I called my Ped last week and asked them to order some meds for my son. (he had scabies....I've seen them before and another kid at school had them). I really didn't want to take him in for a $60 visit when I just spent $200 last month for an ear infection, meds and revisit because of the allergic reaction to the meds and I was 99% sure this is what it was......Soo I spoke with a nurse at the office and she got the doc to order the creame for me.
Sooo I guess docs are charging for this now? Shouldn't they let the pts know this somewhere?
I know, but what kills me is that it took 2 seconds, I heard her ask him in the back ground as I was talking to her.
I know....hey I saved $55 on a visit, of course I paid $10 for the scrip.
Well, coming from a background in IT where I got TONS of calls from my customers, I understand the charge.
Remember; the "2 second" (come on now) phone call also required the nurse to drop what she was doing for someone else, consult with the doctor, chart, call the pharmacy, and also the doc is assuming liability if anyhting should happen. thats worth a couple of bucks.
I think the reason I started the thread was because this is a new thing to this practice...Shouldn't they post something or send something out?
"As of this date, over the phone consultations will be charged at a rate of XXX"
I really don't have a problem with this practice, just not when its sprung on you. I think I was just bent because a few days later I got a call asking if I received my statement from them that was sent out 3 days prior. They wanted to know if I'd pay early over the phone because feb is a short month. (I'm on a payment plan with them). I realize billing dept and doc aren't the same and half the time they have no clue about each other.
Yeah, so I've got major problems with being charged for a phone call during normal office hours. I believe (although it might not be a popular belief here in this forum) that my doctor charges quite enough money for the times I haul my kids into his office that he can certainly "inconvenience" himself if I call with a question or need a scrip filled. Plus, if I (and all the other patients in the practice) came in there everytime my kid needed some meds called in, that doctor's schedule would be a mess! I think they're gouging you just because they can. So, notice or no notice, it's a bunch of hooey.
My pediatrician's office charges for after-hours calls. It's $10 to speak to a nurse, who will then decide whether or not to call the physician. It's not even a nurse that from the office...It's just some nurse line, and they're reading me a script, which I hate. I can go to the internet and find THAT information! I kind of had a big problem with this a few weeks ago b/c when I went to pick up my kids from daycare, I was told that they had both been exposed to a suspected case of bacterial meningitis. I kind of felt the need to let my doctor know and let him make the call as to whether he wanted to prescribe some prophalactic ABX. BUT, I would need to get zinged with the $10 and talk to Ms. Nurse Script first! It's just irritating...But I guess some parents don't have the good judgement to call only when it's 100% necessary.
Anyway, probably not the most popular opinion on the board today, but that's my two cents.
The last time I called the doc was a week ago when my infant had vomiting/diahrreah/fever. I didn't think it was serious enough to bring her in but wanted to just doublecheck to make sure I was doing all the right things. I basically knew what to do and didn't get new information. I wouldn't have minded paying for the call as he was giving me of his time. And I would still come out ahead as I saved a doctor visit. However, I think that a follow-up phone call after a visit should not be charged. Can they make some kind of package deal, that one visit is worth x number of calls?
If it's anything that requires ANY documentation then they ought to be paid for it. Peds and family practice docs make precious little money these days when you consider that they get reimbursed at about 60-70% if that and are lucky to collect 75% of charges billed.
Often times what seems like a quick phone call on the patient's end requires a review of the chart, documentation, a reminder note to have the nurse call the patient in a few days to follow up and the time to write or call in a scrip or at least tell the office staff to call one in on the docs end. It is never "just a quick phone call" if the clinician is invovlved and there is a change in treatment.
Lets say you are a nurse and get paid per patient. You charge 20.00 for every patient you help with, but the doc only pays you 10. On top of that, you don't get paid for taking phone calls and documenting things in the chart. 1/3 of your day is spent managing phone calls. It wouldnt be right to ask you to work 1/3 of your time working for free - why is it any different with the doc?
Just for kicks and grins, today, I've been keeping a tally of how many phone calls I make...from 0830-1300, the total is 48...that is over ten calls an hour. I know that might not seem like a lot, but when almost, every call requires documenation, most calls require pulling a chart, about half the calls require consulting a doctor...that is a lot of work.
I don't think we should charge for calling back results or simple follow ups, but advice, prescriptions, setting up consults...yeah, I think we deserve a little extra for that.
Balder_LPN, LPN
458 Posts
Well, coming from a background in IT where I got TONS of calls from my customers, I understand the charge.
Remember; the "2 second" (come on now) phone call also required the nurse to drop what she was doing for someone else, consult with the doctor, chart, call the pharmacy, and also the doc is assuming liability if anyhting should happen. thats worth a couple of bucks.