Dealing with apathetic doctors

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I just wondered how many nurses in the home health field feel helpless when dealing with apathetic doctors. Just spoke today with a "group" of family doctors regarding home health. Was shocked at their response. Most of them just wanted to complain about paperwork and how troublesome it is to receive telephone orders/labs that need their signature. They also complained about messages they get regarding ill patients. One even stated, "all the more reason NOT to order home health." As advocates for our patients, it really scared me to hear them talking like this. I realize they are drowning in paperwork, but what health care provider isn't?

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I agree. Everyone is getting more than their share of paperwork. Haven't encountered this attitude from doctors. Wonder what they would suggest in place of home health? It helps to have a solution in mind when one complains about something.

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I just wondered how many nurses in the home health field feel helpless when dealing with apathetic doctors. Just spoke today with a "group" of family doctors regarding home health. Was shocked at their response. Most of them just wanted to complain about paperwork and how troublesome it is to receive telephone orders/labs that need their signature. They also complained about messages they get regarding ill patients. One even stated, "all the more reason NOT to order home health." As advocates for our patients, it really scared me to hear them talking like this. I realize they are drowning in paperwork, but what health care provider isn't?

sad attitude isn't it!!!!! i find most docs like HH as it decreases the patient phone calls they get,,,none of us likes the paperwork and i do believe the MD's get a stipend from medicare for managing the POC (485),,i hope they never need HH, but i guess if they did, they sure would change their attitudes.

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Specializes in LTC, Home Health.

Our office is blessed with some great MDs. One who happens to be out medical director is really the best..we call him anytime and he does what he can over the phone and thanks us for calling him. I've called him lots of times and have never felt intimidated by him or his attitude.. Ours is a small rural area, and it helps a lot to have a MD like him...Don't think I should name him here..but my thanks goes out to him..and I hope he knows how much we appreciate him.

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I also get frustrated with all the specialty doctors. I have a patient that has at least 7 doctors each for their own part of the anatomy. So, if I have a question about a fever or B/P I get told to call the other doc who says I should call the other doc. Like I have all the time in the world to sit around playing what I call "Pin the tail on the doctor"

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