I hate new technology and virtual visits to dr

[Oss]

My doc office said I have to go call, wait on hold an hour then go to a special online portal
 to register for a virtual visit
So I do that
It says pay 99 on credit card so I do that as well
Virtual visit opens but smack dab in the middle of the screen is a big orange box says accept to enter
Guess what no place to click  both wife and I tried on 2 different computers
Spent 90 minutes and no visit
The doc is there but I cant see her so she disconnects
ARGHHH
Then I spend another half hour on hold listening to music from the 1700's then finally
they tell me oh dear we should not charge you 99 let us refund you and can you come in tomorrow at 5
WTF why could I not do that today? I asked in my nicest voice

You could have, she said.  DOH

And I cant get a corona test unless in the hospital which I am not doing but if they can treat my sinus headache I have had for almost a month that works for me  The only treatment unless you are coughing blood is stay home anyway

Sometimes the glass is half full, sometimes half empty  I am happy I have a glass

[Valkorado]

  Fantastic last sentence.

[..]

Fantastic last sentence.

 

[msb]

Had my first ever virtual Dr appointment the other day. It went quite well, although it was just a follow up on  bloodwork from my recent annual physical and xrays for an abdominal strain I picked up playing soccer (at 63, I'm thinking it may be time to finally call it quits on my 57 year playing "career"  )
The Mrs had a knee replacement 3 weeks ago. After getting her staples out late last week, all future physio and Dr appointments with the exception of 2 scheduled follow up appointments with the surgeon are to be virtual until further notice... or unless complications arise... which thankfully doesn't seem likely. The physio sessions in particular work quite well.
I like the idea of certain Dr and other healthcare appointments being virtual... especially for follow up appointments and other non-urgent issues which can easily be diagnosed over the phone or online through a video conferencing service, with prescriptions and  procedural advice emailed to the patient. That way one doesn't have to visit the Dr's office or clinic with a bunch of other sick folks for every little issue, and it makes the whole system more efficient by freeing up the Dr's physical appointment schedules for those with more serious conditions.

[Jess from VA]

Another advantage of virtual dr. visits is....... if you get malpracticed on, there's a good record of it.


Hey Doc, it hurts when I do this.

Well stop doing that.   

[Moonshot_1]

Since we're sharing...

This is going to be a bit long.

Back on March 4th the wife and I went to Tampa. Indian Shores to be exact. Beautiful place. Beach time, a trip to Pine Island, a trip to the awesome Wagon Wheel Flea Market, and the Florida Strawberry Festival. We returned to Iowa March 10th. The two big events, the flea market and festival drew at least 20k people each. Our trip had us going through 4 international airports. 3 of them twice.

A few days ago I get a really sore throat accompanied by what seems to be an ear infection. Gets me dizzy and gives me headaches. I believe that it is related to a tooth issue I've had. (long story on that one) Anyway... I want to get a strep test and in any event see a doctor about getting some antibiotics for the throat and ear.

So I call this morning. The Dr's office sends my call to the ER of the Hospital because they are going to do the strep test on me outside while I sit in my truck. They give me a phone number and tell me when I get to the appropriate door (a southside entrance) to call and the tech will come out and swab my throat.  (Low 40's outside)

I get there and the approach to the said door is roped off. (It is 50' to the said door from the roped off point) There is another car in the same predicament ahead of me. I am sure this is the door but it is blocked off so maybe I heard wrong and am at the wrong door. I call and yep I am at the right door. Or would be if I could get there.

Finally someone comes out and moves the rope out of the way at the entrance. The first car goes in. The exit is still roped off. Single lane in, u-turn under the canopy, and single lane exit on other side of canopy. So I can't go in because the first car would have no way out.

Fortunately they realize it and a maintenance guy comes out and moves the exit rope.

All I am looking for is an antibiotic for my throat infection. ANYWAY...

I'm up next. The tech comes out, full hazmat, we do the required paperwork, get swabbed.  15 - 30 min turnaround on the strep and flu test. Said they'd call back. That didn't happen. Finally I start calling back mid afternoon. After a couple more hours I finally get a call and it is negative on the strep and flu.

Well, ok, but that still leaves me with an ear and throat infection. So we go over some history again and it seems the kicker in all this is my trip to Tampa. It is out of the prescribed timeline but just barely so they want to do a Covid test too. So I go back and do the drive up swab test for that.

Talking to the tech he questioned my symptoms as he was told they were basic flu type symptoms like fever and such. I told him I just got a sore throat and ear and am dizzy. No fever, no cough. So some miscommunication going on there.

So now, perhaps tomorrow I get to maybe see an actual doc for a minute so I can get on some antibiotics.

BUT since they tested me for the Covid I can't go back to work till I show a negative result.
They don't take the test, I could go back. They take it and I can't till it comes back negative.
But since I didn't fit the exact timeline criteria, it will take a day or two longer to get my particular test back because it goes to a different lab because of the timeline issue.

The world has gone whacky for sure. Hope everyone stays healthy. Take care.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Since we're sharing...

This is going to be a bit long.

Back on March 4th the wife and I went to Tampa. Indian Shores to be exact. Beautiful place. Beach time, a trip to Pine Island, a trip to the awesome Wagon Wheel Flea Market, and the Florida Strawberry Festival. We returned to Iowa March 10th. The two big events, the flea market and festival drew at least 20k people each. Our trip had us going through 4 international airports. 3 of them twice.

A few days ago I get a really sore throat accompanied by what seems to be an ear infection. Gets me dizzy and gives me headaches. I believe that it is related to a tooth issue I've had. (long story on that one) Anyway... I want to get a strep test and in any event see a doctor about getting some antibiotics for the throat and ear.

So I call this morning. The Dr's office sends my call to the ER of the Hospital because they are going to do the strep test on me outside while I sit in my truck. They give me a phone number and tell me when I get to the appropriate door (a southside entrance) to call and the tech will come out and swab my throat.  (Low 40's outside)

I get there and the approach to the said door is roped off. (It is 50' to the said door from the roped off point) There is another car in the same predicament ahead of me. I am sure this is the door but it is blocked off so maybe I heard wrong and am at the wrong door. I call and yep I am at the right door. Or would be if I could get there.

Finally someone comes out and moves the rope out of the way at the entrance. The first car goes in. The exit is still roped off. Single lane in, u-turn under the canopy, and single lane exit on other side of canopy. So I can't go in because the first car would have no way out.

Fortunately they realize it and a maintenance guy comes out and moves the exit rope.

All I am looking for is an antibiotic for my throat infection. ANYWAY...

I'm up next. The tech comes out, full hazmat, we do the required paperwork, get swabbed.  15 - 30 min turnaround on the strep and flu test. Said they'd call back. That didn't happen. Finally I start calling back mid afternoon. After a couple more hours I finally get a call and it is negative on the strep and flu.

Well, ok, but that still leaves me with an ear and throat infection. So we go over some history again and it seems the kicker in all this is my trip to Tampa. It is out of the prescribed timeline but just barely so they want to do a Covid test too. So I go back and do the drive up swab test for that.

Talking to the tech he questioned my symptoms as he was told they were basic flu type symptoms like fever and such. I told him I just got a sore throat and ear and am dizzy. No fever, no cough. So some miscommunication going on there.

So now, perhaps tomorrow I get to maybe see an actual doc for a minute so I can get on some antibiotics.

BUT since they tested me for the Covid I can't go back to work till I show a negative result.
They don't take the test, I could go back. They take it and I can't till it comes back negative.
But since I didn't fit the exact timeline criteria, it will take a day or two longer to get my particular test back because it goes to a different lab because of the timeline issue.

The world has gone whacky for sure. Hope everyone stays healthy. Take care.

Hopefully it comes back negative. We need you back in the meat buying pipeline.

[Jess from VA]

Well that is an entirely spooky story Moonman.  (and not in a good way)

It reminds of the wait for my prostate cancer biopsy.

I hope and pray yours is negative too.   

[Valkorado]

Crazy story for sure.   Hope it isn't a new norm,  but I'm afraid it is for the short term anyway.

[cookiedough]

My daughter in college was complaining a few weeks now of coughing and slight fever and now over the weekend slight breathing issues and the clinic told her over the phone after talking about her symptoms is not needed to get tested for corona is not it.    Sounds to me like they do not have enough tests for Corona at that clinic for a normal healthy age 21 female should not have slight breahing issues right? 

how does one person over the phone decide if just sick/normal flu or corona without testing?  I told her to call again and get someone else at the clinic.

I say if the person is worried it might be corona,  then get tested.  She was working with as of 1 month ago now started new job at daycare facility working part time and now sick cannot go into work to spread it of course to the young kids, so no money coming in either to pay bills the past 2 weeks.

[Oss]

Not enough tests cookie

If she went to the emergency room she "probably" would be tested but then
there is that nasty bill they send to deal with.

Keep her hydrated.

[Moonshot_1]

UPDATE! Call the doc this am. They ask if I have been "out of the States". I say no. I tell them what my issue is, sore throat and ear, and they say come up now. (10 min away) I get there they say "Get out". Apparently they found out the hospital did a Covid test yesterday and now I have to tele-doc. Have to quarantine till the results come back. I am assuming they mean negative results.

 

[Oss]

Jeepers !

Got a call this afternoon that the dr cancelled my appt because I said sometimes I cough

Had a nice talk with the Polish nurse practitioner and discovered that we both had grandparents who lived in Bialistok (north east Poland which was once part of Russia)  My one grandfather escaped as a young boy with his sister from a Pogram- when cossacks would just butcher everyone who was Jewish.
  They were the only survivors in the town and survived because the sheriff's wife hid them in her house.  My greataunt Fay with blue eyes and red hair was passed off as her daughter.  My  4 yr old grandfather Jack was hidden in a straw mattress which was bayonetted but he was not hurt

Anyway back to the story,  I was told the dr would call in something for the sinus infection and headaches I have had since late January so woo hoo for me

Got the new CJ Box book as well when I picked up the rx   Good luck Mike !