My tests are scheduled.

What a process!!!! I got my insurance approval 3 weeks ago and have been trying to get my tests scheduled ever since. I need a PFT and Hematology consult. I work in a hospital. I know it doesn't take three weeks to SCHEDULE two appts. After much hounding, many phone calls and the help of a few wonderful people I finally have my tests scheduled. The beginning of this process was much smoother. My PFT is 2-15 and my Hem Consult is 2-28. Then all I have to do is complete the weekend seminar at MBS and have my final appt. with Dr.de la Torre. For anyone who had surgery through MBS - do you know if I schedule the weekend seminar after my tests or should I try to call and schedule now? I've left a message for MBS to call me but I won't hold my breath for a quick response! Anyway, I'm still greatful to finally have the tests scheduled!! yippeeeee

Dear Melissa, Im so sorry to hear that the staff STILL hasnt gotten their crap together there. Its really too bad that the scheduling staff isnt NEARLY as competent as the doctors. I have had 2 other people tell me they have had the same issues as I did and now you. In fact, 2 of us scheduled ALL of our own tests...except what was REQUIRED to do through them. I would call NOW about the seminar-because it could hold you up AGAIN...and IF you have to leave a message-lets just say for Amy, then what I did was say-Amy, this is Janet Corbett and I am calling regarding .........I have been unsucessful at reaching anybody ...can you help me with (request) and if not, can you please pass this information on to whomever can or Dr. de la Torre. I had to cll MBS 50 times and got roughly 3 calls back. I finally told Natalie about the front desk staff and the problems with them scheduling and then listened while she chewed.....it was AFTER my surgery that I filled out AND sent in the complaint regarding the rude and incompetent staff. I, like you, worked in a hospital for over 6 years-and would have been fired if I had ever treated people like that!!! I even said I would bring in my phone bill for them to review...outgoing AND incoming calls....ok-then the other thing is that the seminar was my last requirement-and instead of them notifying me of the upcoming seminars-I had just missed one while I was there on my last post op visit-and had to take ANOTHER trip up there 6 days before surgery...so I would do it now-they should be able to tell you a month or so out when the seminars are scheduled. Im sorry your having a hard time with them....but please dont hold your breath-just keep calling and they will get sick of you-I promise-thats what Sherr and I BOTH did-they knew our names just by the sounds of our voices....Good luck-hope it helped. Jan

Well, I'm sorry to see that someone else has had the same problems as me but I can't say that I'm surprised!!! Like you, I will file a complaint after my surgery. The only reason I got my tests scheduled now is because of a wonderful lady named ERMA at the PFT dept. at UMMC. I called her to see if maybe someone had scheduled my tests and forgot to notify me. Of course, they hadn't. Fortunately this peaked ERMA's curiosity and she made it her mission to find out why my tests hadn't been scheduled. She called MBS several times until she got ahold of a nurse named Carrie. Carrie had my tests scheduled the next day. My friend, Richelle, has had similiar problems. She called three times last week to have MBS fax a guideline for a psych eval to her DR. After her DR. called and still hadn't recieved it we went to MBS and picked up the eval ourselves. Of course the staff showed us one paper showing they "TRIED" to fax it but the line was busy. Heaven forbid they actually try again later!!! For every one person that is nice and efficient there is one person that is snotty and incompetent. And they are a "center of excellence??" Funny. I feel bad for the people who work there who do a good job because they are overshadowed by a few bad apples. Hopefully it will be over soon and I'll be on the downhill side of this uphill battle. Thanks for the support. I'll keep bugging them until I get what I need. They can add my name to the list of "favorite" patients. haha. Have a great weekend, Jan!! Melissa

I'm confident that we will be victorious in this battle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They have surely figured out by now that we are just blocks away and will show up at their doorstep to get things accomplished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to call Charlotte and make sure the letter from Dr. Stixrud came through again on Friday. Hang in there, sweetie!!