Fun With Doctor Referrals
I was thinking the other day that it has been a long time since I updated about The D’s situation. That’s because there is nothing to update, at least in terms of getting him in to see a psychiatrist.
Back in November, I said that the really good psychiatry department at our medical center had a 6-8- month wait list, so we were going with another guy who could get us in much sooner.
Well, we decided that we should wait for the office affiliated with the medical school for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that they will be up-to-date on the latest information.
So since November, I have been dealing with calls back and forth to that office. They require a referral before they send you paperwork. And they require paperwork before they will put a person on the 6-8 month wait list.
This is how it goes.
Intake worker: We will call you when we get the referral.
(Two weeks later…)
Me: I didn’t hear from you. Did you get the referral?
IW: No. Let me call your doctor and I will call you back.
(Two weeks later.)
Me: I am sorry to be a pain, but I have a child here who needs help and I haven’t heard back from you.
IW: I didn’t get the referral.
So, I call the doctor. She sent it in November. And again when the intake worker called. And again now that I am calling.
I call back.
Me: My doctor faxed it…three times. I know you are busy, but I need to get my son on that list.
IW: I will send you the paper work, so you can get that going while I straighten this out.
Here I am two weeks later without the paperwork.
The office is across town. I could have driven to my doctor, picked up the referral, driven to the psychiatrist, filled out the paperwork, and gotten on the darn list how many times since November??
And people wonder why so many kids fall through the cracks. Even with very involved parents, a child cannot even get the help he needs.
Fortunately, The D is doing great. He is really becoming more self-aware and we are becoming more aware of his needs. Bob and I can see his mood and behavior patterns more clearly and be accommodating. The D is getting better at understanding how he feels and seeking out acceptable ways to cope.
There have been no violent out bursts at all in the past couple of months. No throwing things. Temper tantrums and stomping are rare.
This is the longest period of time that things have stayed “good” in a year-and-a-half.
He is still challenging to deal with, but the intensity is dialed down dramatically.
I cannot imagine what it would be like to deal with this referral fiasco, if I was still dealing with the out of control chaos and violence that I was over the summer and early fall.
