" You don't mention if the child had an appointment or was a walk in, a very large concern if the doctor is busy and you want your child seen TODAY. "

" Medic said,
"a very large concern if the doctor is busy".

Of course the doctors are going to be overbooked on days that they are actually in their offices. That is part of what happens when they think they are worth $200/hr. Between golfing and vacations, who has time to be a real doctor? "

" There are only two reasons doctor's offices tell people to go to the ER. The first reason is if there appears to be a genuine need and the second is if the doctor is unable to get the patient into the office and the person feels they need to be seen immediately.

Too often it seems a no win situation when it comes to being a doctor. People whine when doctor's spend only a minute or two with them in the office, they whine if they have to wait for 20 minutes because the doctor was spending some extra time with a person in the next room, they whine if it takes days to get into see the doctor, they whine if they get in that day but have to wait to be squeezed in. "

" So BigDaddy

$200 an hour, who would you rather see, a doctor who got C's in Med School, or, one who got A's, besides, Laura is always free to change Doctors. "

" Hello, I'm Dr Rotty.

Are you in the hospital?

I'm on-call tonight. I really have nothing to do with your case. I'm going to stick my head in, into your room, at about 7pm, for a 5 minute report on the outlook of your health.

That'll be $300 for my consultation, please.

Thank You, now sleep well. I'll be back tomorrow. "

" Unfortunately, with flu season and the recent H1N1 epidemic there are not enough pediatricians to go around. If parents feel their child's condition requires immediate attention and can not wait for a scheduled appointment... then the parent has the option to be seen in the ER...

Big Daddy, not sure it has anything to do with golfing, vacations, or money. Simply not enough doctors in a small community to handle the needs during flu season and a flu epidemic...

Sure wish there was time to golf! "

" The call was made Friday afternoon and they wanted the child seen that same day - really???? You think that is going to happen with all the flu visits going on around here? And Monday morning is swamped as everyone who has been sick all weekend tries to get their child in. Sounds as though your family members may be last minutes callers on a regular basis and the doctor's office can't always accomodate. I've had an appointment scheduled there for weeks, and had to sit and wait as they worked in the people who called at the last minute - it can't always be done. And I know this will start a hodge podge of comments - but if you think it's tough to get into the doctor now, just wait until we have government healthcare.....we will all be hitting the emergency room because the doctor's calendars are full - or they won't take us because the government is 6 months behind in paying their bills. Doctor's may make a good salary (which they deserve) but their staff need to be paid, they have overhead, and if our bills aren't paid their doors aren't open. "

" A couple of weeks ago I had an appt w a dermatologist. I pointed out 4 places on my body which needed attention, and she sprayed them with the Cold Can.
She then said she needed to take 3 biopsys.
I guess I had used up my 10 minutes, for she asked me to come back again for the biopsys. The slip I carried to the desk for the next appt carried the note:
"Minor procedure -- 10 min".
So I guess in dermatology -- at least for this one -- the standard appointment is 10 minutes.
Make lots of bucks that way -- 6 appts / hour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

" Cognitus, dermatologists are a whole different breed of doctor. Everytime I have ever been to one they don't even really talk to you, they ask you the problem and you tell them then they look at it and start talking to their nurse (in a language you can not understand) and don't even tell you what they think then problem is. I have been to a few different ones and they were all the same.

Aren't there any emergency clinics in the area? I would go to one of those before the emergency room. "

" At least when you see a Dr. in an office you have 1 bill (normally) when you go to the ER you may get bills from a DR. you don't even know if you have seen. A bill from the Dr. that read the x-ray, the Dr. that he consulted, and don't forget the $800.00 lab fees for the blood work. The emergency room Dr. the ER itself. By two weeks later you have a new bill coming everyday for a different Dr., procedure room or test. You actually have a "tech" work on you but you pay for someone with a higher degree. Who knows how many have been paid for the same thing more than once. It's ridiculous!!

And I called the same pediatric office this past Monday, the nurse called me back, I told her my child's symptoms (Mostly a severe sore throat) and left it up to them if they thought she needed to be seen. They did and she got in that afternoon (Monday) and it was crowded but it wasn't that long of a wait. So I have to wonder what the circumstances were with Laura's grandchild. Maybe the Grandchild's condition needed emergency care? Am I mistaken? doesn't Toledo have a Clinic there? Although I don't know if her grandchild lived in Toledo. "

" I have heard that the pediatricians dept at SBLHC is sending their patients to other places. I did hear of a family that had a few sick members, two of them children and they were sent down to occ medicine to be treated. I think that our dr's and hospital must just be overwhelmed. My son is feverish tonight so we will see in the morning what happens "

" Sorry for going a tad off subject, but....

Some of the problem is that kids are being sent back to school, way too soon.

The school rule is 24 hours before sending your child back to school. Doctors are now saying, because of the wide spread flu, parents should make sure their child/children are fever free for 48 hours before sending them back.

Parents are thinking their kid(s) are a-OK after clearing up for a day, then sending them back to school. Problem is, their kid(s) are not OK. The kid(s) ends up back at home, after infecting many many others at school.

So, folks, please make sure your child/children are "Fever Free For 48 Hours" before sending them back.

One bout of the flu was enough for us, we don't want to go through it again!

Thanks :-) "

" Thanks for the infomation Rotty, my daughter missed school for 2 weeks straight because I refused to send her back until I got the ok from her doctor. My kiddo had strep throat and then came down with the flu. ( poor thing) I told the school that I was not going to send her back until I knew she was no longer contagious because I didn't want her to get anyone else sick. The school was very understanding about it actually and the absences were excused. I know that doctors offices can "squeeze in paitents" sooner rather than later ( a day or two or five) depending on their symptoms. I had to go to the ER recently because I have asthma and got very sick, I called my doctors office and when I was asked my symptoms and told the receptionist that I felt like my lungs were going to come out of my ribs she told me to hold one minute, the nurse came on the phone and told me to go straight to the ER. Turned out I had bronchitis. I didn't want to go to the hosptial and take up the medical staff the paitent room and such from people probaly sicker than I was but I think doctors may just base sending people to the ER on the severity of their smyptoms. I felt really bad too because a nurse took me straight back and the waiting room was full of people. The nurse got me on oxygen and I had a couple of breathing treatments spent a few extra hours there so they could make sure I was indeed ok. This could have been what happend with this child too. Maybe the doctor felt a trip to the ER was needed. "

" Some parents/grands just want immediate so when go to ER you get immediate and a lot more expense. I ask when next available appointment Dr office which works. Even a Dr office call costs a lot but not compared to ER. "

" I have noticed a lot of people around here don't care how much the office visit costs, they aren't paying, the government is.
Everytime I go to the pharmacy or dr's office everyone around me is "public aid." "

" babygirl wrote on Nov 16, 2009 9:41 PM:
" I have noticed a lot of people around here don't care how much the office visit costs, they aren't paying, the government is.
Everytime I go to the pharmacy or dr's office everyone around me is "public aid." "

Only one problem with your statement babygirl. The government is not paying either. "

" I've had that problem! Seems as though the Dr.'s, are working with the hospital's & emergency rooms & getting a cut. Sorry, aren't they for emergency's. Dr.'s should start earning their pay, and start taking care of their "own" patients!! "

" Babygirl I have to respectfully disagree with your statement. Just because a person is on public aid does not mean they are totally insensitive to or about the cost of their health care. There is no shame in being on public aid and many people do not have a choice in that matter, for them it is a nessecity. Health care providers can refuse to accept the medicaid card and there are some services that medicaid will not pay for then the paitent has to pay up front for all expenses out of pocket. Medicaid also has co-pays for services for adults as well as co pays for prescription medications. Medicaid can also refuse a refill on any prescritption medication, they can also refuse a certain brand or type of medication. Medicaid works like any other insurance the only difference is you have to be at or below a certain level of the federal goverment's poverty level guidelines to qualify to get medicaid "

" babygirl wrote on Nov 16, 2009 9:41 PM:
" I have noticed a lot of people around here don't care how much the office visit costs, they aren't paying, the government is.
Everytime I go to the pharmacy or dr's office everyone around me is "public aid." "

Yeah babygirl. If you haven't noticed the economy went South and a lot of people have lost jobs. Factories all over have closed. Who knows, someday it could be you. Myself I am thankful my family is still working and not on Public Aid. But I am not going to belittle those that might have to ask for help right now. Yes, there may be some that take advantage but there are others whom actually need help. Oh and what you call public aid at the Doctors office some actually do pay a premium. Some people are called "The working Poor" they work their tails off but still can't afford private insurance. Maybe their employer doesn't provide. So don't be so judgmental. Their "public Aid" card looks just the same but they pay for their insurance. "

" Get used to long lines and waiting periods. What we have now will seem like nothing if/when Obamascare kicks in. Google Heather Sandstrom video and see what government healthcare is really like. "

" You're very welcome, devilishangel.

Thanks for your posts, especially the one at 12:29 AM - it's right on the money, please forgive the pun.

Good luck & be safe, to you & your family, my friend. "

" Rockin Rotty wrote on Nov 17, 2009 6:38 PM:

" You're very welcome, devilishangel.

Thanks for your posts, especially the one at 12:29 AM - it's right on the money, please forgive the pun.

Good luck & be safe, to you & your family, my friend. "

Thanks Rotty. Good luck & be safe to you and your family too my freind. "

" I absolutely agree that public aid isn't anything to be ashamed of and it is there to help people get back on their feet. It is not however designed to "live" off of. Too many illegitimate children are being born and people expect the government to keep paying! If someone can't afford to have a child and pay for health care, food, schooling, then they have no business bringing the child into the world and being a burden on the taxpayer! "

" babygirl wrote on Nov 18, 2009 7:17 AM:
" I absolutely agree that public aid isn't anything to be ashamed of and it is there to help people get back on their feet. It is not however designed to "live" off of. Too many illegitimate children are being born and people expect the government to keep paying! If someone can't afford to have a child and pay for health care, food, schooling, then they have no business bringing the child into the world and being a burden on the taxpayer! "

babygirl you truly are a babygirl aren't you? Yes, that would be the black and white of it but my dear, I'm afraid it isn't that simple. It would be great if it was as cut and dry as that but..unfortunately there are so many factors that cause people to seek help. If people were really smart enough to say "I can't afford children so I won't have any" things would be so much easier. But some people start out having a job and a home. Some said people lose their job and homes. Or just their jobs. Things change. Times change. Some people just don't have the intelligence to say I can't afford to start a family right now. They just live their life the only way they know how. It would be great if some of these people that were given public aid would also be given the opportunity to get an education along with it. "

" Slap63, it is that simple. If you can't afford to have a child, don't have one or give it up for adoption to someone who can take care of it. I hope our government wakes up and QUITS paying for these people who don't work to have kids and then live off of the food stamps, free health care, schooling, etc!!
It is an epidemic in this country and one of these days the money tree will dry up.
I know there are people who have unfortunate circumstances and I do have compassion for them. I have NO compassion for breeders who live off of the benefits their kids bring them!! "

" If you call the doctor's office on a Friday afternoon when there is a lot of flu going around, you cannot expect to get in. Mondays are also another of the busiest days because as parents know, kids always seem to get sick at night, or on the weekend. So, there are only a certain number of appointments in a day, and they are first come, first serve. So, the doctor's office WILL tell you, they will be happy to give you the next available appointment, or you can take them to the ER if you think they need to be seen before that. This is to protect them from liability, and to remind you that your only option to see a doctor "right now" is the ER. IF they did not tell a parent that they could go to the ER, and heaven forbid, something happened to that child, the parent would probably try to sue for not being able to get in. This is the country we live in, sadly, everyone thinks they need to sue. So, if you think your doctor's office has too many patients, you should try another one, and I bet you will see the same thing with the flu as bad as it is this year. Be thankful for the long hours those at SB Peds do put in. I bet you would be surprised if you knew how many hours they put in in a week. And, have you ever thought about their families???? "

" Only one person I think mentioned seeing a nurse. Carle Clinic has the
"24 hour nurse" which is a panel of nurses you can call any time re symptoms and find if you need to be seen.

I had a "condition" in which I lost considerable blood before I knew it.
I called the Carle Nurse and she told me to go to the ER at once (it was midnight).
I said OK; short drive to hospital.
She said NO!!! we don't know how much blood you've lost and fear you might
wink out on the way; call 911. {My wife was out of town.}
I did not really FEEL bad, so I locked the house and was leaning against the lamppost when the ambulance drove up.
At first I think they thought it was
a trick until I explained a Carle Nurse had told me to call because of blood loss. "