I was originally going to write a blog entry about me giving Chase a haircut and how interesting it was but I spent the morning fighting with the Womack pediatric department over Jorden's meds and I just have to vent.
For those that don't know, Jorden takes Concerta once a day. I can only get a 90 day supply of the stuff at a time. So every 3 months, a doctor has to see her in order to refill the prescription. This is what always happens:
When Jorden's meds get low to where she has about a 2-3 week supply left, I call for an appointment because they won't even think to schedule her earlier than that. It would be logical for me to schedule the appointment 3 months out but hey, that would make sense so of course they won't do it! The appointment I do usually get is a month out so I still have to leave a message with a doctor that she will need a small refill called in so she can make it to the appointment. Then I was told today that the doctor won't refill the meds until he sees her. Then it is "suggested" to me that I cancel the appointment I have and call starting at 7am the next day to get a same day appointment. I explain that my child is in school and in no way am I going to keep her home every day in the event that maybe I'll get the appointment. So then naturally we're back to the discussion about getting her a small refill. The nurse asks me which doctor I want to leave a message for and I say, "I don't know, pick one!" because poor Jorden has been shuffled from doctor to doctor since we've been here (she's seen about 10 different doctors in 3 years). It's impossible to see the same doctor every time because they're always leaving. So I left a message with two different doctors and I'm hoping at least one of them will get back to me.
I know some people reading this would say, "Just take her off post." but as us military folk know, lovely Tricare makes that almost impossible. First you have to jump through flaming hoops, then you have to walk on hot coals, and after you survive that, you have to kneel down and kiss almighty Tricare's feet.
And let's not forget how the system screwed me over. My cancer diagnosis was delayed 6 months because the doctor was so concerned about Army protocol that he didn't ask me for a proper history, just gave me antibiotics, and sent me on my way. Also, this isn't the first time Jorden got screwed. The kids were originally being seen at Clark Health Clinic but the doctor there was so horrible that she was just going to pump her full of meds before we went over any options. Then at Chase's 12 month WBC, she was going over the developmental checklist and looks at Chase and says, "Wow, he's walking on his own." I reply, "What do you think he's been doing the past 20 minutes!"
*sigh* I'm tired and my head hurts from beating it against a wall. I'll wait one more day and if I don't have Jorden's refill, it's going to get very ugly here at Ft. Bragg.
The FIT Challenge
15 years ago
3 comments:
I hear you. I so hear you. Adam had RSV for 2 months and we were giving him allergy meds. And it was so hard to get him in that when I realized the allergy meds weren't working I still had to wait a month to get him in. There's always the ER, but if they see him and decide it's not enough of an emergency you have to pay. So I avoid the ER, but that's just not fair to the poor kids.
Lovely Army health care system.
Hey. I had serious issues with Sean. I finally got tired of it all and filled out one of those ICE evaluations online. Within thirty minutes of sending it (I am not kidding), I received a phone call from Sean's pulmonary specialist. Cough is now gone. Those evaluations are a Godsend. Try them.
Amazingly enough, I can SO relate to this post. Crazy, huh? We have the same issues here...but at least you can get through to get a "routine" appointment. It took me the better part of 6 months to get an appointment to have my leg looked at. Every time I'd call they'd tell me there were no more appointments available, and to call back in a few days when they'd open the books again. But when I'd call in a few days, they'd inform me that all appointments were taken. How could that be, I would ask, explaining about my call a few days earlier. They would tell me that so many people had called that day they decided to open the books early. Meaning I got screwed again. Finally, I needed to get a referral for my annual slammamam, so I went online to try and get an appointment that way. I went thru every option till something opened in 3 weeks...the option I had to use? "Diabetic followup". Seriously. NOTHING else was available. And when I was there, getting my referral, I brought up about 5 other health concerns. The doctor was a bit put out, but when I told him that I just can't get through, he agreed to spend the time needed.
People (civilians) are always saying how "lucky" we are to have "free" healthcare. First off, it is NOT free, our spouses have it taken from their paychecks. And at least with an HMO you have a few options. Tricare can bite my big old booty.
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