Posts by Edward James71

Sandra Brooks91 said:If there is a date listed, then you have a month to use it; if not... you have nothing. 🙂

As for me, I always receive my referrals without any specific date or deadline attached. Apparently, they're valid indefinitely...

Elizabeth Brown90 said:I'm from a major metro area, and I forgot to mention

It is frankly appalling that a single diagnostic test can require a year-long wait.😢
One shouldn't be surprised that private facilities like Quest Diagnostics, Sun, and others are perpetually overcrowded.

For instance, I scheduled a Color Doppler ultrasound for my carotid arteries back on June 9, 2013, at a hospital in Savannah, and my appointment wasn't set until October 31, 2013—which was supposedly the fastest option available at the time. Naturally, I didn't even go through with it, because when I asked if I could proceed, the clerk simply replied: "Just leave your phone number and we'll call you for a new date once the strike is over."

Essentially, the logic follows this pattern: if the strike ends within two months, just tack those extra days onto your existing appointment.

So, I am left expecting a new date sometime in late December or early 2014.

Stay healthy; try not to get sick, because it seems no one will actually examine you.

Meanwhile, Secretary Ostojić continues his rhetoric, lying to the public by claiming that waiting lists are shrinking and that only a negligible percentage of doctors are striking. It is enough to make one lose their appetite...

Elizabeth Brown90 said:Does anyone know the typical wait time for a color Doppler, and which hospitals actually perform this scan?

I am not sure where you are located, but if you are looking in places like Savannah, Des Moines, a small town, USA, or Madison, expect a wait of four to eight months. Since the doctors are still on strike, they aren't taking new orders—or if they are, they won't see you until the second half of next year.

Your best bet is to go to Quest Diagnostics. You can get seen in just a few days. The only catch is that you'll have to pay roughly $183 out of pocket, as they don't accept Medicare referrals.