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Update on Doctor Rant!!
"Naomi Pardue" wrote in message ... Went back to the ENT today about my ear infections. My ears are feeling much better. Stopped draining about a week ago. You will recall that at my last visit, after taking a brief peek in my ears, he'd just written me prescriptions for antibiotics, since he couldn't see anything due to the drainage. We hadn't talked about my medical history or anything. Today I got the added pleasure of spending 90 minutes sitting in the waiting room before he graced me with 3 minutes of his time. He asked me how I was feeling. I said I felt better, and could hear again. He said 'good.' He asked me if I'd finished the antibiotics. I admitted that I had a few left. (I'm bad about remembering to take pills more than once a day.) He said that was ok. He looked in my ears. Said they looked great, didn't see any perforations. (I had to remind him which ear was supposed to be perforated.) Was about to leave. I said that the reason I was HERE was that I was concerned about the fact that I was getting the infections so *often.* He said "Small ear canals. Tendency to get wax. Try cleaning them with peroxide once a month. Here's the instruction sheet. Drop your chart at the desk on your way out." My initial 3 minute visit cost me $60. (Plus $50 for the antibiotics.) This one will likely cost the same, plus half a day's lost wages. What fun. And I learned (gasp!) that I get wax in my ears. (Like I didn't' already know that....) Under these circumstances I would not pay for the second visit but would return the bill unpaid with a letter, copied to my GP, tactfully and succinctly describing the barebones "care" I received and requesting some written justification for how the doctor spent his time and resources on me that justifies more than $60 total for the two visits. What's he going to do, turn it over to collections for $60? Unlikely. If enough people did this, he might just change his practice style. I can't imagine how bad this guy would be under a single-payer system. If this is how he treats his cash clients, just imagine how he'd treat someone who never sees what he is billing. -- Dagny |
#2
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Update on Doctor Rant!!
"Naomi Pardue" wrote in message
... Went back to the ENT today about my ear infections. My ears are feeling much better. Stopped draining about a week ago. You will recall that at my last visit, after taking a brief peek in my ears, he'd just written me prescriptions for antibiotics, since he couldn't see anything due to the drainage. We hadn't talked about my medical history or anything. Today I got the added pleasure of spending 90 minutes sitting in the waiting room before he graced me with 3 minutes of his time. He asked me how I was feeling. I said I felt better, and could hear again. He said 'good.' He asked me if I'd finished the antibiotics. I admitted that I had a few left. (I'm bad about remembering to take pills more than once a day.) He said that was ok. He looked in my ears. Said they looked great, didn't see any perforations. (I had to remind him which ear was supposed to be perforated.) Was about to leave. I said that the reason I was HERE was that I was concerned about the fact that I was getting the infections so *often.* He said "Small ear canals. Tendency to get wax. Try cleaning them with peroxide once a month. Here's the instruction sheet. Drop your chart at the desk on your way out." My initial 3 minute visit cost me $60. (Plus $50 for the antibiotics.) This one will likely cost the same, plus half a day's lost wages. What fun. And I learned (gasp!) that I get wax in my ears. (Like I didn't' already know that....) Naomi CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator (either remove spamblock or change address to to reply.) Was your ear infection an outer ear (canal) infection or a middle ear (behind the eardrum) infection? It sounds as if it was the latter to me but let me know if I am wrong. Small canals and earwax have very little to do with middle ear infections - most likely due to an inadequately functioning Eustachian Tube (various reasons for this). And contrary to popular belief, it is normal and desired to have some earwax in the canals - most people do not require routine cleaning. Some do from excessive wax production and some due to wearing an earpiece or hearing aid which have a tendency to push naturally migrating wax back into the canal. Hopefully there is another ENT that you can go to instead of this one. Jenn |
#3
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Update on Doctor Rant!!
Was your ear infection an outer ear (canal) infection or a middle ear
(behind the eardrum) infection? It sounds as if it was the latter to me but let me know if I am wrong. Not quite sure actually. There were symptoms indicative of both. Lots of drainage and crud which seemed to imply an outer ear infection, but also, especially early on) quite a lot of pain and pressure (and, most notably, some very severe pain which resolved abruptly ) suggesting a middle ear infection with a ruptured eardrum. But... of course... since he never really examined me, beyond a couple of cursory glances in my ears, and NEVER talked to me about my symptoms or history, I guess we'll never know, will we? And contrary to popular belief, it is normal and desired to have some earwax in the canals - most people do not require routine cleaning. I know this, but I think I do tend to get more wax than is typical, and it tends to build up. Hopefully there is another ENT that you can go to instead of this one. There are a couple of other docs in the same practice, and I think there may be another practice in town. But at this point I may just leave well enough alone, or go back to my GP the next time I get an infection, and see if she has any more words of wisdom for me. Naomi CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator (either remove spamblock or change address to to e-mail reply.) |
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