Where you go for your medical tests makes a difference

I never realized how many test you have to go through before they decide if they will do any major surgery.  This last two weeks we have spent in Durham proving that I am healthy and still around. We still have at least three more visits for more tests.  We have spent more time at Duke Clinics and Durham Regional Hospital in the last three weeks than we ever imagined we would. 

So far I have learned several things from the experience. One of the first things I have learned is that hospitals have found a way to keep all their employees and visitors healthy – they make you walk at least a half mile to any place you need to go.  You’ll also need a GSP system to be able to find your way through all the corridors and floors. From overhead it must look like a maze and the hospital Gods are laughing all the time. 

I can just hear them now.  Look at that guy in open back hospital gown trying to cover up.  Look at that woman telling her husband to go this way.  Look at that patient standing there just looking at which way they should go. 

Another thing that I have learned is that it does make a difference where you go for testing and what test you are having.  For tests I have had at the hospital, so far, it has been more difficult to just get to the test area than it has at some of the clinics I have to go to for testing. 

Our first test was the usual blood test at Durham Regional Hospital.  At Durham you go into the main lobby door and they ask you to check in at the front desk.  The sign is funny.  It says something to the effect of please check in at the front desk.  It makes you think you are not in the right place; instead the front desk is immediately alongside the sign.  Why couldn’t they just say please check in here?

Once we checked into the front desk, they told us to go down to the second floor and check in at the registration desk,  when we were done at the registration they sent us to the test area desk to check in.  Our appointment was for 11 a.m., it was recommended for us to arrive a half hour early to take care of the paper work. They should have told us to be an hour and half early. 

When we checked in at the registration desk they had us wait for an intake person.  Then the fun started.  The lady who took care of us had awards on her wall for excellent customer service.  She deserved them just for what she has to go through.  I will never understand how she could keep a smile on her face. 

It all started because we are on Medicare and have a supplemental insurance plan.  We submitted the usual doctor’s form for blood test with all the types of tests and their code numbers for each test.   I had a total of seven tests.  The problem started because the people at Medicare use different codes than the ones on the form.

We were told that we could skip this part if we wanted to sign a paper saying we would pay for the test if Medicare and/or the insurance did not.  All I could think about was what do I pay thousands of dollars each year for if they are not covered.  Then I thought, wait a minute if I sign this form will they even try to figure out if Medicare will pay.  And finally, how big a pain in the neck it will be for me to get my money back after the fact.

So we waited for over any hour while the lady went all over the place trying to get the proper codes for each test.  While she was running all over the thought occurred to me, why don’t they have the Medicare codes in the computer?  I mean lets get real their billing department can send out notices a couple of days before we go to make sure we have out insurance cards and co-payment money, so adding a few numbers can’t be that big a deal.  But they didn’t have all of  that so we waited and she ran around.

Finally it was decided that she could find clearance for all but one test.  We agreed to pay several hundred dollars for that test if the insurance people would not and we were sent on our way.

The next step was to go to another waiting room where they boxed all the patients together and personnel from various areas would come to escort you to the various testing departments.  We waited for about an hour before we reminded the lady at the desk we were there.  Within minutes my name was called and we walked about twenty five feet to a room where they took the blood.  We were waiting because the nurse was working on a PC because it had crashed.  Doesn’t the hospital have tech people I asked, she said yes but they were busy.

These nurses or technicians are now called a phlebotomist (I just love the sound of that word), so even the hospitals are now politically correct. I don’t care what they are called I go through the same thing with most of them.  They ask which arm I would like to use.  I always say the right one and point to the spot where they can have close to a 100% success rate on the first try.

What I always seem to forget is that they want to do it the hard way.  They will look at both arms and say, that my left arm would be a far better place.  They say something like, “Your left arm looks so much better than your right.”  Then they try my left arm.  After at least two or three tries of sticking me and then moving the needle around to find my floating veins,  in at least that many places they will say, “let’s look at your right arm.” Most of the time that is one stick and then it is like hitting a gusher.

You can imagine how excited I was to learn we had to go through the same process anytime we had test at the hospital.

The next day we had to go to the Duke Health Center at North Duke Street, for an eco-cardiogram.  We arrived there at the appointed time. Checked in at the desk, showed my insurance cards and had to wait about ten minutes for the lady to come out and escort me to the testing area.  What a breeze, I wondered if they had a secret for such quick service.

I know one thing the next time my doctor tells me I have to have some test done I’ll ask if they can do them at the Cardiac unit.  I don’t care what test they are I just like the service. I know the doctor will think I am crazy, but I bet the doctor never had to go through the routine we did.