garg.

[curgoth]

My doctor== bad.

She overbooks. She won't refill prescriptions over the phone like all my other doctors have. Both of these things are cash grabs - she can charge OHIP more that way. She also runs a cosmetic surgery clinic on the side, and has huge posters for Botox all over her office. Before sending me to the cardiologist, she had me go get a whole rack of tests. When I go to the cardiologist, he started running those same tests, until I told him I had just had those a month ago. My doc had not sent over *any* of the test results. So it was pretty much a waste of a trip. The cardiologist said he'd check the results when he got them, and talk to my doc, or call me if it is serious. His opinion is that it's just an occasional extra beat, and that I should just ignore it and try not to let the anxiety carry me into hyperventilating.

Once this is sorted with the current GP, I am going to start looking for another one. I am annoyed.

Comments

[themusesbitch.livejournal.com]

My doctor doesn't renew prescriptions over the phone, either. I didn't realize that was a profit-based decision (I'm guessing OHIP only pays for the time they spend with patients, not for the writing of the prescription itself?)

[neeuqdrazil.livejournal.com]

Physicians can only bill for time that they spend with clients, and it's a relatively small amount.

[kalivor.livejournal.com]

Perhaps this extra-tests story should also be sent to the Ministry of Health? They don't like it when doctors make cash grabs. They beat them down with sticks.

At least it sounds like you have a good cardiologist.

Cash Grab

[pez-minotaur.livejournal.com]

Doctors only paid from OHIP when you go to their office. That's why when you get tests you have to make an apt. and go back to discuss the test results and such. Anything done over the phone they do for free, but not refilling prescriptions seems like more weaselesqu than usual.

Re: Cash Grab

[kalivor.livejournal.com]

Not quite true: They can (and are) paid for some things that are done while not in a patients presence. That said, filling perscriptions is not one of these things.

An example of when they get paid for not seeing a patient is referring them to a specialist. In this case, the specialist gets paid for seeing the patient, and the GP is paid for the referring the patient (separate from seeing the patient to decide that they need to be referred), both from OHIP. Another example is psychotherapy -- a doctor's "hour" of billing is (in reality) less, something on the order of 45 or 50 minutes spent with the patient. The remainder of that time is devoted to other work needed in the treatment, such as reviewing/making notes, etc.

[tygerdsebat.livejournal.com]

I'm currently trying to ignore I had any problem until it crops up again, but it's good to hear that your cardiologist seems good.

It sounds a lot like the oral surgeon I want to for my jaw injury. They fit me in that day so I went to them, but I had to do tons of followups and foolishness. I think they charged me 1 or 2 too many co-pays too. Blah. They're also a cosmetic surgery place, so while I'm waiting to have my jaw x-rayed, froggy was looking at boob job photos.