl Jeffcoat when two Dr's can not work together on the same patient when both those Dr's work for the same hospital.

Nov 10, 2023 06:44 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you Myrl Jeffcoat  for the feature in the Old Farts Club 

Nov 10, 2023 06:46 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I think the whole problem has to do with the greed in the health care system Brian England . They know they can charge what every they want with no regards to the patients health or finances.

Nov 10, 2023 06:49 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Wow Nina Hollander, Broker it sounds like a wonderful system compared to what we are stuck with here in Minot.

Nov 10, 2023 06:50 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Bob "RealMan" Timm hi Bob... one thing Charlotte does have going for it is excellent medical care... but when it comes to top doctors it can take a bit of time to get an appointment.

Nov 10, 2023 11:42 AM