If you went to a restaurant and ordered a sandwich but ended up with the sandwich, fries, a drink and dessert and were expected to pay for it, would you?
A few days ago, I called my PA’s office to ask him to fax an order for my annual blood work to the hospital. I had heard that, in an effort to drum up business, the hospital was ordering extra tests so I was waiting to see if it would happen to me. Unfortunately, I was not disappointed.
I walk in and the phlebotomist asks if I’ve had anything to eat or drink. I said, yes, coffee. She then tells me that she can’t do the test. I ask since when one has to fast for a thyroid test. She informs me that a lipid panel and Chem 7 (basic blood workup) have been ordered. I say I don’t want the lipid panel and Chem 7. That results in two telephone calls being made to the clinic. The nurse tells the phlebotomist that the patient can refuse the tests but that it’s been “years” since they’ve been done and I will have to come in and talk to my PA about it later.
I don’t know when the last Chem 7 test was done – if ever – but the lipid panel was done last year or the year before…soon enough to suit me.
I assume when the results are in, the clinic will call and want to schedule an appointment for me to talk to the PA but I don’t want to do that, either. It’s just because the hospital/clinic wants to raise their bottom line. They’ve lost a long-time doctor, a new, good doctor and at the rate they’re going, are going to lose a patient…maybe more.