AAAARRRGGGHHHH!!!

I'm sooo annoyed with my Primary Care Dr's office this morning! My first consult with bariatric dr. is on Mon. morning. I was at my PCP this past week and asked for my medical records. I wanted to pick them up so I could get important dates straight for my diet history. They said no problem--I signed the necessary papers and went on my way. Called them today-the lady said "Oh--they sent me your chart to copy and it's kinda thick. And my time is limited-and my copier is slow. When do you need them?" (okay-need them on same date I WROTE on the request that I needed them on....TODAY) She said in a really whiney voice "Ill have to spend my lunch hour doing it if you have to pick them up today." Do you suppose she thought I'd say "Well, heaven's forbid!! Just never you mind, I'll just tell my bariatric surgeon your printer was slow and you didn't start the job in time." ??? Then she announced they will CHARGE me for this service. They will CHARGE me for my own medical records. She also advised me there may be a fee for the letter of necessity my PCP wrote on my behalf (which I'm picking up today also.) Is this common?? I have no idea what the fee is---and I'm kinda worried about it now that I've inconvenienced the lady's lunch hour. Happy Camper (who isn't so happy right now!)

...and my computer seems to have an issues with the initials for Primary Care Physician--and keeps blurbing it out as ###. happy camper (who still isnt' very happy!)

I don't think it's unusual for them to charge for a copy of your records, but the letter of recommendation shouldn't have a fee.....ESP if you HAVE to have it to be referred to a Bariatric surgeon!!!! I hope you get everything you need in time!!! If they have had sufficient notice then it's not your problem she has to miss her lunch!!!

If you requested your entire chart, it does take time to scan/copy them. The fees are set by each state's gov't. Hang in there. Dr. Hart's office will work with you.

The thing is, I only (ha!) requested the past 5 years--which is what dr. Hart wants. She said she didn't have time (?) to go thru my chart and separate everything out-so she was going to have to copy the whole thing and let me separate it. I guess I just assumed it was in order and wouldn't be that tough. It just annoyed me because she originally told me when I signed the release that it wouldn't be a problem--then I find out on the day I'm supposed to get them that they've not started the job. I'm just not a very patient person, I guess--this whole process will probably teach me a few things in that area. (or drive me nuts ....???)ha! Thanks for letting me vent... Michelle

Michelle, It's there fault for not reading the WHOLE request and seeing when you needed it. It SHOULD inconvenience her if she had the request for more than a week. My surgeon had me fill out a request to my PCP and my PCP sent my medical file copies direct to the surgeon - I never touched them. And I was never charged for anything! You go girl - stand up for yourself! Good luck! Amanda

Okay--GOT my med records! She DID NOT charge me because she said I had originally asked them to forward the records directly to Dr. Hart--and it was her fault I was having to deal with the records myself. I thanked her for her help and left a happy camper again with medical records in hand! I'm so happy--got my records, got the info I needed to finish my weight loss chart--I'm READY for my visit on MON! Doesn't matter how many hurdles are left--I've made it thru ONE more. I'll take them on one at a time until I get this surgery scheduled!! Happy camper again... Michelle