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

Oh, absolutely... you just have to cough up the cash and they'll take care of everything for you. 😉

Sandra Brooks91 said:You should get an appointment right away. It sounds like your referral probably got lost in the shuffle somewhere. 😢 Try sending an email to their central scheduling department here:

Thanks. Honestly, someone there just messed up and they're too proud to admit it.
I've been trying to reach them for days now—calling, emailing, you name it—but I'm getting nowhere. They just keep telling me, "Oh, call this person" or "
call over there." It feels like we're just going to end up having to hunt down a brand-new referral altogether.

Melissa Kern6 said:Thanks. Someone clearly screwed up over there and they just won't own it.
I've been trying to get a hold of them for days now—calls, emails, whatever—but nothing. They just keep telling me to call
someone else or check back later. It feels like I'm gonna end up having to hunt down a whole new referral.

Yeah, something definitely went sideways. I mean, even when there's a long wait for certain appointments, you usually find out your date right away.

I'm hunting for a primary care physician in downtown Washington, D.C... I managed to pull up a list from Medicare, but how on earth am I supposed to find out if they're actually accepting new patients without driving around to every single office one by one? Basically, what I want to know is: is it standard practice for clinics in the heart of D.C. to be completely full, or is this just a massive headache? (To be specific, I'm looking at the IRS building over on 4th Street 😳). Thanks!

Does anyone know which hospitals in Washington, D.C. actually handle allergy testing? I've got a referral for the Mayo Clinic, but apparently their allergy clinic is tucked away inside the pulmonology department. Do I need to go out and grab a new referral, or is this one good to go?

If your referral specifically lists the Mayo Clinic, but you’re actually looking to get tested in NYC, you’re going to need to ask for a new referral first. Allergy clinics can be tucked away inside pulmonary departments, or you might find them over at dermatology—for instance, if you head to The Hill in NYC, they have them in dermatology too. Honestly, your best bet is to just give the hospital where you want the testing a quick call. Ask them straight up if they strictly follow the formal waiting list or if they take walk-ins for same-day appointments.

Does anyone know where I can get a fecal calprotectin test done? I’ve been searching online, but the information out there is incredibly thin. I’d prefer private labs or clinics, though I'm open to other options. I’ve already combed through service lists and pricing for several local medical centers, but nothing turns up. It’s baffling why this isn't more readily available, especially since I really need to get this screening completed.

Quick question about grabbing a sample for a urine culture. I feel like I just can't nail this "midstream" thing to save my life.🙄 As soon as I get the cup ready, my body subconsciously just... shuts down. Instead of a steady stream, it's more like a slow drip, which isn't really a flow at all.
That's going to ruin the test, right?

When you're collecting a sample for microbiology testing, the golden rule is to minimize any chance of contamination. It’s best to use your first urine of the morning. Before you start, just give yourself a quick wash with warm water. When you go, let the initial stream pass, then catch what we call the "midstream" directly into the tube or specimen cup. Honestly, it doesn't matter if you had to stop and start again; the main thing is simply making sure you don't catch that very first bit. That initial spray can pick up bacteria from the urethra or skin, which can mess with your results.

So, I just emailed to book an appointment with an endocrinologist over at the Vineyard.
Sent them a scan of my referral, and they told me I'm on the books for two months from now.
The thing is, my referral is technically only valid for a month... do I actually need to go through the hassle of getting it extended, or am I good?

Melissa Martinez5 said:I sent an email to book an appointment with an endocrinologist over at Vineyard.
I emailed them a scan of my referral, and they’ve got me scheduled for two months from now.
The thing is, this referral is technically only valid for a month. Do I need to worry about getting it extended, or am I good to go?

You'll just need to ask your doctor to update the date or issue a fresh referral once it actually comes time for your appointment.

swiftbear86 said:You’re gonna have to track down a doctor when you finally get your appointment just to get them to fix the date or write you a fresh referral.

Thanks😉

I visited the Heart and Lung Clinic today for an X-ray, and they informed me that I should return this coming Monday to receive my results.

I had anticipated receiving the imaging immediately after the procedure. Is it standard practice to wait two days for the findings if everything appears to be fine?

I would truly appreciate any insight from those who might know..

Thank you

Could someone please let me know the lab hours over at the Unknown Organization health center? I know they’re open in the mornings and don't stay open very late, but I was wondering if anyone knows exactly what time they close. THANKS! 😕

Does anyone happen to know what the current wait times are for an eye exam in Cleveland?

Hello there!
Does anyone happen to know what the typical costs are for these screenings when you aren't using supplemental insurance?

I am looking into the prices for a gastroscopy,
thyroid checks,
hormone panels (I actually read somewhere that they might only charge for a single hormone $17 ?!? 😕),
and testing stool samples for Bacteria?

Any bit of information you could share would truly make my day and bring a huge smile to my face!🙂 🙂

Thank you all so much in advance!

Olivia Robinson7 said:Hey!
Does anyone actually know what these tests cost without having extra insurance coverage?

A gastroscopy,
thyroid stuff,
hormones (I read somewhere they only charge you for ONE hormone, $17?!? 😕),
and a stool test for Bacteria?

Any info at all would make my day 🙂 🙂

Thanks in advance!

Man, their billing system is a total headache—honestly, just like everything else in this country. I pretty much gave up and just paid for the supplemental insurance because my bills were already hitting $333 after just a few months.

On some bills, I was paying 20% of the total price (they actually list everything out line by line, and honestly, the prices are a bit higher than what private clinics charge, so you can easily shop around if you want).
But on other bills—like for the thyroid stuff—it just shows one flat amount I had to pay (it was around $67 for four different hormones).

Eric Morales62 said:Their billing system is just incredibly convoluted, which honestly seems to be the case with pretty much everything in this country! I decided to cut my losses pretty quickly and just opted for supplemental insurance, because within just a few months, I had racked up about $333 in bills.

On certain statements, I was paying roughly 20% of the total cost—it actually breaks down every single line item so you can see exactly what everything costs, and since the prices are a bit higher than what you'd find at a private clinic, it’s actually quite easy to shop around and compare rates.
However, on other bills, like for my thyroid tests, it just lists a flat amount that I was required to pay (it ended up being around $67 for four different hormone tests).

It's a lot to take in... I remember reading in an article once that it's $17. The absolute worst part is that you simply cannot find out those specific figures in advance; no matter who you ask, nobody seems to have a clue! I personally paid $17 for throat and nasal swabs, but that was through a local community health center, and I had read somewhere that tests done there are actually cheaper than the ones performed at the major metropolitan hospital.
Goodness, I am genuinely terrified of how much a gastroscopy might end up costing me, maybe around 🙂
.
I'm mostly just doing "general" checkups right now, and if I were to get that supplemental insurance, it would be such a relief, probably around $320. I am still a student, after all... but then again, if you're telling me you paid $67 for thyroid issues... it's highly likely, if not certain, that a gastroscopy follows, and then you've got the hormones on top of that... Honestly, for just a few hundred dollars more, I could have full coverage for the entire year and just live without all this worry...
I think I follow what you're trying to say...

Thank you so much for the information! 🙂

I paid for the gastroscopy myself, about $13 (I don't have supplemental insurance).

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lonefalcon41 said:I paid out of pocket for my gastroscopy, which ended up costing about $13 (since I don't have supplemental insurance).

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Would you be so kind as to tell me where and when you had your procedure done?
I ask because I actually know someone who went through this just last month, and they mentioned paying a mere $60 at most!
Thank you so much!