Why are doctors so USELESS?

Question

All they want is the $20 co-pay. I take them a sick child, and they say "take her home, give her rest, wait 3 days and come back, that will be $20 today." USELESS I TELL YOU. Oh, and when i get tests done, they want me to come back into the office, sit in the waiting room with sick people, sit in the office for 20 minutes, then the doctor comes in and looks at his clipboard and says "Well, the results were negative, have a great day, and don't forget to stop on the way out and pay you $20 copay." Why can't the call, emal, fax, send me a freakin letter and tell me the results???????

Answer 1

lol thats intense..see i like my doctor..shes nice and i have been getting check-ups from her since i was like... 3...lol

Answer 2

Economics and a society that allows so much money to be awarded in courts to greedy lawyers is the root cause. They have huge school loans, equipment loans, building mortgages, liability insurance costs are outrageous because there are so many lawsuits.

To survive in a practice, they usually have to share a building and staff with a number of different doctors to reduce their costs.

The reality is this:

Don't expect your doctor to remember you, your condition or to even read your chart before seeing you. They see 40 or more cases a day and cannot possibly remember everything. You will have to update him on your prior visit, what he said on that visit and what you are there for today.

You have to become an active participant in your own care and do your own research on the problem so that you will even know the right questions to ask if needed.

After the doctor has seen you, don't rely on the office staff to do anything that they are supposed to. Recheck behind them on anything that is important. They usually work for a number of different doctors so when they screw up your paperwork, no one really cares but you.

If you need to resolve something, do it at their office and not over the phone. Unfortunately if you are not "in their face" your problem will be put somewhere in the stack and left for later.

In short, they love "customers" like you. You come in with a problem that they really don't think is a big issue (and would probably go away on it's own as your body fights it off).

To protect themselves from a potential lawsuit they run a test and have you return for the results. Since your your problem doesn't exist by time the test comes back, they in effect have to do nothing, but get to charge both you and your insurance company twice.

Thank God yours was only a simple problem. If you ever have a major one, prepare to take charge.

Answer 3

Heres a few tips: get a good pediatrician, because he has a great nurse, she is on call for advise (use her first! call her-tell her the symptons--she will let you know when to come in, and is invaluable as your front line advisor. Second, ask doc to have his nurse give you the results on the phone cause you unless child is not well can't afford time off work or payment. Docs get this. Lastly stay with the doc the same doc and it was my preference to make sure they had a clinic open some weekend hours. You learn after the first kid not to run to doc because they can't give meds (antibotics) till 3rd day with fever or symtoms and fevor.If you aren't getting these services, get busy till you do! Life is easier.

Answer 4

I had the same problem with my daughter and it was really bad. I gave my daughter a suppository twice and never again because she would cry that it burns. I had to give her a teaspoon of Karo syrup in her milk or juice or water and that helped a little. I would let my daughter sit in the bathtub with warm water when I knew she had to go and that helped. Avoid suppositories and laxatives you want her to be able to go on her own. My daughter would try pushing for hours and would be so tired and fall asleep but would go the next day. The long problem I had because she was always constipated was she continued pooping on her panties until 4 years old. I am now passed that and she goes with no problem to the toilet. The pediatrician recommended I give my daughter prune juice but she wouldn't drink it. Try avoiding low fiber foods like ice cream, cheese, meat, snacks like chips, pizza, processed foods such as instant mashed potatoes or frozen dinners. High fiber foods like Vegetables, Whole grains, Nuts, Beans, legumes, Fresh & dried fruits like raisins are good and high in fiber. I recommend checking her stomach and if it is hard try rubbing it a little and do let her walk around and play. It helps move the bowels. I know how difficult it is but from my experience it just takes a lot of patience because soon she will be stronger and will be able to digest foods better. I am sure you are giving her solids already and her digestive system is still working hard so give her lots of water. My 4 year old got so accustomed to drinking water she refuses juice but I still give her juice from time to time.

Answer 5

$20 is a small price to pay to know that your child just has a cold. At least it is for me.

You don't have to wait for the test results if you really don't want to. Doc's just trying to be efficient but he can always call the prescription in later - if required.

Of course, in my father's case he felt fine but went right from the doc's to the hospital.Tests returned a 90% blockage, but he felt fine.

Answer 6

They want to make $300+/hr. They can't charge for a phone call. It's $20 for them to say 'get some rest' or 'results were negative'. It's a racket.

Answer 7

Doctors never used to be like this. Now they're controlled by insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and most of their clinics are owned by big corporations. It's a sad reality in the United States and makes it very difficult to get adequate medical care.

Answer 8

Does it make you feel any better that you're not alone? It seems to be one of the great mysteries. I've started researching my symptoms and telling them what's wrong with me and recommending medicine. Sadly they still make the money off the visit.

Answer 9

go to the phillipines and you'll even find a worse situation...

Answer 10

Switch doctors.

It's not like that everywhere.