Info Desk [Paperwork, ordering, wait times, procedures, booklets, prescriptions...]

lonefalcon41 said:@Chloe Nguyen3/">@@Chloe Nguyen3: I am totally with you on this. I finally got an appointment at the health center late last November, and the guy actually had the nerve to look at me like I was crazy, asking why I even needed an ultrasound since I'm "young" (as if I am!). Ugh, I honestly just want to forget that whole interrogation about why I need the scan. lol.

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Listen, lonefalcon41, you absolutely did the right thing by trusting your gut.
I'm 38 now. I had my kid when I was 26 and breastfed for a year and a half. Honestly, until two years ago, I never even thought about getting a breast ultrasound, and nobody ever told me I should—not even my OBGYN. Apparently, they’re supposed to check that stuff too, but I had no clue. About two years back, due to some massive stress, I started getting these sharp pains in my left breast. At first, I legit thought it was my heart acting up. Eventually, I figured it was probably the breast itself. And man, was I surprised—turns out I have water cysts and those fatty tissue things, fibroadenomas (correct me if I've got the name wrong, I don't have my paperwork handy). If it turned out to be something malignant? God, I would never forgive myself for not getting checked sooner.

I remember hearing somewhere—maybe from a doctor or just reading online—that your first breast ultrasound should happen around the same time as your first gynecological exam, maybe around age 15, and then you should just follow up every year. An ultrasound isn't even painful or uncomfortable, but it literally saves lives.

It's great that you're getting checked. Even if the results come back fine, keep doing it every year. Never stop looking out for yourself, because given the state of the world we live in, the "system" definitely doesn't care enough about us.

Good luck! 😍

Kimberly Ward said:lonefalcon41, try the Brooklyn Health Department. They know their stuff, and you used to be able to get seen pretty quickly there.

I managed to snag an appointment for mid-July. Not bad at all. Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂 If anyone else needs a breast ultrasound, it looks like the Brooklyn Health Department is definitely your fastest bet.

Chloe Nguyen3 said:Dear lonefalcon41, you did the right thing by listening to your gut.
I’m 38 now; I had my child when I was 26. I breastfed for a year and a half. Up until two years ago, I had never actually had a breast ultrasound, nor had anyone ever suggested I should—and I mean gynecologists, since they really ought to be checking breasts too, though I didn't realize that back then. About two years ago, due to chronic stress, I started getting this sharp stabbing pain in my left breast. At first, I thought it was my heart. Eventually, I suspected it was likely a breast issue. And honestly, I was shocked when I found out I have both water cysts and fatty tissue, so-called fibroadenomas (correct me if I've got the name wrong, I don't have my results handy). If I had happened to have a malignant tumor, God knows I would never have forgiven myself for not getting checked sooner!

I heard somewhere—either from my doctor or read it online—that your first breast ultrasound should happen around the same time as your first pelvic exam, maybe around age 15, and then you should follow up every year. An ultrasound isn't painful or uncomfortable at all, and it literally saves lives.

It’s great that you’re getting checked. Even if your results come back fine, repeat it every year. Never forget to take care of yourself, because given the state of the world we live in, it's clear the "system" doesn't look out for us enough.

Good luck! 😍

I actually started getting these checkups quite early, back in high school. So, comments like "what do you need that for, you're fine" are completely unnecessary to me. They just sound primitive and ignorant. It's not like I walked into a local grocery store to chat; I went to a clinic where breast ultrasounds are a primary specialty.😵

Mount Sinai Hospital - does that online request form actually work? I filled mine out and got an email saying they received it... but how long does it usually take them to get back to you? I've been sitting here waiting for a whole week now...

They need to give it a little more time; they'll reach out eventually.

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I have an appointment scheduled at Johns Hopkins Hospital in one month to see a proctologist regarding some hemorrhoid issues.

Not too long ago, I visited an endocrinologist at that same facility, and I must ask, does anyone else find their administrative process unnecessarily labyrinthine? One is expected to check in with a nurse, then navigate the halls just to locate the office for travel authorization stamps, and only then can you finally present yourself to the specialist who is required to validate your paperwork.

In a medical complex as massive as this one, the constant trekking from the registration desk to the stamping station, only to head back to the specialist's office, can feel incredibly exhausting—especially for someone dealing with visual impairments.

Therefore, I find myself seeking some guidance through a few questions.
1. Where exactly is the proctology clinic located?
2. Which specific registration desk should I visit for the proctologist, and in which building or on which floor can I be found?
3. Where is the designated area to have my travel authorization stamped—should I head to the green building where the endocrinology department is situated, or is it elsewhere?

Nicholas Wells74 said:I have an appointment scheduled at Johns Hopkins Hospital in about a month to see a proctologist regarding some hemorrhoid issues.

When I was recently visiting an endocrinologist at that same hospital, I realized just how incredibly complicated the process is; you have to register with a nurse first, then track down someone to stamp your travel authorization, and only after all that can you actually see the specialist who is supposed to sign off on your paperwork.

Now, considering the sheer scale of such a massive medical center, does anyone realize how much time is wasted just walking from the registration desk to the authorization office, only to trek all the way back to the specialist's room? It can take an absolute eternity, especially if you struggle with your vision.

So, I have a few questions.
1. Where exactly is the proctology clinic located?
2. Which specific window should I go to for registration for the proctologist... which building and on which floor?
3. Where am I supposed to get my travel authorization stamped—is it in the green building where they had me for the endocrinologist, or somewhere else entirely?

I managed to find out that initial proctology exams are held in the white building, which sits right next to the green building, specifically on the second floor. From what I gathered, all the outpatient clinics in that white building (at least the abdominal surgery ones) are located on that same floor. The number I called to confirm this was 01/23-88-021. Honestly, it seems easiest to get any actual information if you call after 4:00 PM.

Anyway, I truly hope this information proves helpful to anyone else facing the same situation.

Regarding the proctologist, at least for those visiting Johns Hopkins Hospital, your primary care physician can handle the referral for you, so there is no need to attempt to schedule it yourself or try emailing or faxing over a referral.

Hi there!
A few days ago, my GP referred me to a specialist at the Mayo Clinic. I finished my appointment, but unfortunately, I managed to lose the specialist's report. Does anyone know if there's a way to get a new copy of those records from the hospital? This would be for the clinic in Miami. Thanks!

Hi there!
A few days ago, my GP referred me to a specialist at the Mayo Clinic. I had the appointment, but unfortunately, I managed to lose the specialist's report. Quick question—is there any way to get a duplicate copy of my records from the hospital? This would be for the facility in Miami. Thanks!

If you’re looking for info, any citizen should just head over to the health portal; sometimes you can find exactly what you need tucked away in there.

I simply wish to correct an inaccurate statement made to me by a nurse in the proctology department over a month ago.

Is it not wonderful that you don't actually have to trek over to the main white building just to get a travel authorization stamped? Instead, they handle all those verifications on the first floor of the white building that sits right against the green wing. That specific counter is located directly above the patient registration desk on the ground floor. You can have your paperwork validated there, where both the proctologist's nurse and the specialist themselves can add their necessary notes, and then you are finished! There is absolutely no need to delay your day by heading to the main white building—at least, not when dealing with proctology. However, I must ask, why was my experience with the endocrinology department such a chaotic mess of formalities regarding the same travel orders?

Hi there,

I’m looking into getting quite a few moles removed just for cosmetic reasons. Since this isn't considered a medical necessity, I won't be able to get a referral from my insurance, so I'm planning to see a private specialist instead. Does anyone know if it's possible to get a referral just for a pathology analysis? It feels way too risky to skip that step, especially since doctors always recommend having every single mole analyzed...

Rebecca King said:Hey there,

I’m looking to get quite a few moles removed for cosmetic reasons. Since I can't get a referral through insurance for the actual removal, I'm planning on seeing someone privately. Does anyone know if it's possible to just get a referral specifically for the pathology testing? It feels way too risky to skip it, and they always recommend checking every single mole...

Yeah, you can. That's actually how I handle it. I go to a private clinic for the initial exam, and if they decide a mole needs to come off, I just request a referral for the pathology work.
My doctor doesn't give me any trouble about it at all.

How much is a single referral actually worth once you get it pulled?

The order probably needs to be placed within a 90-day window

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Thanks, so it turns out they actually changed it after all. Just to be clear, the A1 is the referral

fadedrider17 said:Thanks, so I guess they actually went through with the change. It’s an A1 referral we're talking about.

Yeah, it seems it's been that way for a few years now, I suppose.

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Hey everyone,

So, I finally picked a new primary care doctor today. They handed me a few pieces of paperwork (three sheets total) that I need to drop off at the Social Security Administration so they can update everything on their end. Since this is all happening here in Washington, D.C., they told me to head over to the office on Klović, but when I clicked on this link, I noticed there are actually several different branches scattered around the city... so I was wondering, can I just swing by any of them, or do I have to go to a specific one?

Keith Johnson96 said:Hey everyone,

I finally picked a new General Practitioner today. I was handed a few pieces of paperwork—three sheets, actually—that I need to drop off at Medicare so they can update my records. Since I'm based in Washington, D.C., they specifically pointed me toward the office on Fifth Avenue. However, looking at this link, it seems like there are several different offices scattered throughout the city. Does anyone know if I can just walk into any of them, or am I stuck going to that specific one?

I’m pretty sure you can. I always head over to the one on Broadway; they usually get everything handled for me in no time.

restlessbadger2 said:I reckon you can. I always just head over to Broadway and get everything sorted in a flash.

If you want a change, you go to Fifth Avenue or Broadway depending on where you live. All those other offices aren't for registering or switching doctors.

Kimberly Ward said:If you need to switch things up, you'd head over to Fifth Avenue or Broadway depending on where you're living. Those other offices aren't really set up for registering or switching doctors...

Awesome, thanks a ton. Looks like Fifth Avenue is the spot for me then...👍