From a 5 PM phone call yesterday, one of my partners talking with a patient who sees another of my partners for knee arthritis.
- Dr A: Hello.
- Patient: Hi, I'm a patient of "Dr. B" and I had treatment for my costochondritis with injections. They helped a little bit, but my back pain acted up, so I saw my chiropractor. He manipulated me, which helped for a little while, but now my back is acting up again and my rib pain is back. What can I do for the pain? Could I use my heating pad for my ribs? That usually makes my back worse when I do, though. Maybe I need a prescription.
- Dr. A:
- Patient: Hello?
- Dr. A: Did "Dr. B: do those injections for your ribs?
- Patient: No, I have them done by a pain specialist.
- Dr. A: So he doesn't take care of your rib problem.
- Patient: No, the pain clinc does.
- Dr. A: Does "Dr. B" take care of your back pain?
- Patient: No, I see a chiropractor for that. I've seen a back specialist too.
- Dr. A: What does "Dr. B" see you for?
- Patient: Knee arthritis.
- Dr. A: So we don't take care of you for any of the problems that you're having now, the ones that prompted you to call?
- Patient: No. But I need to find out what I can do because my ribs and back are getting more painful.
- Dr. A: Did you call the pain clinic that takes care of your rib pain, or the chiropractor who manipulated you?
- Patient: Those offices are closed.
- Dr. A:
- Patient:
- Dr. A: Ma'am, I don't think I can help you. You have physicians who take care of these problems, and my partner isn't one of them. You, need to contact the treating doctors for these problems, but unfortunately you waited until their offices were closed.
That, believe it or not, happens all too often.
