Getting an appointment with a renown oncologist in Chicago=Mission impossible. Is this normal?

[Blueribbon63]

In a comment, not long ago, about getting a second opinion, Tall_Allen suggested/gave out the name of a well known female Oncologist/Researcher in Chicago. I live here and want to give it a try. This past week called to her office and the receptionist took a long time to complete what she called an 'intake' so much time that I had to tell her I needed to go back to my desk as it have been more than a half an hour. The questionnaire started by asking what time of cancer and when I got diagnosed, I answer that. Then she goes, have you had a biopsy done, I said yes, she is like where and what were was it done and what were the results, I was honest and told her that I was diagnosed in 2018 and that I had a biopsy done, she almost interrupted me and said, 'well you are going to need to get a copy of the biopsy and results, translated into English' Dr such and such won't see you without that information, I explained to her that getting those documents is impossible as in Ecuador the public health insurance, where I had the procedure, diagnosis, and following treatments, is chaotic to say the least. Then it felt like alarms went on over there at the receptionist office, she put me on a long hold, came back and said wait some more as she was discussing this with her supervisor? Finally she came back and said she definitely needs to complete an 'intake' form before even looking at her calendar to see what appointments were available. This is when I told her I needed to get back to work, she told me to callback when I get more time as there were a lot of questions she has to ask. I called the next day during my one hour lunch time, the line was 'busy' the entire time. I called again the day after that and finally she picked up the call, it didn't take long for her to identify me, this time she started by asking about my Insurance, she checked and checked to make sure they will accept it. Then we went to the 'intake' she kept making remarks about how my biopsy was done in Ecuador, I tried to tell her repeatedly that now I do have an oncologist and that I am on treatment here in Chicago ,she is like ' I don't know how they are even seeing you without the biopsy results and even less, how they put you on a treatment' Then she started asking what kind of radiology scans have been done, I answered to that. And once again she asked me the name of the urologist who diagnosed prostate cancer! I said I can't remember his name, he is in Ecuador. The she proceeded to ask about contact information and then she said the Dr. Such and such will review the 'intake' to decide if she wanted to see me or not! The receptionist said it'll take a few days before I get and answer, then only then she would start looking for a day and time, I said I don't understand why it is so hard to get this appointment scheduled and that what I am looking for is a second opinion. OMG, all hell broke loose, she raised her voice and said 'the doctor doesn't see people for second opinion, it is either you are accepted as a permanent patient or not! I replied, then I'll switch my care to this office. Before hanging up, she said this is all we can do today, just wait for us to contact you!

I can't help to have this very strange feeling of being discriminated against based on my ancestry and my accent. Could it be so? Has anyone experienced this kind of behavior?

I was hoping to get to see the MO before seeing my MO this coming Tuesday, where I am not entirely happy with their procedures, such as seeing the oncologist without having lab work results as the blood samples are only taken a few minutes before I walk in his office. It is very hard to discuss a new treatment with him, he always says I call you back to let you know what is next regarding you starting a new treatment based on the lab work.

I will also get my fourth Lupron injection that I am getting every four months. And that is it.

[j-o-h-n]

Next time push 2 for Spanish........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 09/03/2023 2:13 PM DST

[Blueribbon63 in reply to j-o-h-n]

So wrong, yet so right! Viva la discriminación

[Tall_Allen]

With unemployment being so low, the quality of the administrative personnel and the ability to get through on the phone has seriously deteriorated.

[Hidden]

Please don't think it's only you - I'm in Florida, no accent, Anglo name. I was at the RO's office a couple of weeks ago on Wednesday, he told me "come hell or high water, I want you in here on Friday for your first Lupron shot." He then gave me his card (from his wallet) and said, "keep calling the front desk to get you in; email them, fax them, whatever it takes."

So I went home that Wednesday afternoon and called and called and called. Left voicemails. Same thing Thursday morning. Sent a fax with HUGE font requesting appointment on Friday per doctor, for injection. I left messages with the answering service at lunchtime. Called several times in the afternoon, busy. Finally called my MO and asked, "do you have some way to contact them, so I can get in for my first Lupron shot, and get things moving?"

The MO's patient coordinator did her thing and then called me back and said the RO scheduling supervisor would be calling me before 5, end of work day. Never happened.

The next day, Friday, I called, emailed, sent another fax. Still no word from the RO's office. Late that Friday afternoon my very headstrong wife, God bless her, took things into her own hands and drove to my local Urologist's office and asked them, can THEY give me the Lupron shot, as the RO's office is not available? "Sure. We can see him first thing Monday morning," was their answer.

This isn't the first time my wife has had to drive to a doctor's office to make an appointment. As a matter of fact she has had to do it twice in the past month with our Primary Care Physician's office. Many medical offices are severely understaffed, it's a wonder they can function at all.

[Ingress in reply to Hidden]

Why can’t your wife give you your shot?

[Heykm01]

I had the same experience trying to get a second opinion from the well known oncologist you are referencing - she doesn't give them.

Suggest you try either Dr. Smulewitz at UChicago or Dr Vanderweele at NWM, both of which also have very good reputations - though less published in the literature - and both of which give second opinions.

[Blueribbon63 in reply to Heykm01]

Thank you so much for the information. I will contact them. Stay strong.

[ellie2211 in reply to Heykm01]

I wonder why not

[Lokicliff]

I’m so sorry this happened to you fellow warriors, and that it is becoming so widespread. My friend said a wise thing the other day “When someone stops seeing another human being as a person, another child of God, then you become an “Other”. Then it becomes easy to treat you as less than or harm you. Showing up with your wife made that a lot harder to do. Technology makes it easy. We have never been treated this way at Rochester and Phoenix Mayo Clinic’s. The respect and accountability is amazing.

[Gl448]

it’s not discrimination against your ethnicity or your accent.

Think about it, you were trying to get an appointment with a world-class doctor along with thousands of other people. Demand is high and availability is low.

They have you complete an intake form, so that a quick review of your case can be made by to determine your needs.

Kind of like triage on the battlefield or an emergency room. They want to prioritize who gets in when based on urgency and readiness.

When I first asked for an appointment with Dr. Dorff at City of Hope, another renowned world class PCa specialist, I had to answer all those questions and give access to my current records.

They originally told me the first available appointment was in 8 weeks, but after Dr Dorff reviewed my intake form, he bumped me up to just 3 weeks based on how severe and urgent my case was.

Not uncommon with the doctors most in demand.

[Blueribbon63 in reply to Gl448]

I have a horrible experience with the so called "triage" not long ago and without me knowing, I had pulled one of the metastasized small rib lump by lifting some heavy furniture, the pain was unbearable, a pain I had never experienced before! I had some friends take me to the local Hospital ER, got in for triage and the only thing they deed is run a lot unrelated blood lab tests. I went in at about 7 pm and ended up living on my own at 9 am the next day. the pain had subsidized and I could move fine. The PMSA/Pet scan that was done almost a month later showed that my entire body is covered with met masses.

[Gl448 in reply to Blueribbon63]

You left on your own, that’s on you.

Triage isn’t perfect, but it sorts out the more urgent from the less.

And you should never expect comprehensive treatment for chronic conditions like cancer at the ER. They’re there to stabilize you and refer you to someone else (like your oncologist).

Anyways, good luck getting that appointment you’re after.

[carbide]

The Healthcare system is a business.Just like McDonald's at lunch time, very busy.

Supply & Demand!

I live in Surprise, AZ.

Many elderly, like me (72), all the doctors, run an assembly line style practice. 😔

[Cantchoose2]

My husband saw the woman you are referencing. We had a friend call and get us in, as the wait list is long and she does not see everyone. But yes, you have to have a urologist provide biopsy results as the starting point.

My brother was all upset at the start of this process because he saw an oncological surgeon in the same practice and couldn't understand why that man didn't call him or reassure him or have a great bedside manner. I think you have to understand what these people specialize in and how they choose patients. They see ONLY people with aggressive cancers, often stage 4. They are almost always referred by the urologist, or patients find them because they are not responding to treatment. What they are asking for from you is totally standard.

Perhaps they can opt for a liquid biopsy since the punch biopsy is gone (I'm assuming you no longer have a prostate).