May 2021 by Elizabeth M.
I liked Dr. G. with my first and only visit so much that I was willing to drive some distance to see her. However, today I had an issue that I think was created by poor communication between Dr. G and her office staff. I had labs ordered prior to the pandemic. I really wanted to get my labs done, but there was significant hesitancy on my part due to the pandemic. I am a nurse who works from home. I took the precautions very seriously. I did not get the labs because I did not think the benefits outweighed the risks during the pandemic. I am finally vaccinated and decided to go on the day I had carved out for an office visit with Dr. G. I called Dr. G.'s office to cancel the appointment, so I could get the labs first. I had cancelled a couple of appointments during the pandemic because though I felt I needed to be seen, I just could not justify going to the doctor's office without being vaccinated. Today, I was cancelling because I wanted to get the lab work first and am now vaccinated. I have not been feeling well and want to see if the labs could offer some explanation. It made sense to me to get the labs first. When cancelling and making my appointment, I specifically asked the office staff about the labs still being active/good. As a nurse, which I am, I thought after a year, lab orders typically expire. The office staff said the labs were still in the computer and were still good. I was skeptical but when I inquired further, the office staff member said that I could go to any Tri Health Lab and the lab orders were still active. Foolishly, I went. The labs were actually expired. It resulted in a hassle for the outpatient lab and it was embarrassing to me. The doctor was called and she asked to talk to me. The entire waiting area and staff at the outpatient lab heard a lecture from Dr. G about how I had cancelled my appointment and declined to reschedule my appointment. Which was inaccurate. I pointed out to Dr. G. that I had explained to the office staff that I would need to call back to reschedule-I have a very complicated heavy, national call schedule with hospitals, and that is what I told the office staff. I had NOT declined. I did not get the chance to explain that I had not wanted to go into her office nor get labs unvaccinated during a pandemic, I did not get the chance to say that the entire group of staff and people waiting for labs could hear her lecture me, which actually seemed like a HIPPA violation, and as a nurse, I did not like that someone was insinuating that I was irresponsible with my health when I had been so responsible to avoid every unneeded appointment and outing during the pandemic in order to protect my health and the health of my family. I AM A NURSE. Dr. G ended the conversation by saying that I should follow up with her. Well, I did get the labs, but found out that they should have been fasting, and I had eaten. So, how reliable are these results going to be? I can only wonder if the office staff had talked to Dr. G. about the labs when I originally inquired about them, perhaps she would have reordered them AND I would have received appropriate guidance about fasting-I am a maternity nurse-it did not occur to me until later that they were supposed to be fasting labs. Anyway, it was a waste of my time and money in the long run. Now, I am hesitant to follow up with Dr. G. not because of the pandemic, but because of how this whole situation went down AND the labs are worthless. It was a typical medical experience that I heard so many of my patients complain about in the past, unfortunately! Not sure how this will play out, ultimately. I may have to find a new provider and not sure the insurance company will allow me to redo the botched lab work :(
