Hockey, don't get me started on the specialist's staff and faxes of referrals. I've had it with the lazy people. The want us to do our job and theirs too--2-4 times! Patients call them and ask if the PCP sent their referral. The staff says "no, not here" but of course we did. Sometimes they throw it away because the patient isnt established with them yet so there isnt a chart (duh). Usually, they are to lazy to look. The patient calls us back claiming the referral wasnt sent. They want us to send it again. One patient went through this and actually appologized to us when she finnally saw the specialist because he thought she had been repeatedly not showing up for her first appointment. Had 4 referrals in her new chart-- all the same one!

If the referral is electronically done online, I refuse to fax it. I insist that if the patient didn't want to wait for the referral to be processed or lost it, then the specialist needs to go online at the insurance company's website and print it out. I will give the the "referral number". I've had them tell me they dont have internet access. I say 'how about the IVR--voice system. Just call and get the automated voice referral system."

Wayne
New York, NY
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