Dr Patel, though conscientious and thorough, works for Heartplace which has few openings in their schedule for testing and procedures. Heartplace staff, Nurse Practioner Tiffany, are poor communicators, staff do not pick up phone calls. Scheduling staff delays submitting essential paperwork, does not have openings but weeks after test or procedure is deemed necessary, to schedule for serious tests nor for follow up appointments with doctor.
July 1 saw cardiologist, Dr Patel with HeartPlace Mansfield for heart murmurs. Told me she found two heart murmurs, and abnormal results of cardiogram.
Said we needed echocardiogram and nuclear stress test to determine seriousness and intervention needed. Dr nor staff explained that we needed to call the scheduling department for first test.
July 9 was soonest could get on HeartPlace's schedule for first test, echocardiogram.
Then 4 weeks from news of abnormal cardiac results - to wait to be put in the schedule to get definitive test which determined severity and cause.
July 7-10 Insurance Supervisor called HeartPlace Bedford and Mansfield scheduling and was told preauthorization for nuclear stress test had not been submitted.
July 7-12 Scheduling initially gave me date of July 22 but then said, because the prior authorization had not been sent, moved it to July 28!
July 28 was soonest I could get nuclear stress test, because the staff member waited to complete preauthorization for 8 -10 days! Insurance approved it within 1 day of receiving authorization. 2 more weeks to find opening in HeartPlace schedule.
Aug 6, was soonest Dr Patel office could schedule an appointment to explain results of Nuclear Stress Test. But it was her Nurse Practioner, Tiffany, in 10-15 minutes, who was designated to verbally deliver that an angiogram was needed and possibly stents.
The 2 pages of test results we saw in the portal were charts and majority medical terms, not easily comprehended. They required explanation and a visual to follow.
She did not Indicate, in that short time, what in the results would lead a doctor to conclude that the results showed "high risk," and that an angiogram and possible stents would be necessary.
My husband, a medical professional, said she used term "angioplasty" and said to me "you do not have heart murmurs." Yet 2 heart murmurs were repeated on my chart in several places!
Later that day, we requested Dr Patel call to explain results. And we paid for another appointment, with Dr Patel, which could be scheduled in another 2 days.
Aug 8 Had videoconference with Dr Patel who explained what, in the test results, signified need for angiogram and possible stents. Told us the actual results what in 3 areas of results showed "serious, high risk" problems.
Aug 11 Called Insurance and they called Heartplace. Heartplace scheduling later called and said that no preauthorization had been sent, Lisa was working on it.
Insurance representative said that upon receiving it, they will expedite approval for the procedure.
August 12, fifteen days after nuclear stress test (July 28) which showed "serious, high risk" heart problems;
And 6 days after Aug 6, being told of need for angiogram am again
WAITING for Heartplace scheduler to get preauthorization sent in - so can have intervention for high risk problems. read more
