After being discharged from the ER, the phone number at the top of my discharge paperwork was that of my PCP at John Muir Health. I called to speak with an advice nurse for advice regarding my hand that was busted up by the airbags and to get a referral to an orthopedist and physical therapy. In the past, I have spoke with the advice nurse for a small scrape or sore throat, but I'm told after a severe AMV accident I do not meet the criteria and I am advised I will need to go back to the ER. Just one day prior, I called the same number and spoke with an advice nurse who was very helpful and I was connected to her within two minutes.
Her notes are as follows - Patient states he was in a MVA on Monday and was seen in the ER at that time. He had asked for a referral to a hand specialist for his injuries and rehab, but the ER did not give him one. He would like a referral to the office below, if possible." I heard nothing back, so as I am in severe pain I called back hoping to speak with another advice nurse to check on the status of the referrals.
It seems like lots of these medical facilities have ladies answering the phone who's goal is to prevent you from getting medical care. I expressed my displeasure asking to speak with a hire up representative and was cursed at, told again to go the ER. I had to fight with them on the phone for 45 minutes, only to be hung up on "for profanity". The last straw I guess was when I said "goddamn" and the woman on the phone reminded me she is religious.
Again, I was hung up on by the very phone number at the top of my ER discharge paperwork.
Not 5 minutes later, I receive a call from my PCP. She is very apologetic and helpful, but that does not in any way excuse the behavior of Tena C. Annalise G. Dr. Simi and the others I spoke with at the "centralized call center". These people have strong misintentions and their business practices need to be evaluated. read more
