Comments on: The Hidden Costs of Your Doctor Visit http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/ Adventures in being sick, getting better, staying well, from the editors of Health.com Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:45:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Karen http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-328 Karen Tue, 08 Apr 2008 21:43:57 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-328 if you got 2 insurances like me why to doctors still charge the co pay some doctors office does and some don't why? if you got 2 insurances like me why to doctors still charge the co pay some doctors office does and some don’t why?

]]> By: Debbie, Birmingham, AL http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-329 Debbie, Birmingham, AL Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:41:10 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-329 UAB and The Kirkland Clinic in downtown Birmingham, AL are really wonderful in taking care of you. There is a parking fee but it is not high and yes they validate it to to make it even less. Also the longest I have ever waited for my doctor is 30 minutes. And if they can get me in early they do. Dr. Snyder is a terrific doctor. Who tries to take care of you. I know you pay co-pay but that is the insuranc. But I have also noticed that you pay more if you don't have insurance. Some how I think the insurance companies work their magic and get a better rate to pay. UAB and The Kirkland Clinic in downtown Birmingham, AL are really wonderful in taking care of you. There is a parking fee but it is not high and yes they validate it to to make it even less. Also the longest I have ever waited for my doctor is 30 minutes. And if they can get me in early they do. Dr. Snyder is a terrific doctor. Who tries to take care of you. I know you pay co-pay but that is the insuranc. But I have also noticed that you pay more if you don’t have insurance. Some how I think the insurance companies work their magic and get a better rate to pay.

]]> By: Theresa Bradley http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-330 Theresa Bradley Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:51:18 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-330 I really hate over booking doctors. I use the opportunity to let the receptionist know that I also have many degrees and my time is valuable and I will only wait 60 minutes. I will then leave a bill for the doctor to pay for my missed hours at work and not return. I have had a doctor call me and ask me if I was serious and I stated yes I was his office billed if I didnt cancel before 24 hours and I can only wait 60 minutes before I need to move on. It usually works they get the cranky people in faster. I really hate over booking doctors. I use the opportunity to let the receptionist know that I also have many degrees and my time is valuable and I will only wait 60 minutes. I will then leave a bill for the doctor to pay for my missed hours at work and not return. I have had a doctor call me and ask me if I was serious and I stated yes I was his office billed if I didnt cancel before 24 hours and I can only wait 60 minutes before I need to move on. It usually works they get the cranky people in faster.

]]> By: snowman http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-331 snowman Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:07:48 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-331 IN MY LOCAL HOSPITAL IF YOU ARE PATCIANT I GET A TOKEN FROM THR NURSE WHEN I LEAVE BUT IF YOU ARE A VISITOR YOU PAY FOR PARKING. MY OTHER IS THAT HOSPITAL DO NOT NEED TO ADVERTISE IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A HOSPITAL IN AN EMERGENCY YOU TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL AND IF YOU HAVE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OTHER REASONS YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL OF YOUR DOCTOR. IN MY LOCAL HOSPITAL IF YOU ARE PATCIANT I GET A TOKEN FROM THR NURSE WHEN I LEAVE BUT IF YOU ARE A VISITOR YOU PAY FOR PARKING. MY OTHER IS THAT HOSPITAL DO NOT NEED TO ADVERTISE IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A HOSPITAL IN AN EMERGENCY YOU TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL AND IF YOU HAVE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR OTHER REASONS YOU GO TO THE HOSPITAL OF YOUR DOCTOR.

]]> By: Garland Carr http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-332 Garland Carr Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:33:44 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-332 In about 25 years of visiting my primary doctor, it recently occured to me that he overbooks. Also, in the many years with this doctor, I have never visited his office without witnessing a pharmaceutical salesperson (usually a really good looking female) making her pitch. The doctor has time for her, but will not take my phone calls. This is one of several reasons I am searching for another primary doctor to care for my health needs In about 25 years of visiting my primary doctor, it recently occured to me that he overbooks. Also, in the many years with this doctor, I have never visited his office without witnessing a pharmaceutical salesperson (usually a really good looking female) making her pitch. The doctor has time for her, but will not take my phone calls. This is one of several reasons I am searching for another primary doctor to care for my health needs

]]> By: Garland Carr http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-333 Garland Carr Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:24:54 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-333 One reason I love Orlando Regional Healthcare System is in addition to outstanding care and service, your parking is complimentary when you use your 55 Plus card. A really great asset to healthcare systems and a convenience to the patient. I keep my 55 Plus card in a pocket on the sun visor. It is convenient to just press it against the window when approaching the attendant and he/she waves you on through. I love ORHS One reason I love Orlando Regional Healthcare System is in addition to outstanding care and service, your parking is complimentary when you use your 55 Plus card. A really great asset to healthcare systems and a convenience to the patient. I keep my 55 Plus card in a pocket on the sun visor. It is convenient to just press it against the window when approaching the attendant and he/she waves you on through. I love ORHS

]]> By: Jo http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-334 Jo Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:21:31 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-334 Also needed to be considered is the overbooking of appointments by doctors which often mean a much longer time away from work by the patients. Emergency patients cannot be prevented, but a call to the patient's cell phone that "the doctor is running very late" is a nice gesture. Also needed to be considered is the overbooking of appointments by doctors which often mean a much longer time away from work by the patients. Emergency patients cannot be prevented, but a call to the patient’s cell phone that “the doctor is running very late” is a nice gesture.

]]> By: lynn http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-335 lynn Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:11:49 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-335 Our local hospital goes a step further-free valet parking! I'll go there rather than another place because parking is a non-issue. Our local hospital goes a step further-free valet parking! I’ll go there rather than another place because parking is a non-issue.

]]> By: Leann Sherman http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-336 Leann Sherman Wed, 02 Apr 2008 17:06:12 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-336 Dr. Rifkin is right. Instead of hospitals spending millions of dollars each year promoting themselves, they ought to pay for parking. I'm pretty healthy, so I rarely go to doctors - and when I do, they're in small offices with parking lots. I thought hospitals were already validating parking tickets. Silly me. Dr. Rifkin is right. Instead of hospitals spending millions of dollars each year promoting themselves, they ought to pay for parking.

I’m pretty healthy, so I rarely go to doctors – and when I do, they’re in small offices with parking lots.
I thought hospitals were already validating parking tickets. Silly me.

]]> By: andrea useem http://pokedandprodded.health.com/2008/03/28/the-hidden-cost/#comment-337 andrea useem Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:50:48 +0000 http://localhost/wp/poked/?p=193#comment-337 Nice to see some business thinking going into this issue. Certainly this is what banks have done: gained a competitive edge by finally breaking out of "bank hours" and offering service early in the morning and in the evening when people don't have to take time off work just to make a deposit. So i think that's a great idea: combining a concern for patient's health with a hospital's self-interest in drawing customers. Nice to see some business thinking going into this issue. Certainly this is what banks have done: gained a competitive edge by finally breaking out of “bank hours” and offering service early in the morning and in the evening when people don’t have to take time off work just to make a deposit. So i think that’s a great idea: combining a concern for patient’s health with a hospital’s self-interest in drawing customers.

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