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

It’s the same old story at the state labs—they process high-level testing with all the urgency of a routine CBC. You wait for the doctor to finally send over that electronic referral, then you trek down to the clinic just to get blood drawn.

It seems everyone at Mayo Clinic is likely out on summer vacation right now, which leaves me wondering: can I go ahead and place an order while they're away, or am I stuck waiting until the whole crew returns?

Not everyone is on vacation right now, you know. :-) Orders are being processed just like they always are.

I really need some advice here.
I’ve been dealing with sciatica for quite a while now, and honestly, it’s becoming unbearable. I already went through two separate 10-day rounds of physical therapy, but if anything, I feel like I’m actually worse off than when I started. Right now, I’m scheduled for an EMG—you know, that nerve conduction study—and then a follow-up appointment with my current physiatrist.

I’m reaching my breaking point. The pain is constant, and it’s getting to the point where I can barely function in my daily life. I think it might be time to just bypass the system and see someone privately. Does anyone have any recommendations for a solid clinic or a specialist? I’m looking for someone who actually knows what they’re doing.

Steven Lopez77 said:The staff at Mayo Clinic are probably all off on summer vacation right now, so I was wondering if I could just book an appointment while they're away, or am I stuck waiting until everyone gets back?

Just send over your referral or whatever—actually, just try booking it. I’m pretty sure things are still running normally; there's bound to be someone manning the desk, though you'll most likely end up with a later date depending on what kind of specialist you're looking for.

So, I was wondering... is there like, some kind of master dashboard for online booking where you just plug in what you're looking for and it spits out all the available slots across the whole US?

Thanks 🙂

Hah. There's nothing 🙂. You've got plenty...
of hospitals, at least.

You can find it somewhere on the Social Security Administration website

It’s that purple section over on the left side.

Just type in whatever info you're looking for, pick your state, and then you just follow the prompts step-by-step.🎉

thanks 🙂 hopefully it stays up :/

and don't even get me started on our healthcare system—seriously, you can check the portal in Chicago, and they'll show you that appointments ARE available, BUT they won't actually tell you when! Like, you basically have to show up IN PERSON just to book a slot.

they're just absolutely fantastic, aren't they? :/

Can I actually pick up medications using a private prescription from a specialist based in another country? 😕

If you’ve been waiting for a check-up in neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, or gynecology, this week is Open House week.

From September 1st through the 8th, our medical teams will be holding extra slots during the afternoon hours for initial screenings and diagnostic procedures. No special prep is required, though you will still need a referral from your doctor...

So, why wait? Come on down.😁

Sandra Brooks91 said:If you've been waiting on a consultation or some diagnostic testing in neurology, cardiology, GI, or OB/GYN, this week is actually Open House week at the hospital.

From September 1st through the 8th, the medical teams will be running extra initial screenings and diagnostic procedures during the afternoon hours—specifically those things that don't require any special prep beforehand, though you'll still need a referral from your primary doctor...

So, yeah, if you need something done, now might be the time to jump on it. 😁

Is that happening at all the hospitals in the area?

Maybe try doing a little digging on Google? You'll find plenty of info regarding a few spots in Chicago and other major US cities...

It’s not really a matter of papyrology 🙂.
Is a doctor actually allowed to log temperature charts into a computer and then
just print them out? Or does everything have to be recorded by hand—you know, using a pen? I wonder if there’s some specific federal regulation regarding this sort of thing.

Honestly, when even the doctors can't get their stories straight, you just know this forum is going to have an opinion 😬

So, I went to see my neurologist, and after a whole ordeal, they sent me off for more testing with this diagnosis:
G45.9 - transient cerebral ischemic attack, unspecified.

The specialist's report basically says I need to head out for:
A brain MSCT/MRI + MRA scan.

Then I go to my primary doctor to actually get the referral paperwork, and this person has absolutely no clue if they should be ordering a CT, an MRI, or whatever else—though, hey, at least some kind of referral was typed up. So, I send the thing over to the hospital to try and book my appointment, and this is the response I get back:

"It’s honestly hard to tell which specific test you actually need based on this referral.
Your doctor needs to decide what’s required, because even looking at the findings, it’s totally unclear.
The referral mentions an MRI, but then the requested procedure is listed as an MSCT.
An MRI is one thing, and an MSCT is something completely different."

😁 *facepalm*

Anyway, does we have any neurologists lurking around here who could give me some actual advice on which scan I should aim for given the diagnosis? Should I be pushing for the MRI or the MSCT?

MR is always the better choice, plus there's zero odor. It’s really just about protecting your ears from the noise.

I ran into a bit of an awkward situation today and I won't bore you all with the gritty details, but I was wondering if paper referrals are actually kept anywhere—like in some kind of filing cabinet or folder—and for how long? Also, who on earth am I supposed to contact if I need to track down one of those lost forms... Thanks.

Sandra Brooks91 said:Honestly, the MR setup just hits different every single time—plus, it doesn't have that weird radioactive vibe. You really just gotta grab some ear protection to drown out the noise.

Thanks so much, 🙂

I’m hoping I’ve landed in the right corner of this forum. I’m looking for some guidance on how to actually navigate the process of seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist, because I’ve been struggling with chronic insomnia and debilitating headaches for years now. I’ve already seen a neurologist, and I’m currently on a waiting list for an MRI in about a month or so, but honestly, I have this nagging feeling that the root of everything is psychological. Does anyone know if I can see a therapist through my insurance provider using a referral, or is it strictly out-of-pocket? Because, frankly, money is incredibly tight right now—I’m a student currently scrambling to scrape together $1667 within the next ten days just to cover my tuition fees, all because I barely scraped by with a single passing grade on my exam and still need one more credit to qualify for the standard enrollment rate...
Thanks so much, 😉