Do you carry around your own test results for new docs?

[badatmath]

Seriously, ELI5 how do I doctor better?

I feel there have been a number of communication breakdowns with my new doctors office so in so far as I can how do I fix this?

(For today at least I cannot fire the doctor and he seemed nice enough - more of a staff issue).

 

[Jerry1]

I do share as much data as I can with my doctors. Thankfully, most of them are in the same medical system and therefor have access to all my tests. One Dr is not in the system and I have my results faxed to him. Another doctor is not in any system and I do take copies of my latest tests to my visit with him. In fact, I just did that today.

Being in the same system is key. If I had to go to another specialist, I would prefer it to be someone in the same system. However, I’ve come to understand that if they’re in different medical systems but those systems share the same medical record software (in my case EPIC), they can read information across systems.

 

[badatmath]

These are referrals not people I picked. I think they CAN get the information but they just . . . don't. But once I explain I had X test on y date at z location, can't they just verify it if they don't believe me?

New doctor is covering the bases I get that part - but it isn't like I'm going to start having the same MRI every week either.

As an example, during the appointment doc asked about ultrasound so I gave him the date and he told them to pull it. No problem. But the staff called me today and wanted something else I just had so I said get it from x file (it is actually the sam hospital record as the ultrasound) and they were like no. No chance to speak to the doc or anything. This will be the THIRD test for this problem as well - I think we know I don't have it by now.

 

[Car-Guy]

Yep, as often as I can. Recent blood tests or other recent test results. Why go through it again.

 

[badatmath]

Yep, as often as I can. Recent blood tests or other recent test results. Why go through it again.

Never crossed my mind they wouldn't look if they didn't believe me. (I am rarely sick so pardon if I sound confused).

So I need to get my printer working? I hardly print so am terminally out of ink when I need some.

 

[easysurfer]

Never crossed my mind they wouldn't look if they didn't believe me.

So I need to get my printer working? I hardly print so am terminally out of ink when I need some.

Is your records in pdf format? Maybe bring that along just in case.

I'm pretty sure through my online portal, I can download a pdf file with all my records.

 

[ivinsfan]

Does your clinic system have an online app such as mychart ? Check into that then you have your results on your cellphone...

 

[Jerry1]

Unfortunately, one thing you’re going to run into is the preference of doctors to have a current test. Also, they generally have a preference for tests done in their facilities. In one way that makes sense. They trust the results from their system. In another way, there can be a financial incentive to redo the test. I don’t think this is as prevalent as it used to be but I’m sure it’s still out there.

One thing is for sure. No one cares about your care more than you. Do your best to understand your condition and understand your test results. For example, maybe your condition is fluid enough that even a week old test is irrelevant. I’m sure the Dr I saw today will repeat some of my blood work from August 1st but I realize that some of the things we discussed mean that something could have change in the last couple weeks.

 

[badatmath]

They would be in mychart, yes. My test results are pretty terminally boring - very easy to point out the one off if there is one, and I do.

I agree that it makes sense for many tests to repeat. But the ultrasound he was willing to accept is much more likely to have changed then the test for something rare and I feel fairly confident he would have agreed, had the staff passed on the message, except the staff was not willing to ask. I really should have appreciated my cardiologist PA more because she is all over any phone messages generally and doesn't act like talking to me is a great inconvenience. Plus when I say I was in the ER can you pull the records - they do!

 

[badatmath]

So okay bring your own records - what else do I do?

 

[Bflotomny]

You may like the physician but he/she are part of the problem. It doesn't matter how the group is organized he/she has a role in their hiring-training-conduct-firing.. Unless this physician is the only one within a 2hour commute. Tell the doc and then vote with your feet and pocketbook.
What will happen when in a life threatening situation lose your chart or just tell you no

 

[badatmath]

You may like the physician but he/she are part of the problem. It doesn't matter how the group is organized he/she has a role in their hiring-training-conduct-firing.. Unless this physician is the only one within a 2hour commute. Tell the doc and then vote with your feet and pocketbook.
What will happen when in a life threatening situation lose your chart or just tell you no

They appear to have formed a corporation with like - all the kidney doctors within 200 miles. . . . are in this group. Really. It looks enormous. I was thinking I'd ask my primary care if the know other, and it is possible I will not need to keep this guy anyway, pending what they find. (Investigating this as a cause of another problem but results unknown).

In an unrelated move when I went to the lab the receptionist was wearing a mask and I could not understand and asked her to repeat her statement. She rolled her eyes and said not my fault you can't hear. . . Like really? How about just telling me again, or pulling down your mask or talking louder or . . . .

 

[latexman]

My data magically shows up in MyChart portal and my PA can slice and dice and graph the data as she sees fit (I can too). For example, assemble all BP readings chronologically from the first time I saw her (2010) to today in a graph.

 

[Montecfo]

I do carry things like recent tests and X-rays so they won't try to redo them. And to make sure they have a copy and reference it.

And I have a spiral notebook to take notes.

Sometimes I do a timeline of procedures or test to give doctor as complete a picture as possible.

Doctors in different networks will not have everything.

 

[Venturer]

In an unrelated move when I went to the lab the receptionist was wearing a mask and I could not understand and asked her to repeat her statement. She rolled her eyes and said not my fault you can't hear. . . Like really? How about just telling me again, or pulling down your mask or talking louder or . . . .

I wear hearing aids and during the pandemic it was really hard to understand people wearing masks. But if I had a receptionist talk to me like that she would have been on her little phone calling for her supervisor now!!! She was waaay out of line and has no business in her position. Grrrr I have no more use for people who look down on folks with disabilities no matter what they are, makes no differance why they have it you can bet they didn't ask for it but still have to live with it. Getting off my horse now and y'all carry on!

 

[OldShooter]

Epic is the tall dog in the health care software business, reported to manage slightly more than half of all US patient records. (https://www.epic.com/) With patients’ permission, Epic systems can share information among providers.

MyChart is the patient portal into Epic but it appears to be an option which a provider may or may not offer. IOW, if you have MyChart, your provider is running Epic.

Fortunately, the major providers in our area run Epic, as do the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland clinic. So we really don't have any need to worry about carrying our information to a specific provider. Once in a while we have to remind a new provider that our information is available that way and we may have to sign a new permission slip. IIRC the last permission I signed was a blanket, allowing my main provider to share with any other provider.

 

[target2019]

We're in a large health system where all test results are on mychart. There is a file I can download and give to other provider(s), but no need recently.

 

[Midpack]

Unfortunately, one thing you’re going to run into is the preference of doctors to have a current test. Also, they generally have a preference for tests done in their facilities. In one way that makes sense. They trust the results from their system. In another way, there can be a financial incentive to redo the test. I don’t think this is as prevalent as it used to be but I’m sure it’s still out there.

+1. Sometimes doctors will take prior tests, but I've had plenty who refused as well - with bloodwork and X-rays. When I ask can't we just use the test/x-ray I just had a couple weeks ago, they say no, we want our own tests...

 

[pacergal]

Most , if not all, medical facilities are on an EMR program (majority EPIC), as that was part of the ACA, I believe, in order to facilitate exactly this concern of sharing medical info with new providers.
In the past, when going to a new provider or referral Doc, I bring a paper that has date, place, procedure listed so the new provider can access it via the EPIC system.
It is very easy to download records, I did it hundreds of times at work. And if not able, simple to fax a signed consent to get records faxed back. Most places prioritize record requests from providers over consumers.

 

[badatmath]

Yeah I give them the dates on the phone when I make the appt. I guess they just don't bother. I mostly care they get the scans not the blood but they don't get ANY and they were done same day (hospital).

Some of these tests are pretty much one off - if I do not have a pheochromocytoma (adrenal tumor) on 8/1 I am not going to have it 8/9. Only like 2 people out of a million get this to begin with. I will find out this week if he pulled the ultrasound.

I really don't have it as they have checked 3 times LOL.

At least blood tests are cheap but . . . I think it is more the staff doesn't bother to get the info and the doctor doesn't know until I have gotten there so just gets his own. I have a new doc next week too so i will try to get some ink for the printer and take some docs.

 

[Affinity4Investing]

Absolutely, I keep as much of my own medical records as I possibly can -building historical spreadsheets/timelines, etc.



Some providers are really impressed and incorporate the info into 'treatment' and some disregard to varying degrees. The latter grouping I find to generally have ego issues or are incentivized to redo tests/procedures as they get a piece of those billables.


It is more than frustrating, the levels to which 'managed care' has trashed the medical professions as a whole, in my experience. Less CRT & DEI training, please. More face-to-face meeting times... Those days are gone.


My spouse is a physician.

 

[badatmath]

Absolutely, I keep as much of my own medical records as I possibly can -building historical spreadsheets/timelines, etc.



Some providers are really impressed and incorporate the info into 'treatment' and some disregard to varying degrees. The latter grouping I find to generally have ego issues or are incentivized to redo tests/procedures as they get a piece of those billables.


It is more than frustrating, the levels to which 'managed care' has trashed the medical professions as a whole, in my experience. Less CRT & DEI training, please. More face-to-face meeting times... Those days are gone.


My spouse is a physician.

The PA at one of the offices I go to kind of snickered at people who bring elaborate blood pressure charts and graphs and trend lines. I kind of thought being online they'd look at the things they wanted . . . and 99.5% of my test are "normal" so there is not a lot to see anyway.

 

[scrabbler1]

My urologist wants me to get a PSA test once a year. I don't get an actual script from him, but another doctor adds it to her list of tests in her script when I visit her. When I see the urologist, I bring a printout of the recent lab report so he can copy the relevant page for his records (and I don't have to get stabbed in the arm by his staff, another big benefit).

 

[brett]

No.

 

[Sarah S]

If you know your new doctor uses epic/ my chart and your records are in my chart you can share them through the portal. If the new one isn’t in the system you can still give them temporary access through your portal ( I have done the former but only have seen the latter offered)