ACL Update: Pure Frustration
(Last Updated On: February 24, 2009)
Today I had a meeting with Dr. Beim that really led to just more frustration. I had to wait over an hour just to see her- but she did make a special appointment for me in between surgeries, so I guess I have to expect that things will happen. Anyway, she took a look at my MRI, confirmed my ACL was gone and that I likely don’t have meniscus damage. She started going through the surgery options and techniques with me in huge detail. And I actually really liked that. I like knowing what’s going to happen and why. She went over the options (and downfalls) of what to do should she get in there and see a torn meniscus or cartilage…. explaining recovery with cartilage especially can be a real pain in the butt. She doesn’t think I’ll have these issues, but she wanted to warn me.
So, what’s the frustrating part? Well, she sat down and started asking me if the surgery scheduler had called me yet. I said, “No, and that’s been kind of frustrating.” I explained to her that I called on Thursday (which I was told to do after our appointment last Tuesday- to call if I hadn’t heard anything in a couple of days). That the people hadn’t even started the paperwork on getting surgery started for me yet. The receptionist told me Thursday that someone should call me Monday. Well, by 3:15 on Monday I hadn’t heard anything, so I called. “Oh, the scheduler is busy right now, but she’ll call you back later today.” Well, no call happened. I figured, “Well, that’s okay because I have an appointment with Dr. Beim Tuesday (today) so everything should be all set after that.” Anyway, Dr. Beim went to go check on things and came back with, “Well, they were waiting for approval from your insurance company (to have the surgery) and so that’s what was taking awhile. The scheduler is busy today, but she should call you tomorrow.”
I was so surprised… so caught off-guard… and so pissed I didn’t say anything. I was getting the run around AGAIN. I had called my insurance company. NO AUTHORIZATION WAS REQUIRED. I was told that multiple times by my insurance company. What have these people at this clinic been doing? What does it take to get a freaking surgery date? I saw her first LAST TUESDAY…. 8 days ago. And I still don’t have a surgery date. C’mon people!
When I got home and GB and friends saw me bawling my eyes out in frustration, calls were made. These people know that if they don’t call me back tomorrow, they’ve lost my business. I’ve already begun calling doctors on the Front Range.
Right now, I’m not really impressed with Dr. Beim’s staff. I probably won’t even bother recommending her to any one else. This has got me thinking that maybe I should just take my business elsewhere. Maybe I should go back to Dr. Sterrett at Steadman/Hawkins– he did the surgery on my right knee 12 years ago and it’s holding up great.
Anyone else have issues like this before? Ugh. So frustrating!!!!!
Brittany Walker Konsella
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