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

What’s the move if I don't have a referral? I have supplemental insurance and want to see an ophthalmologist and an ENT—nothing urgent, though. Is there any way to book an appointment at a public hospital without a referral, and what kind of damage are we talking about regarding the cost?

Also, can I show up for an exam with a digital referral on my phone instead of a physical paper? If I print out a color copy, will they accept that, or is it going to be an issue?

Melissa Morgan81 said:Has anyone here actually dealt with scheduling an MRI at private clinics that take Medicare? My referral says I'm eligible for the 4-6 month window (via an internal referral) on my discharge papers, but their earliest opening isn't until next January. 🤦

You should try reaching out to Affide Cavka over on Jordanovanc.

If my private doctor writes me a prescription, will Medicare or my supplemental insurance cover it, or am I looking at paying full price out of pocket?

If it’s a private prescription, I suppose you'll end up paying the full amount out of pocket.
If a specialist recommends a medication, maybe you could try visiting a primary care physician to see if they can write it under Medicare—assuming it’s actually covered on their list.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy using Reddit

Hi there—quick question for anyone who’s ever had to drop off a 24-hour urine sample at Massachusetts General Hospital... does one actually need to schedule an appointment for this, or is it enough to just show up with the specimen and the referral? Also, any idea how long the wait is for results? Thanks!

cosmicviper8 said:Got my referral for a dermatoscopy.

Called the Brooklyn Health Department and they told me they aren't taking new patients since one of their doctors quit.
They pointed me toward San Francisco or Vinogradsky.

The waitlists are a mess, but looks like it's a year-long wait for a dermatoscopy...

Any advice? Where can I get a dermatoscopy done in Washington, D.C. using my Medicare?

Hey, I'm in the same boat. At first, I thought someone was trolling because it says 2020. 🙏

Quick question: where in the US can I get an MRI done? It doesn't really matter what for right now, just something related to a previous surgery.

So, here’s the deal: my discharge papers don't mention anything about "soft tissue," the surgeon hasn't said a word about it, and my orthopedic doctor (private practice) doesn't want to bother ordering an MRI because he thinks he doesn't really need it. But my lawyer is breathing down my neck for every single medical report possible for this lawsuit, and if I don't get an MRI, there's zero chance of proving any potential soft tissue damage in court.
On a personal level, I also need the MRI so I know exactly what kind of damage we're talking about. I play sports recreationally, and honestly, I'm terrified of jumping back in and reinjuring myself. I have no clue what my "capacity" is like after this surgery, and since my sport can be pretty explosive—basically mimicking professional athletics at times—I can't afford to guess.

Why is getting an MRI prescription such a massive headache?
I have a follow-up with the surgeon in a few days, but all he cares about is the bone. He checks it every single time via X-ray, but you can't see soft tissue on an X-ray.

I already told the surgeon that I'm an athlete, but so far, these guys have only been interested in looking at bones.

Does anyone have a phone number for an imaging center where you can just call, book an appointment, get the MRI done, have the doctor read the results, pay your bill, and be out the door?

Thanks 🤗

It’s been six days of me calling Johns Hopkins Hospital—specifically the lab info line in the green building—and I can't get through. I’ve sent two emails regarding an order, but nothing. For six straight days, it's just a busy signal. They show they're open from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, but even when I start trying at noon yesterday and today, there's no answer.
I realize they must be slammed, but at some point, you'd think someone would pick up once they get tired of the ringing.
Today, I actually lost my cool a little bit... I set my phone to auto-dial continuously until I finally reached someone. It dialed about 60 times before I finally gave up and turned the setting off.
I am beyond frustrated.
The number is 012376310

Hi everyone! I'm looking for some recommendations for a private clinic to get a full physical checkup done for men—if anyone has had a great experience somewhere, I'd really appreciate it. Feel free to DM me!👍

Chloe Nguyen3 said:So, I’ve got a quick question for the group: where in the US can I get an MRI done? It doesn't really matter what for—it's just for something that's already been operated on. Any recommendations?

So, here’s the deal: my discharge papers don't mention anything about soft tissue damage at all. The surgeon hasn't said a word about it, and my private orthopedic doctor won't even bother ordering an MRI because he thinks it's totally unnecessary. But then there's the lawyer—and they're pushing hard for every single test and scan possible. Why? Because if we don't get that MRI done, we have zero chance of proving any potential soft tissue injury in court. How are you supposed to win a legal battle without the actual proof in hand, right?
I really feel like I need to get an MRI done privately, too. I need to know 100% exactly what kind of damage we're actually looking at here. Honestly, I play sports recreationally, and I’m genuinely terrified of jumping back into the game if I don't know where I stand. I have no idea what kind of "capacity" I actually have left following this surgery, you know? Some parts of my sport can be pretty explosive—it’s almost like training for a pro level—and I just don't want to risk a major injury by pushing it too hard before I'm ready. Isn't it better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your body?

So, I was thinking about this earlier—why is it such a massive headache just to get an MRI prescription written? It feels like such a simple request, right? You have the symptoms, you have the doctor, and you have the imaging center waiting. But somehow, it turns into this whole bureaucratic ordeal. Is it just red tape for the sake of having red tape? Or is there some deeper reason why getting that piece of paper feels like trying to win a marathon in flip-flops? Honestly, it makes you wonder why the system is set up to be so complicated when we all just want to get answers and move on with our lives. Why make it harder than it needs to be?
I’ve still got one more appointment with the surgeon in a few days, and since he's hyper-focused on that specific bone, he insists on checking it with an X-ray every single time. It’s a bit of a bummer, though—you can't exactly see any of the soft tissue on those scans, right?

I told the surgeon that I’m an active, recreational athlete, but so far, all they’ve done is "stare" at my bones. Is it just me, or does it feel like they aren't really listening to the lifestyle part of the equation?

Does anyone happen to have a direct phone number for an MRI center where you can just call, book an appointment, get the scan done, have the doctor read the results, pay the bill, and be out the door? You know, that "one-stop shop" kind of efficiency? Just looking for something super straightforward!

You're so welcome! 🤗

Mayo Clinic.
So, I was told that I can actually get an MRI done without needing a formal referral from my doctor. Isn't that wild? Have you ever run into something like that before? It honestly sounds like such a relief to have that kind of flexibility when you just want answers.

Kate Williams68 said:The Mayo Clinic.
They told me I could just get an MRI without needing a formal referral from a doctor first.

Look, you can do pretty much anything if you've got the cash. You don't even need a paper trail if you're willing to pay up.

Does anyone know where I can find the shortest waiting list for a breast ultrasound? What’s the situation looking like at the local health centers? I was hoping to book something at either the Laginjin or Runjanin clinics, but I can't find an email address to schedule anything, and I honestly don't have the time to drop by in person 🤷

Kate Williams68 said:Mayo Clinic.
They told me I can just get an MRI without needing a doctor's referral first.

Thanks for the heads up 🤗🤗

lonefalcon41 said:Does anyone know where the shortest waitlist is for a breast ultrasound? What’s the situation like at local health clinics? I wanted to book something at Laginjin or Runjanin, but I can't find an email address to schedule anything, and I honestly don't have the time to drop by in person.🤷

I have no clue. I'm not even from NYC. But once a year, I make the trip into the city specifically for a breast ultrasound, and I always go private to see Anderson Cooper. Seriously, I can't recommend her enough—she found cysts that the local doctors missed even when they were looking right at them. Her equipment is so high-tech that you don't even need a biopsy or a mammogram if she's checking you on her machine (though I did both before because I hadn't heard of her yet). This isn't an ad or anything, just my experience. It's the second year in a row I've gone to her, and after comparing the results, I can finally sleep easy after my appointments. The best part for me is that it's always the same doctor; at the hospital, I get a different random doctor every single time, and I usually end up waiting anywhere from six months to a full year for an appointment. With her, I'm in right away, and the exam cost me $200. My whole philosophy has always been: it's better to shell out $200 once a year for a solid checkup and wear old shoes—which is what I do—so I can actually live in peace, rather than spending months waiting for an appointment and living in constant anxiety.

@Chloe Nguyen3/">@@Chloe Nguyen3: I am 100% with you on this. I finally got an appointment at the health center at the end of November, and the guy actually had the nerve to mock me for needing blood work just because I'm young (which, honestly, I'm not even that young). Ugh, I just want to forget that whole interrogation about why I even need tests in the first place. lol.

Sent from my iPhone

lonefalcon41 said:@Chloe Nguyen3/">@@Chloe Nguyen3: I am totally with you on this one. I finally got an appointment at the health center toward the end of November, and the guy there actually had the nerve to patronize me, asking why I even needed an ultrasound just because I'm "too young" (as if!). Ugh, honestly, I just want to forget all that police investigation nonsense regarding why I need the scan in the first place. lol.

Sent from my iPhone using Reddit

I have no clue if the health centers over on Albaharijev, Barun Filipovica, or the Vrabac Health Center are open right now. As for how long the wait times are... who knows? And regarding that whole thing about being too young—honestly, just let it go. I was told I was way too young for half the things I wanted to do back in the day, and it turns out I wasn't at all.

Kimberly Ward said:I’m honestly not sure if the Health Department offices on Albaharijev, Barun Filipovica, or the Vrabac Health Center are running ultrasounds right now. I have no clue how long the waitlist is for an appointment, but regarding you being "too young"—honestly, just forget about it. I used to think I was too young for plenty of things, and turns out I wasn't.

I actually happened to be near the Health Department on Barun Filipovica this morning, so I swung by to see if they were doing ultrasounds. They gave me an appointment for late November! The guy looked at me like I had two heads—he was genuinely confused why I was showing up for a check-up when nothing is even wrong. WTF? 🤣 You could literally see the giant question marks in his eyes, lol. Anyway, I guess I'm so "young" that I'm practically hitting the age limit for a mammogram.

Sent from my iPhone using Reddit

lonefalcon41 said:So I was actually near the Brooklyn Health Department by Barun Filipovica this morning, so I swung by to see if they were doing tests. They gave me an appointment for late November, and honestly, the guy looked totally baffled. Like, he was genuinely confused why I was even there for a check-up—it wasn't even for anything specific, wtf 🤣 You could literally see the massive question marks in his eyes lol. Anyway, I guess I'm just "young" enough that I'm basically hitting the age where they start asking for mammograms.

Sent from my iPhone

I swear, when I called once to ask where they send certain tests, they told me to go to Remetinec, but then it turns out everything gets done right there or sent over to Stampar anyway.

lonefalcon41, you should probably try the Brooklyn Health Department. They actually know what they're doing, and honestly, back in the day, you could get seen pretty fast there.

Kimberly Ward said:Daisy, you should try the Brooklyn Health Department. They actually know what they're doing, and back in the day, you could get seen pretty quickly.

Thanks for the tip, I'll definitely check them out.🙂