I need a doctor stat!

[Jessica H]

Hello Everyone --

Hope that I am posting in the right area. Though I'm a USC, I am in the same bind when it comes to relocating thousands of miles -- it takes time and asking friends to find the right doctors to take care of you.

I'm home from work, and been calling doctors from the Blue Cross/BS website and no one wants to give me the time of day! On hold for 15 minutes after I said, "Hello, I've recently relocated to Florida, I don't have a GP and I have a problem--"

Or, "Ma'am, we are an internist, not a GP. Do you need an internist or not? You need to call someone else. Goodbye." Uh, hello?????

And mind you, I've been polite and cheery and all that, I just want help!

No one wants to talk to me, or says I'd have to wait 3-5 weeks because I'm a new patient.

And these people on the phone are making me feel like an idiot because I don't know who to call. Well I'm not a bloody doctor, that's why I'm calling you! I just want someone to please listen to what my problem is, and please point me in the right direction, whether it's your practise or someone else's!!

Thanks for reading this rant, and thanks in advance, this site is so good for helping new residents come together....BTW, see you all tomorrow night!

[v2002]

Jassica go to the BCBS website ......
http://www.bcbs.com/
they have the list of docters in your new area of relocation ... reach out to one of them .. if you still have a problem call the 1800 number behind the BCBS card and talk to customer care rep and ask for the online NURSE....... she/he will help you with your issue.
Also evan if the pain is no longer there you can go to the ER and still see a Docter and it will be covered under your BCBS insurance. just in case you do not want to do that pick up the yellow pages and look for the main hospital under your area and call the MED Center/ family med center and hook up with a docter . You can always look for a new docter and change later on . Hope this helps & you feel better.
Hello Everyone --

Hope that I am posting in the right area. Though I'm a USC, I am in the same bind when it comes to relocating thousands of miles -- it takes time and asking friends to find the right doctors to take care of you.
..............................................BTW, see you all tomorrow night!

[v2002]

Jassica on above given link when you hit on CUSTOMER CARE button ... it will take you to options ... one of them is for docters in your area under your network ...... find the doc CALL THE OFFICE and tell the attendent that you have an urgency to see a good doc .. be polite but FIRM and I am sure you will get an appointment the very next day ( hopefully for monday ) good luck

[Jessica H]

Thanks vic --

Before I published my rant, I started calling that online list at 11:30. Also called the toll-free no. to speak to nurse about my symptoms. She was the one who was helpful, and the one who said I needed to see a doctor ASAP. Now at the late hour in the afternoon, trying to get an appt. for next week. Getting some progress, waiting to hear back from one office. And I know it's Christmas soon.

Thanks for your post!

Jess

[v2002]

I am glad you are getting somewhere .. normally if you talk firm and insist on talking to a Doc the assistant WILL give you an appointment to see one .. majority of BCBS docters network is great and helpful ...Once you see now if you dont like you can always make few Enq. and change latter.Good luck hope you feel better.
Thanks vip --

Before I published my rant, I started calling that online list at 11:30. Also called the toll-free no. to speak to nurse about my symptoms. She was the one who was helpful, and the one who said I needed to see a doctor ASAP. Now at the late hour in the afternoon, trying to get an appt. for next week. Getting some progress, waiting to hear back from one office. And I know it's Christmas soon.

Thanks for your post!

Jess

[mark]

Just get yourself to Celebration hospital, they have to treat you if you arrive in the A & E department, hope your better soon

[Jessica H]

Thanks for your help, Everyone. Getting things sorted.

[Jessica H]

I have an appointment scheduled! Finally!

It's crazy, I have actually been here for almost two years and have gotten really involved in the community and with different professionals and meeting people of different trades, and making friends, etc., but this lesson has taught me that:

1. When you move to a new region, a first priority should be, in additional to securing health insurance, to actually go out and find a suitable GP and/or pediatrician for the little ones, and to not wait until it's time for your annual exam because you never know when you'll need to ring.

(I kind of did things in reverse: eye doctor, dentist, specialty docs for special things, etc. I've had those covered from the start!)

2. Your doctors back home can't adequately help you now that you're here. I have several friends here on visas that prefer to visit their doctors in their home countries when they go home for annual family visits. I was doing the same, using my old out-of-state doc because I loved him so much! I have realized that though romantic and quite loyal, this practice is stupid. Find a doctor close to where you live, it's not cheating on your old one, and no one will cry.

That's the update, feeling much better anyhoo. Thanks again for everyone's help!

Jess

[Susie]

Hi Jessica

I do hope you are on the mend and much better, hope you can still make tomorrow evening but will understand if you cannot

[haytonmac]

hi glad its sorted speak to you soon .Whoopeee we'er down to under 12 hrs
take care . x

[Carol]

Hello Everyone --

Hope that I am posting in the right area. Though I'm a USC, I am in the same bind when it comes to relocating thousands of miles -- it takes time and asking friends to find the right doctors to take care of you.

I'm home from work, and been calling doctors from the Blue Cross/BS website and no one wants to give me the time of day! On hold for 15 minutes after I said, "Hello, I've recently relocated to Florida, I don't have a GP and I have a problem--"

Or, "Ma'am, we are an internist, not a GP. Do you need an internist or not? You need to call someone else. Goodbye." Uh, hello?????

And mind you, I've been polite and cheery and all that, I just want help!

No one wants to talk to me, or says I'd have to wait 3-5 weeks because I'm a new patient.

And these people on the phone are making me feel like an idiot because I don't know who to call. Well I'm not a bloody doctor, that's why I'm calling you! I just want someone to please listen to what my problem is, and please point me in the right direction, whether it's your practise or someone else's!!

Thanks for reading this rant, and thanks in advance, this site is so good for helping new residents come together....BTW, see you all tomorrow night!

I would either go knock on your next door neighbour, ask them thats how I have always found a local Doctor.
Hope your better soon x