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

Does anyone know where in NYC I can get a fructosamine test done privately? Do private labs handle this? I can't seem to find it on any of their search tools online.

Is this a stupid question? I haven't quite figured out if a primary care physician can issue a referral for something like blood work based on my symptoms—one where I don't actually have to show up in person to collect a paper referral, similar to how prescriptions aren't physically picked up anymore?

I would assume so, but I’d really like some confirmation before I bother calling.

Real-world situation: I'm currently in another city and need some relatively urgent testing done.

[p.s. I am not a hypochondriac 😁 far from it; I haven't even seen a doctor in years]

That's an interesting question. I'm honestly a little worried, and I think it might just come down to how much goodwill the doctor has

I can settle everything with my doctor without any issues. In my opinion, it all just comes down to the level of trust between the physician and the patient.

Honestly, I don't think our healthcare system even works halfway yet...

I finally got an appointment at the new hospital out in the suburbs—you know, the one they just opened up. The doctor booked the slot through her computer, though she still handed me a physical referral slip anyway... kind of old school, I guess.

The last time I had bloodwork done was at the beginning of the year. I didn't even need a formal referral because my doctor handled everything on his end. I just showed up, presented my Social Security card, and that was that.
As for how one actually schedules these tests...
With the doctor I used to see (who has since retired), the medical technician was the one who actually handled all the patient scheduling. From what I could observe, most of the people being seen were elderly. Honestly, it’s hard to fathom how much patience that technician had to maintain with those seniors. 👍
Nowadays, it seems like many people are just booking their own appointments. It really appears that the entire process depends entirely on which doctor you happen to be seeing.

Sandra Bailey6 said:This might be a silly question, but I haven't quite figured out if a primary care physician can issue a referral—based on the symptoms I'm having—for something like blood work where I don't actually have to show up in person to pick up a physical slip? You know, similar to how you don't have to physically collect prescriptions anymore?

I would assume so, but I’d really love some confirmation before I go ahead and call the clinic.

Real-life situation here: I'm currently in a different city, and I need to get some relatively urgent testing done.

[P.S. I'm not a hypochondriac 😁 far from it; I haven't even seen a doctor in years]

You can definitely use a referral in a different city. The referral just specifies which test needs to be done; it doesn't mandate a specific hospital, which means you can go wherever you want. People living in the suburbs often head over to 6.2 miles a more distant part of town because the wait times are shorter. It used to be that the referral listed a specific facility you had to visit, but they don't do that anymore.

Honestly, I can barely even bring myself to pray when I finally get over to her place 👎

I need to know exactly which documents are required to apply for health insurance coverage. I've recently been laid off, so my employer-sponsored plan has ended, and now I need to file an application to get my benefits reinstated.

I am already registered with the Department of Labor, but if I recall correctly, that isn't even a prerequisite for health insurance anymore...

Hi everyone, has anyone actually gone down to Rebro to get this checked out? Does anyone know which specific building they're located in? Also, if any of you have dealt with this deficiency before, what kind of symptoms did you experience? And on average, how long does it take to get the results back?
Thanks!

Sandra Bailey6 said:This might be a silly question, but I still haven't figured out if a primary care physician can issue a referral—say, for blood work—based on symptoms alone, without me actually showing up in person? I'm wondering if it works like prescriptions now, where you just show up at the lab instead of having to physically pick up a paper slip.

I’d assume they could, but I’d really like some confirmation before I waste my time calling.

Real-life situation: I'm currently in a different city and need some relatively urgent testing done.

[P.S. I'm not a hypochondriac 😁 quite the opposite, actually; I haven't seen a doctor in years.]

Depending on what you're feeling, it might actually be worth heading to the ER...

I might be in the wrong thread... but I'm running out of options.
Would any volunteer be willing to stop by the local clinic near DZ Siget in NYC and ask if they could take names at the front desk specifically for phone-in prescription requests?
I’ve been calling for four days straight... either the line is busy or nobody picks up. Most of the time, there's just total silence on the other end.
It's critical because I need medications that I absolutely cannot stop taking, and I'm currently away from NYC...
Should I head to the ER since my usual LOM hasn't returned my calls all week?! Or am I supposed to just try buying a beta-blocker and an anti-epileptic on the street?!?!

Does anyone know if I can get my TSH, T3, and T4 hormone levels tested over at Dubrava Hospital?

How long does a referral for a hormone panel (medical biochemistry) actually stay valid—you know, that red slip?

So I just got this new referral from my doctor—I haven't actually seen a physician in years, so everything feels totally different now...
It says: Your initial consultation.

Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

What am I even looking at here? Like, what should I expect and what does this referral actually cover?
I guess I need to redo all those allergy tests since it’s been 15 years... anything else I should be prepping for?

I’m totally lost here—did something change with the rules? Is that red referral no longer valid for just 30 days, but actually 90 now? Or is it still just 30? 😢

I suppose it might be important to place the order within a ninety-day window.

Am I still covered by health insurance if I don't do anything within that 30-day window after being laid off by the Social Security Administration?
I mean, can I still show up for my scheduled appointments and everything? I'm just waiting on the paperwork to get everything squared away... but man, things are moving so slowly.

Am I still covered by health insurance if I don't do anything within that 30-day window after being laid off by the Social Security Administration?
I mean, can I still show up for my scheduled appointments and everything? I'm just waiting on the paperwork to get it all sorted out... but man, things are moving so slowly.

steeltrucker3 said:Do I still have health insurance coverage if I don't do anything within that 30-day window after being terminated at the Social Security Administration?
I mean, can I still show up for my scheduled appointments and stuff? I'm just waiting on the paperwork to get everything sorted... but man, things are moving so slow.

Ugh, look, I'm not entirely sure how the specifics work, but you should probably ask someone directly or double-check. I'll send you info on who you can contact.