I like using Oak Street Health as my HCP but I hate how they set up appts without checking

[Siwsan]

I had an appointment on Wednesday but I missed the call from them, Tuesday afternoon, saying it was canceled because my APN called in sick. They said for me to call and set up a new appointment.

When I called the first thing Wednesday morning I found out they'd already scheduled one without ever checking with me to see if I could make it. So I said it wasn't a good day OR time for me and scheduled a new one. And today I got a 'reminder card' for that appointment - the one they scheduled, not the one I did. I expect another card in the mail within the next day or so. If I don't get one I guess I'll VERIFY they changed it.

Is this a common practice at other medical practices? It just seems so utterly presumptive. This is a Medicare practice so I imagine there are a number of patients who rely on others to take them.

Or maybe I'm just getting grumpy in my old age.

[mopinko]

1. ugh. we have them here, and i need a new pcp. thx for the heads up.

my medigap has free home physicals w nurses. i dont care about the home part, but lordy, lordy am i just exhausted w mds.
need to schedule mine soon.

[Siwsan]

2. The practice itself in really nice

The waiting area is spacious and the personnel have always been absolutely wonderful. The lab is in-house which is so convenient. The waiting time is relatively minimal and they do take as much time as you need during your appointment.

My APN does listen to me and spends time getting to know me, personally, as well as physically. She knows I value quality over quantity, when it comes to my remaining years. I've told her my complete family medical history and how/why I feel the way I do. I have no doubt she respects how I feel.

Now, maybe all of their clinics and practitioners aren't as nice, but I'd recommend mine to anyone.

But I will let them know that I set my schedule.

[mopinko]

5. the clinic here is a result of a decade of work by the folks in this hood.

just down the street from me. i have mostly not thought of it, cuz their mission is to serve those in need, and that's not me.
when i had private ins, i figured it would be a benefit to them, but i'm on medicare now, so...

[Siwsan]

6. It's a medical practice devoted to the Medicare population as a whole

One of my former co-workers is now an insurance agent and she shares an office with other agents, right at the clinic. I met with her to choose my Medicare supplement right after I signed up with Oak Street.

I like seeing an APN instead of a MD or DO. I think there's a bit less ego involved. Her training is specifically in geriatric medicine.

[mopinko]

7. i love nurses.

and i'm so sick of md's. besides 20 yrs of trying to convince them that i'm not depressed, but suffering post-viral syndrome, they behaved very badly when 2020 wrecked my health.
anxiety that went through the roof when my locked down neighbors decided to pass the time by shooting m100s day and night. i went to war, as it was driving me, my animals, and every other sentient being w/in a 2 block radius insane. by the 4th, i'd won. but it was at a verrry high cost.
lost 30 lbs, and was a mess of nerves.
got shut out cuz i was 'acting crazy'. um ya think? i thought i was supposed to see my doc when that happens.

nurses now? hung the moon, imho. my 1 good interaction in all that was a np at the minute clinic.

[Siwsan]

8. I did, once upon a time, have a very good MD. My mom used her, too.

I credit her with helping us get answers about my dad. He had been misdiagnosed with MS (seriously, what 69 year old man develops MS??) when he actually had a brain tumor. She found us a GOOD neuro surgeon who made the correct diagnosis but it was too late. His last year was so traumatic.

My sister was lead down the garden path by her doctors, after her 3rd cancer diagnosis. She was basically poisoned to death. And it was an agonizing death. It was like she was being treated as a cash cow.

I was lied to by a physician who told me they thought I had a fungus infection in my lung when they actually thought it was cancer. What ever it was 'disappeared'. Huh?

My aunt was never told, by her doctor, that she'd had cancer. He and her boss thought it would be to hard for her to handle. In truth, she was one of the strongest women I've ever met. They she was put on HRT and the cancer came back with a vengeance.

My grandmother was put on HRT when she was in her 70's so she wouldn't develop a 'widow's hump'. That's really what her doctor said. She died of cancer.

So, yea, I have very little faith in doctors.

[Jirel]

3. Smack 'em until they cut it out!

I am an attorney who deals with medical offices and patient issues commonly. No, this is not standard practice. There are some offices (I’d say under 5%) trying to foist this nonsense on their patients. It usually happens in really huge institutions like major cancer centers or university-related systems of medical clinics. But even some smaller clinics have tried it. It’s all in the name of “efficiency,” which it definitely is NOT.

I’ll give you the same advice I give my clients (and which I followed myself for the brief period when one of my doctor’s offices tried it): say no. Even if that time and date is ok, say no and make them reschedule it to YOUR preference. In your case, call them and confirm, as well. When they discover the number of immediate and later constant reschedules they have to do, most clinics that try this go back to normal scheduling. I know mine did, within about 2 months of starting this dumb experiment.

You’re not old and cranky. You are not a number to be processed, but a living, breathing patient with specific human needs. Have no doubts, and make no apologies, when standing up for your own medical care. Taking care of YOU is their business; you aren’t there as an inconvenient but necessary resource for them to make money.

[Siwsan]

4. I could have made the appointment they set, but damn it, you are right. I am NOT just a number

Now, they never make me fell like that in any other way, save for appointments. And trust me, I am in charge of my medical care. I had a long chat with my APN about what I will and won't allow. And this was based on my personal experiences (some very bad) with medical care providers, and the experiences I've had with members of my family, some of which were almost criminal.

My goal is to live only as long as I can do so with comfort and without becoming a burden. Pain and dependency are not on my bucket list.

[Rebl2]

9. No I

have never had a doctor make appointments for me without checking with me first. In fact I am the one that usually calls to make an appointment. I did have my nephrologist office call me recently telling me it had been more than a year since they had seen me, and I set up an appointment. Kidneys checked out just fine!