trouble with referral letter from PCP

Goodmorning everyone, I have a concern about getting my letter from my PCP. She is for me having WLS, but I have requested a referral letter for the surgeon's office from her over a month ago. I've contacted the office and keep getting the response of " its on her desk in a stack and when she gets it done we will contact you" In the last two weeks I have had to go to the Dr and found out on Tuesday that every time I call or come in they pull my chart off of her desk to answer me or to see me in house and then it gets put back at the bottom of the stack. I don't want to be rude or anything, but I am really getting tired of this lazy response. Just not sure how I should proceed with this. The longer she takes the further out any possible surgery date will be. Very disappointed as of now Any suggestions would be appreciated as to how to go about dealing with this matter. Thanks, Anita

Draft a sample letter in Word and give it to her as an electronic file. That's what I'm going to do for my PCP. I see him Tuesday and will have the file on a CD for him (along with some new music - we share tunes a lot so this isn't necessarily a bribe). I'll leave blanks for dates ("Mr. Harbor has been a patient of mine since_____"). I'm sure you can find some samples around here. The delicate part is how to present it. I'm going to say that I know you're busy so here is a template that you can use if you want. Good Luck!

Harbor nice pic... I havent seen you on the board but I lurk alot... Tell all us single girls are you married? LOL and put some stuff on your profile so we can learn some stuff about ya!!! Good luck on your adventure... Debby (sorry about the hijack)

Responding to the short hijack... Deb: You're too kind. I promise to work on my profile. In the meantime, rest assured that I am 51 years old, married with a 14 year old son. I work for the government (Social Security) in security and integrity. My main background is in local area networks, though in another life I was a manager for the agency. My main love is music. I used to play out a bit - guitar and a smattering of devices and keyboards - and wrote quite a bit. I play less now. My favorite recent memory was a 2 day roadtrip a year ago following Radiohead from town to town with my son in tow. It was his first time standing in the pit to see a band he loves. It reinforced my respect for the power of sound. If fate permits I'll have WLS this spring. I want to see my boy build on all his dreams - something my father more or less missed with me. That's the skinny - so to speak. Thanks for asking! Harbor

Anita you can either draft your own take it to her to sign... Or GO TO THE OFFICE unannounced tell them your surgeon MUST HAVE that letter TODAy. You have been waiting for over a month and now you need it today and you are MORE THAN WILLING TO WAIT RIGHT THERE till the Doctor signs it... they really move fast when you do that, and your not being rude you are trying to save your life and if they dont understand that they are in the wrong business!!!! This is YOUR LIFE YOUR HEALTH and when doing that rude has nothing to do with it... NOW MARCH DOWN THERE GET THAT LETTER!!! Good luck keep us all up to date on whats going on!!! Debby

Or *I* can always write it!!!!

.Most doctors dont treat their patiences like that.I know when i talked to my doctor he was on the fax sending my paperwork within less then a week.Maybe you should make another appointment,and talk to your doctor,and explain how important it is that it be sent out.A referal letter does not take that long to write.Theres no reason for them to take this long.I feel so sorry for you! Hang in there... (HUGS)Chandra

Hey Anita- I have to agree with the others. I had the same problem with mine,they told me they'd have it done by the end of the day or next day and I got it a week or 2 later. Not as long as you, but just as nerve racking. I called there EVERY DAY until they got it done. I was anxious and wanted it done ASAP. If you dont mind telling, who is your pcp? I was going to Dr. Bedi and his FNP Anna, but I just switched to Dr. Schaffer and her PA Marsha Miners.

My insurance company gave me a letter "outline" that the doctor needed to fill out. So I made an appointment with my mom's pcp (I dont have one) took the letter and since I was paying for the appointment he filled it out while I was there. If you want a copy of the template I can send it to you it includes almost everything an insurance company could want! Good Luck! P.S. my psych gave me the run around like that too! I called everyday for like 3 weeks!

Yes Brooke a copy of that template would be very beneficial. As for you Lora I am a patient of Dr. Scheffer and she is a wonderful woman and I really enjoy having her as a Dr, but I really NEED this letter ASAP. I do not plan on switching docs or anything like that because she is very helpful in everything she does its just this referral letter business that I am having the problem with. Thank you to all who have responded to me I greatly appreciate it. Anita