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

silentwolf53 said:Just check the Medicare waiting lists. If you Google 🙂 the search terms, it'll pull up all the facilities that perform that specific exam along with how many days you'll be stuck waiting.

Honestly, don't bother... I thought the exact same thing, and I ended up getting appointments scheduled for next year! That’s why I eventually just started calling everyone myself. I sent over my medical history, photos of the hives on my face, played the "please help me" card, and finally managed to snag an appointment for next week.

Hey everyone, since the instructions aren't exactly crystal clear, I was hoping someone with some actual firsthand knowledge could help me out here.

I have a pre-op appointment scheduled with a surgeon over at the Ilica Oncology Clinic for a minor procedure—just getting a mole removed.

Do I actually need to show a COVID-19 test result, or will just going through the standard triage process be enough?
Hvala

Donna Young58 said:Hey everyone, since the instructions are a bit vague, I could really use some help from someone who actually knows what's going on.

I have a pre-op appointment with a surgeon at the Ilica Oncology Clinic for a minor procedure—just getting a mole removed.

Do I need to show a COVID-19 clearance certificate, or can I just go through triage?
Thanks

For the initial consultation, you don't need a COVID-19 certificate.
But when you actually head in for the "surgery," you’ll definitely need a negative test result (to be fair, I'm talking about major surgery here, so I'm not entirely sure if they classify a simple mole removal under those same strict rules...)

So, let me get this straight—even for a basic checkup, say, an ophthalmology appointment, they’re actually going to demand a COVID-19 vaccination record?

Casey Perez7 said:So, do you actually need a COVID-19 clearance just for a standard checkup, like an eye exam?

No. It’s only required for procedures that generate aerosols—things like bronchoscopies, spirometry, or gastroscopies.

Can you pick up Hibor cream without a prescription? I actually called my doctor about it once and they told me it wasn't even showing up in their system,
it’s some kind of specialized preparation—I heard it contains certain corticosteroids, so it honestly surprises me that anyone could just grab it off the shelf without a script.

They did end up giving it to me once because I showed them my results from the ENT clinic—they put me on Hibor as part of the treatment—and I remember the pharmacist mentioning that she might be able to provide it
either way or via a private prescription; this past summer, while I was out doing some other errands, I was picking up some Lipikar cream for a relative and decided to ask her on the side if Hibor could be bought
without a prescription, and she gave me this look like, "I can give it to you, but..."

Also, does the dentist still require a COVID-19 vaccination certificate?

Hi there! I was wondering—if I have a prescription from a private doctor outside of the US and I want to bring my medication into the States, could I run into any trouble with Customs?
Specifically, since this involves hormone therapy, can I just show up with my foreign prescription, or would I need to arrive in the US first and then have some specialized pharmacy order it for me?

Hi there, does anyone know where I can go for a private IV infusion in NYC using a Buscol ampoule or something similar for stomach issues? Thanks!

My doctor ordered some routine blood work and a urine sample, but it turns out my referral has already expired. Do I actually need to head back into the office to have her issue a new one, or is there some way to just extend the current one? Could I perhaps give her a quick call and ask her to renew it—would she be able to see the unused order in her system, or am I going to have to spend half an hour explaining exactly why I was sent for these tests in the first place?

It feels quite surreal that I can grant access to my digital medical records to almost anyone across the globe, yet local hospitals and clinics can't seem to view them because their systems aren't set up for it. It’s a bit of a paradox—I give the permission, but the healthcare providers themselves are left out in the cold. 🤦

Melissa Phillips4 said:No, it's really just for those specific tests that generate aerosols, like a bronchoscopy,spirometry,or a gastroscopy.

I actually had a spirometry test done yesterday, and I didn't need any kind of clearance. Nobody even asked me about it.

wanderingpanther68 said:Has anyone been in for an exam at the hospital lately? From what I've read, they shouldn't be asking for anything at the entrance—no tests, no COVID-19 clearance... hmm.

Well, they’ll check your temperature, ask for your insurance card, verify where you're headed, and get you checked in.
I haven't looked into the paperwork requirements specifically, but usually, there's a staff member stationed near the line for those without documentation to check everyone else's credentials. That part moves much faster, almost without any delay.
But honestly, yesterday was such a whirlwind that I didn't even notice. I just joined the line, had my temperature taken... and headed straight upstairs.

Has anyone been in for a neurology appointment at the Mayo Clinic recently? I’m trying to get a sense of the wait times—how long does it actually take once you arrive—and just how crowded the waiting room gets? (I’m honestly not even sure which specific doctor I'll be seeing yet...) Thanks in advance!

I went in for blood work at my local community clinic back in February of last year, and they were using a system where the results were sent directly to my doctor—so I don't actually have a physical copy of those labs here. Is there someone I can email or call to request that they send a copy of those old results to my personal email address?

coppergardener said:Has anyone been to see a neurologist over at the Mayo Clinic recently? I’m trying to get a sense of how long the wait times are and what the crowds are like in the waiting room. (I'm actually not sure which specific doctor I'd be seeing yet.) Thanks in advance!

I was there about two or three weeks ago, and it wasn't crowded at all. There were maybe four or five people sitting near me, and I was in and out in about 15 to 20 minutes.

If you have access to your patient portal, check if the results are posted there. If they aren't, maybe just give your primary care doctor a call.

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Has anyone been to the cardiology department at Holy Spirit lately? According to the schedule, there are 17 people booked for that specific clinic session. I was wondering, is the waiting room pretty crowded? Like, how many people are actually sitting in there waiting? It gives you an exact time to show up, but I guess I'm worried about whether they schedule a bunch of people for the exact same slot.

Has anyone actually managed to get through to the central ordering desk at Mayo Clinic over the phone?

I've tried calling both numbers listed here multiple times now, but it’s just endless ringing and nothing else.

I called earlier this summer to check in on a family member. We got a polite enough response right away, but honestly, we made a huge mistake by choosing that facility in Dubrava—they really ruined him. If you have immobile patients, please, for the love of God, do not take them to KB Dubrava. They’ll just lie to your face and tell you they’re providing care, when in reality, nobody even bothered to visit. Things were just left lying around downstairs. But to let him come home in such a critical condition... I guess I just don't understand how they can live with themselves. They knew I was going to find out. If I had known, I never would have stepped foot in KB Dubrava. The doctor at the nursing home provided a referral to the nearest hospital, but I suppose you can always use private healthcare if you want, or just head to an ER somewhere else without a referral.

Does anyone know who can issue a prescription for my chronic medication if my primary care doctor's office is closed tomorrow? I only realized last night that I'm completely out of my blood pressure meds, and now I'm stuck wondering who can actually write me a script. I'm based in NYC.

gentlebison82 said:Who can write me a prescription for chronic therapy if my primary care doctor's office is closed tomorrow? I just realized last night that I'm out of blood pressure meds, and now I have no idea who to turn to for a refill. I live in RI.

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Go to a pharmacy, pay cash, get the meds. Just make sure to bring your medical history; even for long-term stuff, they might be able to look you up in the system.
On Mondays, once your doctor clears the script, they'll refund your money.

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