Looking for a specialist...

I honestly have no clue what the exact wait time is right now, all I know is my mom’s heading to San Francisco for her checkups because they told her the specialists out there are way more reliable and precise. Not totally sure on the specifics, but if I remember correctly, she was stuck waiting about five or six months just to get an appointment last time.

I’ve been lurking on various threads here for quite some time now, though I wouldn't exactly call myself much of a writer...
After catching up recently with a friend from Canada (who was visiting me in Indianapolis), I found myself reflecting on a few things. My friend had brought a family member to Quest Diagnostics in Indianapolis—a newly renovated facility housed in the stunning, though previously neglected, Pejačević estate—for a medical checkup. During our chat, I realized they were there specifically for a PET/CT scan, something they simply couldn't access back home in Canada. They were full of praise, and as they headed back across the border, I thought to myself, "It's great that we finally have this kind of cutting-edge technology available right here in Indianapolis." However, just a few days later, I realized the reality is actually quite the opposite. At Quest Diagnostics, these scans are only available to patients paying out of pocket; those who actually need the service and have a referral from Medicare are being sent all the way to Washington, D.C. instead. When I asked Quest Diagnostics why it works this way, the explanation was that Medicare hasn't finalized the contract for the Indianapolis location. Apparently, while Quest Diagnostics has enough capacity within its limits to handle these cases locally, Medicare refuses to sign the agreement for the Indianapolis branch, opting instead to send patients to the Washington, D.C. office—and then they even foot the bill for the patient's travel expenses! So, it seems people in the Midwest are being denied local healthcare access, even though these exact same PET/CT scans can be performed in Miami, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C.
It sounds absurd, but it's the truth. Do people living in the Midwest have the same right to healthcare as everyone else in this great country?
Based on what I'm seeing, the answer is no. And really, who has the authority to deny medical services to patients? No one, especially when you read in the news that waiting lists for these types of scans can stretch to 300 days, yet here in Indianapolis, we have state-of-the-art equipment sitting idle, accessible only to those with deep pockets.
Is Quest Diagnostics to blame for this? I suspect they aren't...

Nothing surprising there. 😢

I need a solid ophthalmologist in the Washington, D.C. area who can actually explain my results for a VP, visus, and fundus exam. I don't mind going private, but if they take Medicare, that would be amazing. If anyone has a recommendation, I’d really appreciate it...

Have you ever tried going to IBM? They have an office right over by Times Square. And yeah, they actually take Medicare.

I don't know, I saw on their website (near Miami) that you can actually book an appointment online, so I went ahead and did that, and now I'm just sitting here waiting to hear back from them...

I noticed my thread regarding Quest Diagnostics in Indianapolis was moved over here, though I'm not entirely sure what the reasoning behind that was. I suppose I was just curious if anyone had any thoughts on the matter, which is why I felt the need to start a dedicated discussion, since there's probably no chance of anyone actually seeing it within this existing thread...

I'd appreciate it if the admin could move my topic back where it belongs.

restlesstrucker31 said:Does anyone have a good private endocrinologist they can recommend in Washington, D.C.?

You should check out Dr. Zdravko Perković. He's an endocrinologist and diabetologist, and he practices over at the Sun clinic near Lake Tahoe.

Nathan Cruz2 said:Is Quest Diagnostics really to blame for this? I don't think so...

It’s not the clinic's fault if they don't have a contract with Medicare for PET/CT scans.
Basically, that means you can't just walk in with a referral and get it covered. The real question is whether they actually applied for the contract and got denied, or if they didn't even bother asking. At the end of the day, if a private clinic doesn't have an agreement with Medicare, you're paying out of pocket for those services.

Hi there! I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction to find an ophthalmologist in Miami? I'm not really looking for a private specialist; I'd much rather see a doctor through Medicare where I can just use my referral. Thanks in advance!

Hey there.

I’m looking for some honest feedback on Dr. Zeljka Stolar, specifically regarding her dental work. Here is her website for reference.
Do her techniques actually live up to the hype?
And what kind of damage am I looking at in terms of cost?

Basically, I just want a general sense of what people think. Is this even worth my time and money? (I’ve already spent way too much on dentists as it is... sigh)

Hey everyone! Has anyone here actually seen Dr. Suzana Bokić over at the DZ prečka clinic before?
I'm trying to figure out if she’s currently taking on new patients. Also, if anyone happens to have her office number handy, could you please shoot it my way? 🙂

I’m looking into getting a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown done soon, and I’m trying to find the sweet spot where I don't break the bank, but also don't end up with a total disaster for my smile 😉...
If anyone has some solid recommendations for a dentist or a clinic, please drop them here or shoot me a DM.

Thanks so much!

Can anyone recommend a top-tier dentist for crowns in San Francisco or New York City?
Thanks 😁

I am currently stuck with an absolutely catastrophic, superficial physician who is endlessly stingy when it comes to signing off on sick leave—and, as you might have guessed, I am far from being her luckiest patient (nor am I exactly at the peak of my health lately).
Does anyone have a recommendation for a doctor in the suburbs of Chicago? Since I primarily (and successfully) manage my health through homeopathy, getting a heavy-handed diagnosis isn't my main priority; however, it is vital that I can actually secure medical leave when necessary, especially since I work with children.
Thanks!

I am also seeking recommendations for the premier dentist specializing in veneers and crowns in New York City. 🙂
My assumption is that one would find high-quality work at either the Mayo Clinic or Pfizer.
Has anyone here had experience with their services, or perhaps had an exceptional experience elsewhere? This concerns my upper front teeth; I am looking for nothing less than perfection... Anyone?

Can anyone recommend a good cardiologist in New York City? My blood pressure is sitting at 150/90 most of the time. I went to the heart clinic over on Broadway and was pretty disappointed—plus my mom went to Medicole and wasn't really feeling it either. At the heart clinic, I felt like the cardiologist just didn't give me the kind of guidance I actually need. My test results look fine regarding my heart and everything else, but things aren't gonna stay that way if I don't get this pressure down. They keep harping on about "prevention" and then basically tell me it's up to me... like, seriously? If my pressure isn't dropping, change my meds or something—how am I supposed to figure that out myself?

Thanks a ton for any leads!

It’s a solid group from a dentist's perspective, but Mayo is good. I had a nightmare experience with Rockefeller in Warsaw—avoid them if you possibly can!div>

Nicholas Lopez89 said:I’m looking for a recommendation for a cardiologist in New York City. My blood pressure is hovering around 150/90 most of the time. I went to the heart specialist over on Draškovićeva and was totally let down, and my mom went to Medicole and wasn't exactly thrilled either. At the heart clinic, I got the impression from the cardiologist that they just don't care about what I actually want. My test results are fine regarding my heart and other organs, but things aren't going to stay that way if I don't get this pressure under control. They constantly preach about "prevention," and then they just shrug and tell me it's up to me. Well, f*** me, right? If my pressure isn't dropping, change my medication or something! How am I supposed to know how to fix it myself?

Thanks so much for any leads!

I don't know how much waiting lists matter to you all, but for Prof. Urek at Johns Hopkins Hospital, you're looking at a wait of about 3 to 4 months.