Saturday, May 29, 2010

Insurance premiums at work

Dr. Grumpy: "This is Dr. Grumpy, returning a page."

Mr. Shakes: "Yeah, I see you for epilepsy, and I missed my medication this morning, and I just had a seizure."

Dr. Grumpy: "Okay, have you taken another dose?"

Mr. Shakes: "Yeah."

Dr. Grumpy: "Good. So are you doing okay now?"

Mr. Shakes: "Yeah, I'm fine. I feel good. I'm going to go over to ER after the game."

Dr. Grumpy: "Why? It sounds like you don't need to. Are you back to normal?"

Mr. Shakes: 'Absolutely. But I wanna go get checked out."

Dr. Grumpy: "Okay, but..."

Mr. Shakes: "I'M GOING TO ER, DAMN IT!"

(hangs up)

16 comments:

AlexDreamz said...

You KNOW he's gonna tell the ER doc that you sent him and tomorrow we're gonna be reading about some doofus neuro who sent this guy in when he didn't really need to be seen! lol

Are there ANY "normal" patients in your practice? :)

Anonymous said...

"After the game"?
Priorities...

Jules said...

Sounds like a Blackhawks fan

Mickey said...

I'm a little surprised that you argued against the ER visit. In my mind, most docs would favor CYA over doing something unnecessary.

Moose said...

Mickey, "defensive medicine" [aka CYA] is one of the things that drives medical rates through the roof.

I hope the guy sits in the ER for hours, although I'm sure he's the type to throw a tantrum when he hasn't been seen "quick enough."

And, though I don't have insurance anymore, I do like that most insurance plans these days will charge a bigger co-pay for people who go to the ER but aren't admitted. It's small but still a way to attempt to tax the people who go to the ER for every little thing.

Rothase said...

Good heavens! My husband was considering a tattoo reading "Do Not Take To ER" for when he has a seizure and I'm not around. What is the ER going to do? Say "well, Sir, you have epilepsy." Duh.

TiredRPh said...

"After the game"....priceless
He needs a lesson on what ER stands for EMERGENCY room. Not I'll go there whenever I damn well feel like it and it fits into my schedule

Anonymous said...

at least you got the heads up...

gabbiana said...

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Well, actually... I'm not working this weekend... so whatever.

Anonymous said...

On the bright side, don't you get to remind him that he just lost his drivers license for three months?

Hopalong Ginsberg

Sparky Barksdale said...

Another fine example of why "I hate people" is among the most commonly muttered expressions by ED nurses. Whaddya want me to do? See if you bit your tongue? Check your Dilantin level? Bring you a Sierra Mist and a meal tray? Bite my own tongue when you piss and moan about how long the wait is? Yes, it's going to be that last one isn't it, lovely Mr. Shakes.

Anonymous said...

post ictal vs. hypoglycemic vs. day off work tomorrow?

Rothase said...

@Sparky- and if Mr. Shakes can't tell on his own without you having to tell him that he bit his tongue, he has a whole separate set of issues.
How to tell if you just had a seizure:
You are on the ground and people are looking down at you with frightened expressions.
There's a knot on your head.
You feel all funky-out-of-it.
Your tongue hurts like hell and looks like hamburger.
Your spouse is chasing EMS away with a broom because someone called 911.

a.generic doc said...

I'm surprised he's going to the ER today.

I'd have expected him to wait a couple of days, not bother with seeing you in the office and then show up at the ER late in the evening for a checkup and a work excuse for a couple of days because he'd had a seizure.

ausduck said...

hey Dr G, you're *just* the Neuro doc, remember?

LOL

Why the heck even bother the doc with that call. Just bother the ER if your mind is made up. You don't need Dr G's 'permission'.
Geez, some ppl!

:)

Sandy in Pa said...

This is why ER nurses deserve a medal to me. No i am not a ER nurse gang, a RN but not ER. I would be like nurse jackie with this one!! When their are people who truely need to be seen.

 
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