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

Kyle Reed57 said:I really need to see a dermatologist... But I have to go to my primary care doctor first to get a referral, right?

Yep, exactly.

Karen Martin75 said:Let me throw one more silly question out there;

If I had an exam done at the aforementioned Emergency Room and the report states

"after completion of therapy, perform follow-up in the USA via the attending physician"

where am I supposed to go for the follow-up? To my primary care doctor? Or back to the Sisterhood of Mercy? 🤔

The rule is simple: once you've had an emergency intervention—whether it’s outpatient care, like the unit over on Broadway in NYC, or hospital-based ER services—you take those results straight to your family practitioner.

They'll be the ones to order more tests if they see fit, adjust or extend any prescribed medication, or refer you to a specialist. Generally speaking, outpatient emergency services will only give you a minimum supply of any medication; hospital ERs provide a report with a recommended drug, which you can then take to a pharmacy. Your primary doctor will handle the official prescription refills later.

Bottom line: take your findings from the Sisterhood of Mercy to your primary care physician. They'll dictate the next steps based on what's necessary.

Best regards. 🙂

@ El Gato - thanks, I received a medication recommendation via a letter from my specialist, and my primary care physician issued the prescription, but she didn't mention a follow-up appointment... is a check-up usually implied in these cases?

I wouldn't want to be reckless and assume I'm fully recovered, especially since this was a bladder infection. I'm currently in NYC, while my doctor is based at KC, which is why I'm reaching out here for advice.

Karen Martin75 said:@ El Gato - thanks, I got a medication recommendation via a letter from my doctor, and my GP issued the prescription, but she didn't mention a follow-up... or is that just implied?

I can't afford to be reckless and assume I'm cured, especially since this was a bladder infection. I'm currently in NYC, while my doctor is over at KC, which is why I'm asking here.

According to the clinical guidelines, a follow-up urine culture isn't mandatory for every single case. For instance, if you're a generally healthy woman dealing with sporadic uncomplicated cystitis—which is just one specific category of urinary tract infection—it isn't strictly required. The pathogen is easy to predict, so if the symptoms vanish after treatment, a follow-up test often isn't necessary.

That said, medical practice relies on physical exams and reviewing patient history. It’s impossible to give a definitive answer on whether a follow-up culture is vital for your specific situation through an online forum.

My advice: call your primary care physician. Ask her directly if a follow-up culture is planned, given that they were the ones who referred you to Beverly Hills. If they suggested it, there's likely a clinical reason behind it.

If it is required, your doctor will need to provide a lab requisition form.

thanks for the help 👍

Karen Martin75 said:Let's try another brainless question;

If I had my exam done at the Emergency Room mentioned above and the report says

"after completing therapy, undergo follow-up checkup in the USA by the attending physician"

where am I supposed to go for the follow-up? To my primary care doctor? Or to the Sisterhood of Mercy? 🤔

You go to your primary care doctor,
and on all reports from HP, we write "undergo follow-up in the USA"—at least I do. From what I've seen on reports from HP or my internist—and even my urologist—my colleagues do the exact same thing.
It's just a precaution in case a patient forgets something—something trivial, obviously—and since primary care doctors have somehow turned into mere bureaucrats who don't use their brains, it prevents any potential lawsuits or whatever else might pop up.

I picked up those forms from my OB-GYN today, and I need to drop them off at the office on Fifth Avenue tomorrow to get them signed. Does it have to be me showing up in person, or can someone else handle it for me?

You don't actually have to show up in person. I guess someone else could head over there on your behalf, provided they make sure to bring both your ID and your Medicare card along.

I’ve got a few needles I need to toss—they were just for drawing some saline out of a vial—but how on earth am I supposed to dispose of this kind of waste properly?

I'm curious, since when does going to the Emergency Room work like this? Is there some new law in effect?

If you don't have supplemental insurance, you'll end up paying out of pocket

I have an extra ear exam scheduled $33, and they actually have a price list posted right on the Emergency Room doors.

Hey everyone, I’m looking for some advice or maybe just a little bit of guidance here...
So, here's the deal—I recently got hit with a nasty bout of vomiting and diarrhea that just wouldn't quit. It got pretty bad, pretty fast, so I ended up heading straight to the Emergency Room. Because things were looking so rough that day, the doctor suggested I stay put for a few days to recover, so I spent four days in the infectious disease ward. They didn't actually put me on any heavy meds or anything; they just kept me on IV fluids because I was feeling incredibly weak and totally dehydrated. After running all sorts of blood and urine tests while I was there, they couldn't find the actual culprit behind the illness, so they cleared me to head home. Once I got back, I went ahead and did some follow-up blood and urine work just to be safe, and everything looks perfect now! But then, a few days later, I get a call from the local Department of Public Health (the epidemiology folks) telling me I need to bring in all my medical records and the health cards for everyone living in my house.
My big question is: am I actually legally required to respond to this call? And if I decide to skip it, are there any real consequences or ways they can force my hand? To be honest—and I mean this in the most non-confrontational way possible—neither I nor my housemates have the time, the energy, or even the slightest desire to deal with more paperwork and extra errands right now.
I'm also really curious about what their actual motive is for calling us in the first place...
If anyone has dealt with something similar or knows how this works, I would truly appreciate your insight!
Thanks in advance!

My OB-GYN gave me a referral for transfusion medicine, but there’s zero info on it... where am I even supposed to go? (I'm in Washington, D.C.) And is there an actual process to book an appointment, or do I just show up?

I’m assuming I might be posting this in the wrong spot, but if anyone could point me in the right direction, I’d really appreciate it. A close friend of mine—who honestly still has such a youthful spirit despite everything—had to undergo a leg amputation due to cancer. He was given a prosthetic, but it just isn't working for him at all; it’s a basic mechanical one that feels incredibly unstable. The high-end version he actually needs—the kind with a motorized component—is going to cost around $55,000. I'm wondering if anyone knows which organizations or agencies to contact to see if he can get coverage for this through insurance or grants—maybe even getting half the cost covered? Also, does anyone have experience organizing a charity concert or some other kind of fundraiser to help raise the necessary funds?

How long is the typical wait for a CT scan or an MRI?

Which optical shop in Washington, D.C. should I go to? Looking for somewhere to get an eye exam, pick up some glasses, and just get everything done in one place 🙂 Ghetaldus, Monocle, Slaven Bilić 🤷

I’m pretty happy with the Optic Center over on Broadway near the Important Gallery. The exam is free, but there's a catch—you gotta buy your frames and lenses from them.

Grace White66 said:I have a few needles I need to toss. They were meant for drawing saline from a vial; what's the best way to get rid of this kind of waste?

Every needle comes with a plastic cap. Just pop that back on and toss it in the regular trash.
If you don't have the caps, just wrap them up in several layers of thick paper and throw them in the garbage.

There isn't really any organized system for disposing of this type of household waste here in the States.
Even people living with diabetes just toss their needles and lancets in the trash.

Kenneth Walker27 said:How long does it usually take to get an appointment for a CT scan or an MRI?

It really depends on
the hospital or medical facility you're using,
your specific diagnosis,
and which part of the body they need to look at—like the brain, lungs, and so on.