Trying to get lab appointment........

[Grammabear]

At the health system where my Doctor is employed, when you want an appointment whether it is for lab work or to see the Doctor, you have to dial a "call center".  There someone asks "what are you being seen for and your birth date."  Today when I called this center for a lab appointment (per my Doctor's instructions) they told me I could only make an appointment for a lipid panel (which another doctor had ordered 6 months ago and I declined).  So, now I am between a rock and a hard place because my Doctor wants to check kidney function in one month after starting a new blood pressure drug, and I cannot get an appointment. 

There is no such thing anymore as calling the doctor's office directly.  Everyone has to go through a layer of bureaucracy.  Just wondered how it is done in other parts of the world?

[Shanny]

Our medical group has an electronic 'patient portal' (secure connection) where we can contact the doc, get test results, renew prescriptions, even pay the bill, etc. If your facility offers such a thing, we've found it pretty handy, although it isn't like a phone call - sometimes takes a day or two to get a response.

[Grammabear]

Our medical group also has this patient portal, but when you click on the person you wish to contact, there is no name for the 'lab' so hence no way to make an appointment.  I will try contacting the doctor and explain my dilemma.  Thanks for the tip.

[skb]

In India the scene is very different. Insurance doesn't pay for regular check ups. They will only pay for checkups done when you're hospitased.
Small pathological labs are located in almost every neighbourhood but if you need any really special tests, you have to use one of the larger, more organised labs. Many of these have also sprung up now. They have introduced packages of various tests in different combinations. For about 84 tests (some are calculated, not measured) we pay ₹ 2000/- ($30/-) which includes blood draw at home and delivery of test results.

[cdncatlover]

Sorry to hear you're having such difficulty. Here, the doctor makes the arrangements for you.

[Rhiannon]

For now, I have Kaiser.  Patients can log into their account, make appointments to see their doctor(s), request prescription refills, or email their doctor with a question.  When I was ready for my colonoscopy last year, I emailed my doctor, and she submitted a request to that dept to contact me ( which they did).  I've had mostly good experiences with their system.  It looks like the Republicans will take away my health coverage, so when that happens, I will be uninsured again. 

[Shanny]

They want to take mine too - Medicare - and they're trying to take my income as well - Social Security. What a lovely age we live in . . .