Time limit to carry out MD orders for outpt PT....

[TracyB,RN, RN]

Last Tues, I was cleared by my surgeon to start PT 3x wk for 4 weeks... Referral approved STAT, but the only hospital that my HMO approves therapy for (coincidentally, the one I work at, but am on medical leave d/t back surgery) couldn't get me in for 7 days. Granted the PT order was NOT written as a STAT order, but I am sure there has got to be some kind of time limit on how long this type of order can sit before I even can get a PT eval.... Thoughts or ideas on where I can check on this would be greatly appreciated, as I am now another week behind on therapy and probably another week closer to losing my position d/t not being there on a FT status long enough to qualify for FMLA...

I am seriously searching for an attorney b/c I can't get any straight answers from my boss or from HR. I know I work in an "at will" state, & this injury, unfortunately, is not due to worker's comp, but an auto accident...

I am also speaking with a couple of different personal injury attorneys this week about a possible lawsuit against the person who hit me, since I have been unable to work since Nov 9 & HR is NOT returning my calls about my short-term disability benefits...

Thanks

[alintanurse]

Last Tues, I was cleared by my surgeon to start PT 3x wk for 4 weeks... Referral approved STAT, but the only hospital that my HMO approves therapy for (coincidentally, the one I work at, but am on medical leave d/t back surgery) couldn't get me in for 7 days. Granted the PT order was NOT written as a STAT order, but I am sure there has got to be some kind of time limit on how long this type of order can sit before I even can get a PT eval.... Thoughts or ideas on where I can check on this would be greatly appreciated, as I am now another week behind on therapy and probably another week closer to losing my position d/t not being there on a FT status long enough to qualify for FMLA...

I am seriously searching for an attorney b/c I can't get any straight answers from my boss or from HR. I know I work in an "at will" state, & this injury, unfortunately, is not due to worker's comp, but an auto accident...

I am also speaking with a couple of different personal injury attorneys this week about a possible lawsuit against the person who hit me, since I have been unable to work since Nov 9 & HR is NOT returning my calls about my short-term disability benefits...

Thanks

Have you contacted the surgeon to inform him of the difficulties you're having. The surgeons office should be able to expedite your therapy. Contact your insurance carrier yourself and ask them directly. It wouldn't hurt to followup with an attorney,usually the first consult is free. I hope this helps!

[plumrn, BSN, RN]

It seems to me it is difficult to get much of anything accomplished from Dec 24th, until the first Monday after the new year. Hope you get something going this week. Good luck.

[TracyB,RN, RN]

Just got a call from my surgeon's office nurse... he is totally PO'd, but was scrubbed & was gonna have the circulating nurse call PT to see what the problem is....

Got a few calls back from some attorneys, but they couldn't answer my specific question about the PT thing. I am sure the holidays has something to do with it, but I guess I am just getting antsy for something to get moving here, especially me....