[margaret]

Hi all! Just asking advice on how you guys handle rude and defensive attitudes from medical staff? Currently my husband is going to a wound care clinic every 1-2 weeks. This is a place (within a small hospital) that does not handle alot of cases in regards to paraplegia. Over time, they have become rude, uncooperative, discourage questions and refuse to give him documents (like lab reports, etc.). It has become very uncomfortable and I believe a "power struggle". Switching to another wound care clinic is a possibility, however will require a longer drive time. What would you guys do in this situation? Any suggestions would be appreciated; we go back in 2 days.

[MX Crash]

margaret, on Mar 17 2007, 08:07 PM, said:

Hi all! Just asking advice on how you guys handle rude and defensive attitudes from medical staff? Currently my husband is going to a wound care clinic every 1-2 weeks. This is a place (within a small hospital) that does not handle alot of cases in regards to paraplegia. Over time, they have become rude, uncooperative, discourage questions and refuse to give him documents (like lab reports, etc.). It has become very uncomfortable and I believe a "power struggle". Switching to another wound care clinic is a possibility, however will require a longer drive time. What would you guys do in this situation? Any suggestions would be appreciated; we go back in 2 days.

Margaret,
You have already been more patient then i would have been. Some of these doctors think they are well above you or i and i guessyou already know how i feel about them. I was referd to a so called top rate rehab doctor who treated me like i was a thorn in his side i stopped going after the second appointment. I hate to say it but i would drive a little farther to receive the respect you deserve,your not a dam number your a human being. sorry to hear about your medical delema but thats my thoughts on the subject. I wish you all the luck in the world.
mxcrash

[percepied]

I must admit I sometimes become rude in response to rudeness. But my opinion of the best policy is to realize you have a "given" within a reasonable distance, so adding difficulty to an already difficult situation (skin sore -- yech!) adds no value. Maybe you can just continue to accept their treatments and rudeness. But never accept their claim of absolute knowledge! I've learned too many times already how "human" medical professionals can be.

[LadySmack]

margaret, on Mar 17 2007, 02:07 PM, said:

Hi all! Just asking advice on how you guys handle rude and defensive attitudes from medical staff? Currently my husband is going to a wound care clinic every 1-2 weeks. This is a place (within a small hospital) that does not handle alot of cases in regards to paraplegia. Over time, they have become rude, uncooperative, discourage questions and refuse to give him documents (like lab reports, etc.). It has become very uncomfortable and I believe a "power struggle". Switching to another wound care clinic is a possibility, however will require a longer drive time. What would you guys do in this situation? Any suggestions would be appreciated; we go back in 2 days.

You have a RIGHT to any and all medical records, they have no right to keep any of it from you. You can go right up to them and tell them you want to see the medical records...giving that your husband has given you the right to look at them, and he has all the right without question.

The worst questions are the ones not asked, so they should be ready to answer any and all, that's there job. There job is also of compassion and understanding. If they can't do there job, find someone that will.

Don't take no for an answer, and remember, no patients?? No business...go to the top. Fight if there wound treatments are worth it, if not, mabye its a sign to seek better healthcare facilities.

Some healthcare providers make us sick.....

This post has been edited by LadySmack: 19 March 2007 - 05:09 AM

[Bulky]

With time, I reckon you end up learning more than your treating healthcare professionals. But the bottom line is that if you ain't happy, got to someone your are comfortable with. My neuro is a wanker but my two GPs, osteopath & podiatrist are awesome. I'd travel to better treatment advice from more accommodating health care providers if I had to. I'm lucky that everyone bar my neuro is 5km away.

My advice: go to where you are treated like a person, not a number.

[percepied]

LadySmack, on Mar 18 2007, 10:07 PM, said:

You have a RIGHT to any and all medical records, they have no right to keep any of it from you. You can go right up to them and tell them you want to see the medical records...giving that your husband has given you the right to look at them, and he has all the right without question.

Yes. It's called HIPAA, http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/

[margaret]

Well, we finally took the next step and made a formal complaint against the wound care center and one of the Doctors. It actually went very well when we went on Monday to our appointment. A patient representative from the hospital was there during our entire appointment and afterwards we got to go throught the entire chart. The staff was almost tripping over themselves trying to be "extra nice". (Probably because the patient rep was there!) We'll see how things go in 2 weeks when she is not there. However, the other Doctor that we see (the one that we really like and have no problem with), said he was glad we took the steps we did. So, hopefully things will start to get better. Thanks for all you replies!

[Bulky]

Awesome news margaret! Keep the pressure on them to treat your husband and you with respect and dignity.