Active Duty military member referred to Dr. Smith by TRICARE Health Net based on Naval Medical Center San Diego's inability to get me in for a pain management procedure which I needed in February. Since NMCSD had no availability, TRICARE Health Net obliged, and authorized a referral to be seen in the civilian sector.
Timeline of events:
3 March - Referral authorized (after some back and forth with Health Net). Approved to be seen by Dr. Smith
10 March - No call yet to be scheduled after one week of approved referral
10 March - I call Dr. Smith's office to try to be scheduled. Remember, wait-time is what had me referred out in town to begin with. His receptionist informs me they need records from my referring doctor. I call my doctor. As I'm on the phone with my referring doctor to request the required records be sent, Dr. Smith's office leaves me a voicemail stating they had just received all required records a few moments earlier. The next step is for Dr. Smith to review my case for suitability to be treated at his practice, as not all cases can be treated (reasonable).
17 March - STILL no call to be scheduled after having confirmed one week prior that the office received my records. The receptionist informs me at this point that it takes a week, sometimes up to two weeks, for Dr. Smith to review the record for suitability of treatment. She further informs me to call back on 19 March if I did not hear from them. I don't, and give them more time.
25 March - 15 days have elapsed since Dr. Smith's office confirmed they have all required records in my case. STILL no call to be scheduled. I call Dr. Smith's office inquiring, quite upset, about the offices' lack of scheduling me thus far - 15 after I know they have everything they need. The first receptionist essentially tells me I have to continue to wait as "Dr. Smith reviews every-single-patient's case individually". (I would hope that is the case...?). After venting my frustrations with her, she passes me on to her manager - the very one I spoke to on 17 March. The manager proceeds to inform me that my case is still pending review by Dr. Smith. I then ask her if there was a chance that the doctor, at this stage in the waiting game, "could" say he would not be able to treat my case. She confirms that that was in fact a possibility.
At this point, I am 6 weeks overdue for a C-Spine/T-Spine procedure to relieve the dreaded pain with which I live on a daily basis. I am not calling with a "tummy ache", or a because "my head hurts and I need an Advil". I am seeking relief - HELP, for god's sake. I live with chronic pain on a daily basis. I surely am not the only one, I know. But 21 days with absolutely no progress from Dr. Smith and his office for treatment of severe pain is completely unacceptable.
Dr. Smith is in the wrong field if he and his office think it is reasonable for a pain management patient to sit and wait with absolutely NO idea of when, or even IF, they will be able to be seen for pain relief for 21 days - six weeks past due for their procedure to begin with. Absolutely unacceptable and unreasonable by any standard.
Dr. Smith and his practice are either:
A) Severely overwhelmed with patients and simply cannot keep up
-or-
B) Have absolutely zero regard for the health, wellbeing and treatment patients living with chronic pain
Either way, I highly recommend you do NOT consider this gentleman if you are seeking pain management treatment. read more