My pcp is an AS-HOLE

[chameleon 0]

Oh...did I type that outloud....yes well that might be because it's the truth. I faxed my family dr a month ago with the letter form that cleveland clinic needs to send with the rest of my stuff to the insurance company. I have Medical Mutual and they require you to provide a documented five year weight history as well as documentation of any weight loss meds, diets, etc that have been prescribed. So anyway I faxed the request into his office on June 5 and a week later the clinic called me to see if he had sent it yet because they hadn't received it so I called his office and his secretary....who is a bitch under normal circumstances...answers and I asked if they got the letter I faxed and she's like Yes...it's sitting on his desk...I'm sure he'll get to it as soon as he can, so I just say "ok thanks, just wanted to make sure it got there..bye" so another week or so goea by and the clinic still doesn't have it, so I call again and the bitchretary answers and says Ummmm...I don't know what you expect me to do....he has it and he has made a couple of notes on it so I'm sure he'll be sending it in the next day or two....so I go Ok well I'm just needing it because it's the last thing the hopital is waiting for to get insurance approval for my surgery. So I waited until yesterday...3 and a half weeks after I requested the information and I call and say hello this is and she goes ummmm I think I know who this is and you calling all the time is not gonna help you to get the form any quicker, I told you he has it on his desk and he will get to it. I then say I'm just concerned because he has had it for 3 1/2 weeks and you have been telling me that every time I call and I only have off the month of july and the first week of august and I have busted my ass to get all the tests and appointments and everything required for this surgery and we are now waiting on a 3 minute note from him and I have been a patient for 20 years and my dad was a patient for 30 since he started his practice right up until his death last year and I am amazed that I can't get this note from him! She's like Umm Ahhh II waaa hold on and she puts me on hold for 5 seconds and he gats on thed phone and says "LISTEN YOU ARE NOT MY ONLY PATIENT, I WORK 100 HOURS A WEEK AND I HAVENT HAD A DAY OFF IN THREE YEARS. I HAVE YOU PAPER AND I WILL GET TO IT WHEN I GET TO IT!" and he then hangs up. I was in such shock that I actually started crying like a baby...I don't know why because I was seething mad. I think I cried because it was like getting slapped in the face by an old friend when you don't see it coming. Not that we were old buddies or anything but we have always had a comfortable dr. patient relationship and I guess it felt like a terrible betrayal. Anyway, obviously it was horribly unprofessional of him and I think he's just cracking up or something...he's not even old, maybe 50 or 52. Anyway I am now just pissed off and I want my damn record sent to a new dr., but I am waiting a couple days to request them to be transferred since maybe I have a better shot of him sending the letter quickly now since he humiliated himself. I actually half expected to have a message on my machine today with an apology from him but that's a joke.....the only thing bigger than a dr.s ego is his checkbook balance. It wouldn't matter, I am never going back to him and neither are the rest of my family who currently go to him, of which my husband, grown daughter, and mom consist of and I am telling the three friends of mine that I sent his way what he did. Thats one way to lesson his workload! Although I should mention that we have paid at least two years of his mortgage over the course of our relationships with him. Oh by the way his name is Dr. Glenn Novak of Austintown, OH. Don't go to him he's apparently loosing his mind.:angry

[*susan* 1,709]

My understanding is that you have a legal right to copies of your personal medical records. If it were me, I probably would have suggested he can get them to me now, or I can have my attorney subpoena a copy. What is really sad is if he is like most doctors, he probably has an employee who puts all that stuff together for him and then all he has to do is sign off on it.

[seppi 0]

Oh my God I cannot believe the unprofessionalism this man has exhibited. When I first started reading I was thinking you should call the Doctor and let him know that his secretary was rude but as your experience went on I was appalled. I hope that once you get resolution you are able to find someone more compassionate. Also I don't think I would want to go to a doctor that works 100 hours a week and has worked 3 years straight, apparently quality care isn't his main objective.

[pplqueen 0]

First of all, You need a pre paid legal plan. well worth $17 a month. I use mine all the time for this kind of crap. I would sick my attorney on him so fast.............In the second place, as a RN for 15 years, I can tell you honestly the reason that I left nursing and changed careers was because of ass holes like him.

[jcbydesign 0]

I would write a letter to the medical practice or HMO or whatever he belongs to and send a copy to the state medical association. The more complaints these types get in their files, the better. I used to be a nurse (past tense) also and this is hardly the first time I've heard of such behavior...and behind the scenes it's even worse. Oh, after you get your records, I'd send him a copy with a note attached saying you will never use him again after his rude behavior and unprofessionalism.

[SherryW 4]

You have every legal right to a copy of your medical records. The Heck with calling for them, I'd march right down to the office and get my copy right there and then. They have a copier, he has a secretary and I'm sure he has Medical assistants of a Nurse Practioner...one of them can make the dang copy so his busy self doesn't have to. If they give you a hard time tell them HIPAA regs state I have patient confidentiality rights and I'm using that right. YOU are no longer permitted to look at my files so give them to me and if you give me a hard time you'll be talking to my lawyer.

[nanahanna 1]

Oh, my god! I would have told that doctor to have my medical records ready in one hour and I would be by to pick them up. Most surgeons will accept all tests you have already gone through! Don't let that A-hole do this to you. Be there first thing Monday morning and demand your records and threaten them with a lawsuit if they dawdle.

[lizzilo 0]

I think you would likely have better luck finding a new PCP and having them request the med recs. All you have to do is fill out a form with the new office and they will have the recs faxed to their office. I think with this "wonderful physician" (do you hear my sarcasm?) the new office will have more leverage. Also, you'll essentially be hiring a secretary to do the harassing of the old office for you. Unfortunately a private physician's office is technically private property and they can have you escorted from the facility by security or the police if you go in there irate. You have rights to your records, but they may make you go through legal channels to get them. Often they require you to go through medical records department.

By the way, I'm a physician assistant and agree that your md's behavior is unacceptable.

[lizzilo 0]

My PCP and I had a long discussion regarding the lap-band, how I wanted it, why I wanted it, etc. She agreed, we did the pre-op testing.... and then she sent a letter to my insurance company saying she didn't think it was medically sound.

I found a new PCP.

[ralheit 0]

Unbelievable. I had Medical Mutual when I first started my journey to the band. They're requirements are hard enough without that kind of crap on top of it. I'd call and inform them that you are leaving the practice and getting a new doc. And that you want your records immediately. Then I would go to another doctor and have them request them right away.

I finally got my approval 3 weeks after changing insurance to Anthem and had my surgery at St. Vincents in Cleveland. I had been fighting with Medical Mutual for almost a year.

Best of luck to you.

[SanDiegoUbermom 1]

I think you would likely have better luck finding a new PCP and having them request the med recs. All you have to do is fill out a form with the new office and they will have the recs faxed to their office. I think with this "wonderful physician" (do you hear my sarcasm?) the new office will have more leverage. Also, you'll essentially be hiring a secretary to do the harassing of the old office for you. Unfortunately a private physician's office is technically private property and they can have you escorted from the facility by security or the police if you go in there irate. You have rights to your records, but they may make you go through legal channels to get them. Often they require you to go through medical records department.

By the way, I'm a physician assistant and agree that your md's behavior is unacceptable.

This is the way to go.

But I would still put a “permanent comment in his permanent record” for all to see. Anyone looking for a new doctor needs to know the good as well as the bad.

Don’t stoop to his level of behavior. Always step up, play smart and come out with a smile.

[pplqueen 0]

You call him EVERDAY until he gives in!!!

[warmmorningsun 1]

I think you would likely have better luck finding a new PCP and having them request the med recs. All you have to do is fill out a form with the new office and they will have the recs faxed to their office. I think with this "wonderful physician" (do you hear my sarcasm?) the new office will have more leverage. Also, you'll essentially be hiring a secretary to do the harassing of the old office for you. Unfortunately a private physician's office is technically private property and they can have you escorted from the facility by security or the police if you go in there irate. You have rights to your records, but they may make you go through legal channels to get them. Often they require you to go through medical records department.

By the way, I'm a physician assistant and agree that your md's behavior is unacceptable.

I do agree that this is the best way to go; you have the right to do everything everyone has suggested here, and would probably have more personal satisfaction from it...but you're on a timeline, right? If that's the case, call your surgeon, let him/her know what happened and ask that they give you the name of a PCP that has worked with them in the past to get med recs, etc. to them. In other words, someone who's going to request you med record with the full intent of documenting a positive recommendation that you receive the surgery, etc. And understand the need for moving this process along. YOu can even have your WL surgeon's office contact the new PCP so they know what's going on.

Once you've gotten that taken care of, THEN write your letters, egg his house, spit on his front lawn, etc. :bananajump: I'm sure his attitude in general will help him reduce his workload down to a more manageable load of, oh, say 2 or 3 patients.

[lizzilo 0]

Once you've gotten that taken care of, THEN write your letters, egg his house, spit on his front lawn, etc. :Banane20: I'm sure his attitude in general will help him reduce his workload down to a more manageable load of, oh, say 2 or 3 patients.

I couldn't agree more! :biggrin1: I can see the toilet paper through the trees now.... :bananajump:

[Andy Liz 0]

Yep, I'd keep calling him or better yet - go to his office everyday and ask if you can pick up the letter. If they say it's not ready just tell them you'll be back or you'll call in a couple hours. If they're rude to you again, tell them so and tell them you plan on making a formal complaint. Just hound the hell out of him. Granted, I'm sure he's a busy man, but pleez, if he doesn't understand the trouble you've gone to, to arrange your schedule for surgery then he should be reported. Afterall, our physicians should care about our total well being - not just what we're complaining about when we pay for an office visit! Good luck and keep us posted.