clancy
12-14-2005, 11:35 AM
Back in August I spent a week in the hospital for treatment of a leg infection which caused ulcers to open. I was seeing a vascular specialist in addition to my medical doctor. The specialist decided to admit me into the hospital where his office is located. My MD does not have privileges in this hospital. The specialist could not admit me himself because he is a surgeon, only a MD can admit you. The specialist had me admitted on a Wednesday by an infectious disease doctor who would be formulating the intravenous antibiotics they had decided on as a course of treatment.
On Thursday morning, as a courtesy, I called my medical doctor to let him know I was in the hospital. Two hours later I was approached by a doctor who told me he was a partner of my MD. He had privileges in this hospital and would be taking over as my MD of record. I asked him if he would fill out a form for me for NJ State Disability benefits. He declined. "I don't know you or anything of your medical history. I would feel more comfortable if you waited until you are discharged from the hospital and had my partner take care of it." So, he knew me well enough to get paid by my insurance company as my MD of record but not well enough to see that I got paid.
On Friday morning a woman from the hospital admitting office came to my room. She removed the patient bracelet from my wrist and replaced it with a new one that listed the new MD as my doctor. Without my knowledge or consent the doctor had discharged me and then re-admitted me under his name.
On Saturday morning I had an incident where one of the ulcers began bleeding profusely. A hospital MD was not available so I ended up with a resident doctor. While he was applying a pressure bandage to stem the flow a woman entered the room and told me she was doctor so and so and was covering my MD's patients for the weekend. I told her it was perfect timing as I needed the services of a doctor then and there. She left the room for what I thought was a consultation with the resident. About ten minutes later the resident returned to make sure I had not started bleeding again. I asked him where the doctor was and he informed me that she had left.
On Sunday morning the woman doctor returned. When I saw her I started screaming. "What kind of doctor are you? Yesterday I was sitting here in a bed full of blood and you simply walked away! What are you even doing here?"
She informed me that she was there to protect the financial interests of my MD. I can't print my response to her.
On Monday morning my new MD came by for a visit. I told him I didn't want to see him ever again. While he was in my room I called his partner, my regular MD, and read him the riot act.
Now here's my problem. In addition to the money that this doctor has stolen from my insurance company for doing absolutely nothing his office has sent me a bill seeking $200.00 from me for services rendered. I'm not looking to sue anyone but I would like to reply to his office threatening a malpractice lawsuit to get them to rescind this bill. Am I correct in assuming I have the grounds to carry out this action?
On Thursday morning, as a courtesy, I called my medical doctor to let him know I was in the hospital. Two hours later I was approached by a doctor who told me he was a partner of my MD. He had privileges in this hospital and would be taking over as my MD of record. I asked him if he would fill out a form for me for NJ State Disability benefits. He declined. "I don't know you or anything of your medical history. I would feel more comfortable if you waited until you are discharged from the hospital and had my partner take care of it." So, he knew me well enough to get paid by my insurance company as my MD of record but not well enough to see that I got paid.
On Friday morning a woman from the hospital admitting office came to my room. She removed the patient bracelet from my wrist and replaced it with a new one that listed the new MD as my doctor. Without my knowledge or consent the doctor had discharged me and then re-admitted me under his name.
On Saturday morning I had an incident where one of the ulcers began bleeding profusely. A hospital MD was not available so I ended up with a resident doctor. While he was applying a pressure bandage to stem the flow a woman entered the room and told me she was doctor so and so and was covering my MD's patients for the weekend. I told her it was perfect timing as I needed the services of a doctor then and there. She left the room for what I thought was a consultation with the resident. About ten minutes later the resident returned to make sure I had not started bleeding again. I asked him where the doctor was and he informed me that she had left.
On Sunday morning the woman doctor returned. When I saw her I started screaming. "What kind of doctor are you? Yesterday I was sitting here in a bed full of blood and you simply walked away! What are you even doing here?"
She informed me that she was there to protect the financial interests of my MD. I can't print my response to her.
On Monday morning my new MD came by for a visit. I told him I didn't want to see him ever again. While he was in my room I called his partner, my regular MD, and read him the riot act.
Now here's my problem. In addition to the money that this doctor has stolen from my insurance company for doing absolutely nothing his office has sent me a bill seeking $200.00 from me for services rendered. I'm not looking to sue anyone but I would like to reply to his office threatening a malpractice lawsuit to get them to rescind this bill. Am I correct in assuming I have the grounds to carry out this action?