Major vent about my ENT office

[MidwestGal]

I got my medical records today in the mail. A little background, I have an inner ear disease that the doctors office suggested I file for disability and also need further surgical intervention with the recovery time of 6-12 months.

In May, I had some paperwork for them to fill out to have the state determine me disabled so I can get the little benefit they give Families without an income without me having to go back to work and there is no time limit on the benefit if I am determined disabled.

So, I look through my records today and the form they send back to the state was vague said nothing about my referral for surgical intervention for further treatment and also that they recommended I seek federal disability (as was suggested last year prior to another surgery I had on my ears).

I am so pissed. In the section that said any other information of importance that information SHOULD have been in there!!!!

My federal disability case will likely take years. But until then if the state determines me disabled I get priority housing, reduced public transportation, and no limit on that little money I get a month. The state determination was to be made by the end of July!

Also, I think that if the state determines me disabled it will help my federal disability case. My charts say patient is disabled and can no longer work in it several times! I also have two other documents stating that, that were submitted to the state unemployment office over a year ago and says disability on there and that I have no ability to work indefinately!

Heads will roll when I talk to the nurse tomorrow morning! It took me 5 weeks to get my medical records as it is and now I find that they didn't fill out the form with proper information. I'm not happy, I have had this doc for 8 years and trusted him implicitly with my care. His nurse who filled out the form really dropped the ball on this one! It impacts my quality of life so, I feel justified to be irritated!

 

[snoozan]

SSI and disability are notoriously difficult to processes. Most people get denied the first 1-2 times they apply, and though I'm not that familiar with your case exactly, I would advise you to be prepared for it taking forever and things like this happening over and over and over.

 

[HazelGod]

Heads will roll when I talk to the nurse tomorrow morning! It took me 5 weeks to get my medical records as it is and now I find that they didn't fill out the form with proper information. I'm not happy, I have had this doc for 8 years and trusted him implicitly with my care. His nurse who filled out the form really dropped the ball on this one! It impacts my quality of life so, I feel justified to be irritated!

It's been my experience that the patients of many an excellent doctor have been frustrated and infuriated to no end by a steadily revolving array of surly and/or incompetent front office staff.

I hope things get worked out for you soon with a minimum of pain in your ass.

 

[B_ironsoul]

I work with the developmentally disabled, so I can totally simpathize with how incredibly difficult it is to get anything done. They totally don't give a shit how much you have to go through.
One of my clients had an inplant for a health reason, and the piece in the chest was literally being rejected by his body, slowly migrating outward. It was disgusting, and the only way we could get surgery to have it removed was by having the guy go through a shitload of stupid tests to prove he was incapable of signing for himself. Before he was even done the thing popped out of his skin, and it was deemed an emergency so they had to perform the surgery. He ended up getting incredibly ill because the site was infected from being allowed to stay in so long, and he was in the hospital forever.
Fucking crazy huh?

 

[whatireallywant]

SSI and disability are notoriously difficult to processes. Most people get denied the first 1-2 times they apply, and though I'm not that familiar with your case exactly, I would advise you to be prepared for it taking forever and things like this happening over and over and over.

The guy I had the longest term relationship with is going through this process right now. He has been denied twice so far. Hopefully things will work out in his favor next time. I know that it's something you have to just keep at - frustrating, I know.

 

[MidwestGal]

yeah, I talked to the nurse this morning without having to be nasty. She is going to have the doctor ammend my file. He had written in there that the surgery/device from last year had failed but did not put in there about needing further surgical intervention.

When I left the office my last visit, he told me to call back with an Otologist who would take my insurance and they would send a refferal. Also, that my options were now limited to more invasive surgury.

So, once he ammends my file she will resubmit the information to the state. She thought I was totally justified with wanting the corrected information sent.

I also asked that they send me copies of the ammended file for my complete record along with the copy they fax to the state to determine my disability status. She also noted the work "disabled at this time" in my chart more than twice which would have been pertanant information to put in my paperwork to the state.

 

[Freddie53]

There are doctors who specialize in cases like this. I was fortunate, my primary care physician knew how to fill in the paper work. There are words, certain phrases that the folks making decisions are looking for. Also you may have to have a statement from a specialist even a specialist beyond a specialist in your case. They aren't going to take the word of a primary care physician on an ear problem. You need the most advanced specialty in that area and it may not be a ear, nose and throat specialist. I think there is a specialty beyond ear nose and throat just for inner ear, not sure. If so you need a statement from one of those.

In my case, I had doctors' statements from every doctor visited. It was a choir, not a soloist. I believe I had three doctors sign off and send disability reports for me.

It is critical that the right doctor saying just the right things in the phrases they want happens in order to get your disability. I've heard of bed fast patients getting denied because someone didn't fill out the papers "Just right."

I also went to the best social security case lawyer in the area. My brother is a lawyer and said to go to him that he (that lawyer) knew exactly how to proceed and my brother said he would only delay my effort by not "doing something right."

After meeting with me, my social security lawyer said that I had such an iron clad case that he didn't want to take my money as I would win anyway, but to come back if I should lose.

I won on first round. Unable to work won't cut it with these people. You have to have statements like "can't sit at a desk and fill out routine papers for more than 15 minutes at a time. In my case stamina was a major factor. Doctor wrote it to my favor.

Back to the lawyer. The best ones work on a consignment because they can afford to. "They win cases) If you lose, you don't owe a dime, if you win, a percentage, usually a fourth or a third of what you get in back pay and up to an agreed point it time is theirs. It is a win win situation for you as you get your disability much much earlier and two/thirds of back benefits beats no benefits by a long shot.

Feel free to pm me if you wish. I think I've told you all I know. But I may cna answer something not written here.

 

[MidwestGal]

thank you for the information. My file is very complete other than my last visit and the fact he didn't write the information about needing further surgical intervention. The ENT (which is an ear nose and throat specialist) didn't do his notes very well in this case.

The otologist is a specialist in ear diseases, beyond what a general ENT can do. My ENT can no longer treat me I am beyond his ability to control my condition. Of the 400 patients he has seen with this disease, he has only ever sent 32 off to have surgical intervention and I am by far the youngest and one of the most severe he has ever seen.

I choose to move to the St. Louis area after checking with my insurance and doing research into which facility can best manage my care. Washington University is widely known in the ENT field for it's good reputation as well as their surgeous at Barnes Jewish Hospital. If someone is going to be doing major life changing surgery. I want the best in the field that I am able to get through my insurance!

I plan on getting a lawyer once I hear back from Federal. I just filled out more paperwork and sent it back. I haven't even had my interview scheduled. I expect I will by the end of summer.