9 replies to this topic

[dede5]

I have a great hem/onc who brought me back from a very dark place and has taken very good care of me. However, I'm trying to decide whether to switch because of his staff. His nurse and his practitioner are both scatter brained and have dropped the ball more than once. I ask very little of them, and know I should be more demanding, but they have even acted annoyed if I question them on anything. I've had to return to have more blood drawn when she didn't draw enough (it's been the routine for 4 years so you'd think she'd know). I don't expect her to remember my specific situation but I'm pretty sure it's in the order. As I write this, I'm frustrated because she isn't returning my phone calls, and this isn't the first time. I've never seen a nurse so incompetent and disinterested. I could go on for days, but hope you get the gist. Should I consider it more important that the doc is so good, or change because of incompetent staff. What would you do?

[Billie Murawski]

Hi dede,

It's so important to trust your doctor why don't you tell him what's going on? The cancer center I go to has a few dingbats they have looked me in the eye and lied to me about a couple things they told me. I really like my Onc so I haven't said anything to him but if they really screw up I will tell him. In your case you should speak up as we all say (They are working for you) and then get an attitude of your own.                         good luck Billie

[dede5]

Thank you, Billie. That's what I was thinking, too. It just gets so frustrating, sometimes. I really appreciate the support 

[mikefromillinois]

I had a similar situation with my primary doctor - liked him a lot but was constantly annoyed by his staff.  Sent him an anonymous letter - envelope marked "Personal and Confidential".  Told him I liked him a lot but was really considering changing docs because of the staff issues.  I gave a few examples.  A year later the staffers were still there, behaving the same.  I moved on.  In my area I have about a million docs to choose from.  Doesn't make sense to suffer with incompetence (or rudeness, for that matter).  We deserve better - and WE are the ones paying THEM.

 

Mike

[badgermom]

Hi Dede

 

We have had similar issues.   I think cancer centers need to be staffed with the most caring nurses available.  Our son had a major reaction to a chemo drug because the nurse did not give him the right pre-medications.  

 

Just know that as you change doctors you are going to need to communicate really well with the new doctor.  We have switched oncologist 3 times do to relocating to a different state and then our son going back to college.  I really wish we could have stayed with our initial doctor who got us through the induction hospital stay.  I feel like he is the only one that really got to know our son and when we have any concerns he knew that we our son must be very concerned because he never complains.  I don't think the other doctors ever got to know him.  Good luck to you in your treatments

[Yougotafriend]

My hospital sent out a survey and I filled it out and gave my nurse low marks.
Since then she seems to be more friendlier and responsive to me. Maybe there's an departmentt at your hospital that takes complaints. You never know it may help

[Gail's]

I am a nurse, and I really appreciate it when a patient or my drs let me know if I could improve. I also work in a management role and have had to help with patients who are upset at their care. I want to know about their difficulties since health care is very much about caring. I am rarely surprised if a pt tells me this specific nurse, dr, secretary did this bad thing. The troublesome employees are usually known to others they work with.

Please bring this up to the dr or better yet, to the practice manager. Labor laws require a lot of evidence of bad practices with subsequent remediation attempts. I can talk to the bad apples till I'm blue in the face, but it the patient, AKA customer, speaks up, it carries much more weight and requires investigation. It's hard for a pt to have to speak up, but is well worth the effort. Even the drs have to receive counsel and help if enough patients or other staff complain. Try this so you possibly don't have to give up a good doc.

[Kittywatkins]

Omg! Is this happening everywhere? Same with me! One nurse put me on the scale and she thought I was too heavy for the scale. I was already feeling really low that day trying to lower my dosage. I told her to be careful how she speaks to people and that the scale is converted to kilograms. She apologized but didn't know how to read it so she left me hanging thinking I weighed at over 200! Dr came in I was balling my eyes out and she re weighed me. But that was not the point. That was only one mistake out of several discrepancies. Ugh! I'm also a nurse and I thought I was just being a little too hard, but I realize most of her staff are overwhelmed. No excuses though.

[dede5]

Thank you all for your input. I, too, have worked in health care, and I know only too well what it's like to be overworked and understaffed. It's been awhile so I guess I had forgotten that aspect. I think my most recent issue is being resolved so I'll just sit tight for awhile. I wouldn't wish these things on anyone, but it is a bit comforting to know you're not alone.

[gerry]

Hi MaryB

Try one of the other doctors. The local GPs office I attend has around 6 doctors, I've put them in order of preference (in my head) of who I want to see. If it is simple and I can't see who i want, i will see one of the others.