So I just got off the phone with Dr H's office in CA to try to make a phone consultation-- I'm gong to be moving back to CA and haven't decided where yet, so a lot rides on who I choose to be my Dr.
SO I just wanted to have a few phone consulations to try to get a feeling of how they treat, and their personalities etc. His secretary acted like I was crazy!? She said they don't do that, and I explained my situation (moving, etc) and she just said 'we dont do that"-- LOL, am I off my rocker?! I feel like it would be a normal thing to request. Have any of you done phone cosultations before you've become a patient?
Posted by philly78 (Member # 31069) on :
Maybe their paranoid about "the enemy" trying to gain info?
When I first called my LLMD's office, they didn't explain very much to me either. Actually, I couldn't even make an appt over the phone on my first call.
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
You know i hadn't thought of that. But I was able to make a phone appt with Dr B in CA. Just fax my medical records and then they make the appt.
Maybe the other Drs just want the hefty $$ from first appt's. I would just think its be more normal to have a phone appt before people spend major money on plane tickets, hotels, and then the office appt.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
If you have followed the Dr J medical board issues then you would understand. It may even be illegal to have a phone consult without first seeing the patient in person -- think it could depend on the state laws.
A few LLMD's will do follow-up phone consults, but again depending on the state law some cannot prescribe meds without an in person office visit, so not much would get accomplished in some cases except to discuss labs.
Medical boards have not kept up with the changing technology and neither have insurance companies. Not sure if there are any insurance companies that will actually reimburse for phone consults.
Bea Seibert
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
Oh no I wasnt looking for anything to be perscribed to me-- that I totally get. More of just a conversation about they types of things we might do in treatment so I can know what to expect. I wouldn't be paying with insurance either so that wouldnt be applicable.
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
I had a consult with a Lyme doctor but paid for the hour. I had so many questions. He did not treat nor prescribe, but helped me know what to do. I was going to have to travel a long way with a very sick child so wanted to know I was doing the right thing.
Sometimes it seems crazy to drive the distance we do to accomplish what could have easily been done over the phone.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Whitney,
You can often ask to speak to the nurse or the new patient coordinator if the office has one. You can get some questions answered that way at no charge.
Important questions such as what labs the doc uses and if they use IV's or supplements can be answered by the nurse. And they should be able to tell you if the doc will treat based on clinical diagnosis. Also how frequently the doc requires patients to be seen.
I know there is always something that seems to come as a surprise everytime hubby goes to a new doc. It is just so hard to remember everything to ask about dealing with a doc long distance as many of us do.