How Involved is Your GI?

[xJillx]

How does your GI’s office operate? I haven’t been too happy with mine lately, one issue being the lack of involvement of my actual GI. Most contact is through her assistant, even providing me my testing results. Is this normal? I feel like my doctor should give me the results herself. Also, today the assistant called me to say the doctor was going to start me on cortisone enemas; this was quite unexpected. I had a few questions about the enemas, and she couldn’t answer them. Therefore, I posted my questions in the treatment forum – thank god for you guys!

I meet with my GI next week, and I feel compelled to bring my displeasure to her attention. I am not special and don’t expect special treatment, but I think these types of calls should come from her directly. Am I wrong?

 

[tiloah]

This has been pretty much my experience. I can't answer whether or not your calls *should* come back from your doc, but I know it takes damn long enough just to hear from the assistant for me... if I demanded to hear back from the doc I don't know how long I would have to wait. It's crazy.

 

[Crohn'sFor Life]

Any change in treatment should come directly from the GI. Whenever I have a question, I tell the receptionist. My GI will then call me back and answer my questions. When I have an emergency, my GI told me to call his personal cellphone.

 

[ambermeghan]

I don't think you're wrong, I just think that's the way it is now. When I call my GI everything goes through his nurse.

 

[xJillx]

Thanks, guys, for such speedy responses! I am glad that the way my GI's office runs seems to be the norm then. I may mention I'd prefer important calls (change in medication) to come directly from her. However, I should build up my nerve and just contact her if I have questions; I do have her direct line and email address. I do just wish she'd reach out to me instead, so I wouldn't have to worry if I am going to irritate her by contacting her.

 

[hawkeye]

Hi Jill, heres my experience

I've been fortunate to have three great GIs over the course of the disease. Any between appointment contact or questions I have had with the office was/is through the receptionist. It doesn't bother me, as the concerns or issues were dealt with in a timely manner. I think receiving a timely reply to a question is important and in this regard I have always been satisified.

Like the others have said, I think this is probably the way medical offices are run now, hey in the old days doctors made house calls.

But that being said, a change in the course of treatment like you described should have come from the GI directly what you are describing is a bit more complex than a change in dosage of a drug. The GI may have been dealing with emergency critical cases and had to hand some calls off to the nurse to deal with, but it still may be a point you want to mention at the next meeting.

Mark

 

[Jamie Lyn]

I am a medical assistant for a specialist myself.
So most GI docs not only see patients in office, they are on call at at least one hospital and do procedures at a hospital or surgicenter. Most specialists order tests and have you come in for a f/u appt to discuss the results. If pt calls before that the assistant takes the msg and relays it to the doc. Yes, usually there are questions I can't answer and I offer to move up their appt. And if the pt specifically asks to speak to the doc, then she will call.
I think it it's something bad, it should come from the doc, personally.
I am sorry you had a bad experience, unfortunately not all GI offices are equipped with phone RN's who can answer more complex problems.

 

[Jennifer]

The doctors themselves are very busy so its not unheard of to get your results from someone else and if you have any questions you can leave a message for the doctor and they will call you back personally but it may take some time. Unfortunately in some areas there aren't a lot of GI specialists so the doctors have a lot of patients on their plate so getting a hold of them in person can be very difficult but its not the fault of the doctor in this case. For me I'd rather get the results quickly from whoever rather than having to wait for an appointment for the results and treatment options which is generally how it works with most doctors.

If you have the doctor's personal number, pager, email etc. then don't hesitate to ask them any questions. They will get back to you as soon as they can and no, you are not being a bother unless you're asking them how the weather is and such.

 

[Sorbys]

I laughed when I realized what this thread was about. I read the "GI" as just "gastrointestinal," so I assumed it was about how far everyone's inflammation went into their guts. Then I giggled when I thought of how involved mine was, and wanted to respond with, "Well, I dunno, but it gives me crap every day and seems pretty clingy."

I'm still looking for a good gastrodoc. Every other problem I've had has led me to a pretty good specialist (cardiology, endocrinology), but gastroenterologists seem in short supply, and don't appear to like their jobs very much. Basically, not really any involvement or patience. Why is that?

 

[Lisa]

If I call with a question to my GI doc, I usually leave a message with 'her' receptionist/nurse - who then will either call me back with an answer, or my doc will call me back herself if it is something a bit more serious. If I need an appt, I will see her, or if not available they actually TELL me that she isn't and will offer the option of a consult with her PA.....

Other things I would call the infusion center - they were pretty good too about getting back to me - when I had pneumonia a couple years ago, they got me right in with a pulmonologist that day for a consult.

Thankfully I don't have to call often - and I think my doc knows that when I DO call, it is something fairly serious....she does know me by name, (as does the receptionist - I'm not a number) - and I think gave me her pager/cell at one point - but usually I just call the GI clinic for her.

 

[xJillx]

Thanks again to all for the response! Unfortunately, I am certainly a "number" to my GI; she only knows me if my file is in front of her. However, I can understand that as I am sure she has many, many patients. What gets me is ALL contact is through her assistant, unless I contact my GI directly or ask for her to call me back; then she will get back to me.

I would have hoped the serious and unexpected calls (such as new test orders & treatment that seemed to come out of the blue) would come from her. But I am kind of glad this seems to be the case with most offices, so I won't try to take it personally! LOL

 

[maxibear]

i call, they call back, if im in a bad way, i just go to er

 

[hainman]

i seen my gi about a month ago but before that was a YEAR before,meant to be every 6 months but got letter last year to say they had to cancel because of clinic duties so postponed it for 6months.luckily i have the number of and see frequently a gas nurse who is very helpfully and most prob keeps him in the loop but its still kinda annoying,