Momdate: In Dr. God We No Longer Trust

Happens every time. Progress appears to be moving at slightly more than a snails pace when like a brick wall to the face you are hit by the sudden intense realization that your first instincts were right the man is a moron.

If you were present for the most recent episode of my mother's journey through what we laughingly call a health care system. dr. god had descended from on high and after nearly a year of providing my mothers cancer treatment he felt she was worthy of his full attention. No phone calls, no dictation, no nurse sitting on his lap you get the picture. He discussed her treatment, how well she was doing and the possibility of alternative pain management. He even refered her back to her bone doctor who also specializes in severe pain control.

Now it wasn't that I believed the leopard had changed his spots. Maybe moved a few around. Most importantly he seemed to actually be taking an interest in my mom and her health issues.

SURE.

Fast forward to last week. Mom and sister returned from Italy on Tuesday. Instead of heading for Bullhead and home on Wed. mom hung around for her pain management appointment on Friday.

She arrived for her appointment and so did the bone doctor with a rather puzzled air about him. They have a good doctor/patient relationship so for a few moments it was catching up time. He asked about her trip to Italy inquired as to how she was feeling than with politeness taken care of he got down to brass tacks and asked her what she was their to see him for.

Now it was moms turn to appear puzzled. She told him that dr. god had refered her to him for pain treatment.

Now the doctor was not only puzzled but frustrated. He asked and found that my mom had no records with her. dr. god had told her he would take care of everything.

Wrong.

No phone call or message informing the doctor of his referal. No records forwarded, nothing. The doctor was beside himself. I cannot even know if you qualify for the treatment without a bone scan and xrays. Mom informed him she just completed a bone scan and the records were at the hospital across the street. Doc had someone call and no one at the hospital would pull the records. So doc called himself and argued for twenty minutes but it was no good. Seems that Friday at four in the afternoon is not a good time in the records room at the hospital. What with the weekend starting and all who has the time to deal with something as bothersome as their job.

Hanging up in frustration he proceeded to contact dr. gods office for the records. Same problem to close to the weekend so no one could be bothered.

Doc did his best took some xrays but because the pain treatment involves needles in the spine his hands are tied without the scan. One wrong needle and moms in a wheelchair.

So bottomline is that dr. god still does not care. Mom has to drive back up from Bullhead in a week for another round of Wheel of Treatment.