1 /5 Jen: I travel within and out of the country for my husbands career. Despite having some chronic health issues, I have never had an issue with finding quality medical professionals until this incident.
My primary doctor referred me to a surgeon after telling me hes never seen shoulders so bad in his career.I Called, called and called to make an initial appointment, but they dont do the phone thing. Text was the only option & since no one responded to calls.I tried the text method & it still took 3 days to respond.
I explained my lengthy situation in this text with whoever finally responded. It couldve been a janitor, I dont know. Knowing how healthcare cares less about charging insurance companies I knew I would need an updated MRI prior to the appointment,suggesting that I do so to avoid more wasted time & due to my pain level being unbearable as I need bilateral shoulder surgeries.
I was told I would need to request an updated one from the doctor at my appointment. Are you kidding? My appointment was to request an MRI, I waited over a month to go to a surgeon to request an MRI. I drove 4 hours to get a referral for an MRI that they know, the doctors know, and the world knows he will request.
Then go another month and 1/2 getting approved & scheduling the MRI.
2 months between the 1st and 2nd visits. Mind you, Im struggling with daily tasks as simple as washing myself, eating, etc.
Sooo I go back to the surgeon once again. He tells me the same thing he did from my primary doctors MRI and notes. So now its time to schedule the 1st surgery.
The earliest is 2 months!!! I can bathe myself much less use my arms at all now I have to wait 2 more months, I just broke down crying. At this point, two more months would put me at almost 7-8 months from my original referral to a surgeon to surgery. Are you kidding me?
Oh, but wait....about a month after leaving someone calls me to tell me hey Dr. Soppe is going on vacation, so now my date of referral to surgery wouldve taken almost a year, and nobody thinks this is unacceptable. I know because I asked the scheduler. This is just normal trash care, and with everyone who saw my chart or exam dates, nobody thought well gosh we really provide sh%t care. I asked to get a referral to another doctor within the clinic. I asked for basically any other option. All I was repeatedly told was Im not sure he does that.
Who is seriously in charge of that dump of a hospital? I have truly amazing insurance! So obviously, this is just common practice to any and everyone.
I ended up calling another surgeon elsewhere who was able to get me in asap after telling them the situation, and they requested my info from Dr. Soppe. Dr. Soppe youve been a doctor way to long. Your bedside manner is worse than any doctor Ive ever seen. Youre truly a disgrace to your profession.
