Disappointment by treatment from one hospital, treated like a king at the next

A few weeks back I took a camping trip. On that trip I did something stupid and ended up with an inguinal hernia, or a torn abdominal muscle for the non-medical types. At the time I did it, I did not think it was a major injury. When I woke up the next day I knew I was in for some trouble.

Little did I know how much of the trouble would be a result of the health care provider I use and not the injury its self.

Knowing I needed to see a doctor I called the clinic my family physician works out of. I explained my injury along with the fact I was a three-hour drive away and asked if they had an opening near the end of the day or anytime the next day. The nurse said there was no way any Doctor in the office could see me till after the weekend.

She then said if the pain is too bad go to the ER for some Rx painkillers.

After a long weekend (no I did not go to the ER like some pill seeker) on Monday I got to see my regular Doc. He diagnosed the hernia and told me that the surgical unit would call in 3-5 days to schedule an appointment for a consultation with a surgeon.

Four days later the call came. I was told the surgeon could see me in four weeks, keep in mind this is the consultation. Four weeks of pain just to wait to see if the surgeon agreed with the family Doc on the hernia diagnosis.

There are two major health care provider networks in my community. Both run multiple full-scale hospitals in the area. Both also have a slew of practices and clinics for general checkups. Both networks are covered by the city insurance; I only picked the one I did because my house was physically close to a clinic run by that company.

Pissed off I called the surgical center for a hospital in the other network. The nice lady told me she could get me into see a surgeon for the consult right away tomorrow (a Friday) morning. At the conclusion of my visit with him I am told his soonest appointment would be Tuesday Morning. I take it.

That surgery was yesterday. As I typing this I think about how if I had kept with the other clinic I would still be a few weeks away from the almighty surgeon saying yes he was willing to cut me open. But because I was feed up with waiting and feeling like just a number, I took my action and am now recovering.

Is this the normal way American health care is right now? Is waiting longer and longer the future for our health care system?

I think I now understand why all my EMS friends are so burned out? People can’t get normal appointments so instead call 911 for the ER visit, getting a ride in the Taxiulance (my newly coined term of Taxi and Ambulance). When a hospital employee gives the advice I got, it sure makes me think so…

One thing is for sure for this guy. I am changing doctors to the other network. They got me in, got me fixed, and on the road to recovery in less than a week. Service like that, they earned my new found business.