Going to the doctor in 2022.

With all of the follow-up necessary, I don't see any of our Moms (or parents) with cognitive decline managing the full experience of going to the doctor themselves, do you?

I have always had a Nurse in the exam room when going to a GYN. Recently with my PCP it was a doctors assistant. Both are to protect the dr from a harassment suit. A non-medical person I would not want in my exam room.

I would not be happy to have a person beyond the doctor in the room during an exam.

SendHelp, thanks for sharing insights on nonmedical personnel in an exam room.  I haven't been to any medical facilities since my father died, so I was unaware of this.   It may also be a California specific event so far.  But I ntend to ask when I try to get all medical issues resolved before the next pandemic surge which I anticipate to be in the fall or later.

One issue I'll raise is to confirm that the note taker has been advised that HIPAA compliance is mandatory.  (I might even ask for a copy of the notes, stating that I plan to move later in the year and need to compile charts for the next group of practitioners.)

I'm not going to comment on the mistakes I've in hospital records though. I can't imagine how disastrous this could be if the notetaker has no medical training.

Just thought of something though; our ophthalmologist always made medical comments if not dictated them while he performed exams.   There was always a medical person in the room at those times.   But his staff was highly trained, and outstanding in my opinion.   I doubt he'd ever dictate complex medical issues and terms to a nonmedical person.

My apologies, Sendhelp! Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I switched your post to a discussion since it struck me as more of a thought-provoking statement on current policies and procedures for doctor's appointments than a request for answers. You're correct that the reply feature does not apply to discussions.

For reference, questions/discussions are reviewed separately from answers/comments/replies. To complicate things further, I can't differentiate replies from answers in our moderating tool, so cleaning up forum activity inadvertently results in more confusion at times!

I've restored the question status of your post and the missing replies. Hope this helps.

Feb. 23, 2022
@ AgingCare
In RE: My question about "Going to the doctor in 2022

When my question was transferred from 'Questions' to 'Discussions', it caused the chronological order of 'reply' to change, and no longer make sense. There is no 'reply' available in discussions.

I will return to what was taught in elementary schools, which was:
Always address your correspondence to someone.
Always write the question in your answers.
Always put the date on your correspondence.

Feb. 23, 2022 10:38a.m.
Reply @ BarbBrooklyn
In RE: Interesting about the B/P thing.

Thank you Barb.
Once again, that is how it should work, they re-take the high blood pressure reading. The doctor retakes the reading. They did this especially in the cardiologist's office, it was required by the doctor where I worked.

I am reassured that someone is getting good care out there.

And that is how it has worked for me in the past. But not anymore, not for years now. The delivery of routine medical procedures has changed, and not for the better, imo.

Changed from a medically qualified note taker in the exam room to a computer tech and his computer in the exam room, a person without a medical background.

Interesting about the BP thing, Send.

My doc's nurse takes my BP. When my doc comes in, he takes it again. And then takes it again at the end of the visit. He satisfies himself that my BP is within range at least once. No idea what goes into the record. But he's never recommended meds.

The Rx is at the right pharmacy now, ready to be picked up.

Thanks Barb. Your definition fits me, because I won't take high blood pressure meds. The high systolic reading (154), indicates anxiety and pain upon first arriving at the doctor's office. It is called maybe white coat syndrome, and it is much lower after sitting awhile (117). Usually 117/72.

BTW, the b/p cuff had to remain tight until my hand turned blue to get that high of a reading!

So, yes, I am also non-compliant.

So, to me, 154/60 is not a high blood pressure reading. Just give me 5 minutes to lower it! One nurse became surly and agitated after the second reading, and refused to write it on the medical record.

Send, I'm sorry for these frustrations. I don't think you're the one being difficult.

I got over long ago fearing being labeled a "difficult" patient. To most docs, the difficult patient is the non-compliant one, not the one who asks clarifying questions.

Send, I was medically qualified, not a computer tech. I have several semesters of anatomy, 2 semesters of medical laboratory technology, 3 semesters of pharmacology. I have a BS in Medical Technology. I worked my way thru a MS degree and a PhD in Clinical Psychology as a full time Cardiology Transcriptionist for a transplant surgeon. I was/am fully trained and certified in CPR and other hospital procedures.

After reaching the Urgent Care Center again, and then again, they did send the Rx to a pharmacy (but to one that I have never used). This required the intervention of the current physician, trusting my word-because there was no record of last night's prescription. Patient required to make many phone calls.

I have had to track down prescriptions before, but at least they were in the medical record. Whether it was the PA, or the scribe's error, is an unknown.

I just now called Urgent Care back to ask that they transfer the prescription to my pharmacy on file. They were cooperative. This action could have been accomplished by calling my pharmacy to call the wrong pharmacy and transfer the Rx. But I want the medical record to be accurate.

I get the need for a scribe or transcriptionist to assist the doctor. A doctor once offered me a job involving that, but I was a certified medical assistant graduate. The new scribes are computer techs without medical qualifications to be in an exam room-that was my question, my point.

I don't like the system-it is worse than before. Imagine my distress being in an exam room with a male PA, a male computer genius, and a feminine issue.
They were never going to do an exam, (did not offer either), but then I was never going to have an exam by a male PA resembling Jimmy Buffet in orange tennis shoes without laces or socks, Calypso Poet Shortage in the exam room....Lol. My dH said to ignore that part. Of course I would never say that to them.

Thanks Becky and Barb for offering up that good info.

The elusive Rx. is still out there, somewhere!

I am left feeling like a difficult patient, and that they would like to not hear from me anymore. I tried to be kind and patient on the phone.

It is true that I am difficult, and too old now. I think I understand why those senior grandparents and Moms do not comply with going to a doctor, or following up on their advice.

I am staying home, building my better mood and courage before going out again.

Thank you for being there for me today!

Send, my sympathies.

Transcriptionists allow the doc to interact with you and not stare and her/his computer screen.

I always confirm with out Urgent care AND our reg doc's receptionist (the front desk/check out people) that the script has been sent to to correct pharmacy. Because there have been times where it has gone astray.

Was the urgent care center not quick to re-send to your preferred pharmacy?

Becoming more common in many offices and hospitals. I worked full time for many years as a medical transcriber. The last three years I worked directly in exam and procedure rooms with a cardiologist. Same standards for privacy and following all HIPPA rules along with rules of the individual physicians and facilities. The prescription snafu is probably the doctors error not the transcriptionist. In some facilities the person is referred to as a trailer. Doing notes this way frees up doctors time and is more cost efficient. My doctor at the NH comes with his transcriptionist.

A bigger issue than medications, it is the status of receiving better medical care, less frustrating medical treatment, and a return to respect and privacy at the doctor's office.

BTW, there was no exam to discover the true diagnosis. But they sent in a urinalysis for culture which may or may not yield a diagnosis days from now.

I think patients are on their own now, and at times better off staying home with Dr. Internet. BTW, a self-exam disclosed the diagnostic evidence of a yeast infection causing the burning. Looks like 'cottage cheese, white'.

Angry.