Source of cost in healthcare

B

barbara

Pioneer Founding member
EXCELLENT ARTICLE. I have refused many tests that my doctor claims I should have because I am not convinced they would help me whatsoever and they would be time consuming and costly and I don't want to spend time having medical tests run when I could be doing something I enjoy. The Reader's Digest had an excellent article on the value of some of these preventative "tests" that doctors push on us and the conclusion was that many of the tests did nothing to help patients whatsoever who were not in a high risk group for whatever the disease the preventative test might be for. I don't need to pad the coffers of my doctor.

I also see a lot of waste with my oxygen supplier. I ask for one water bottle and they leave 5. I ask for one fanny pack and I am sent 2 of them, each billed to my insurance company at a whopping $127.00. I did return one of them and complained loudly about the cost. I think I could have made one for about $2.00. I also have the driver show up for a fill on my liquid tank when another driver may have been there the day prior. It's poor management and everyone trying to milk the system.
 
Z

zee

New member
Healthcare Ripoff

On top of having COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, I also have a serious case of sleep apnea. As a result, I use a bi-pap and a humidifcation chamber. My humidification chamber needs an inexpensive repair, but most of the home health companies and Fisher Paykel want me to buy a new one. Figure that out.

Here is the hoopla I have had to put up with from crooked medical supply organizations. I have contacted Lincare and they indicate they only sell new ones. Fisher Paykel is mainly to blame. Most home healthcare companies got out of the repair business in the last decade.


Hi Zee,
Thank you for contacting Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. In terms of our
products we do not repair any of them, we just send out replacement
units. In order to get replacements, you would have to contact your home
care provider and state the issues you are having with the chamber and
the CPAP and in turn they will contact us about the issues. We are
unable to send out our products directly to patients because we are just
eh manufacturers. If you can tell me the type of chamber you have and
how it is falling apart I can document your complaint. For the
humidifier, if you can give me the reference number and serial number I
can also document the complaint. If you have any more questions feel
free to contact us back. Have a great day.

Jason Cunanan
Customer Care Specialist
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
15365 Barranca Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92618
Email: JASON.CUNANAN@FPHCARE.COM
Phone (800) 792-3912 ext. 1392
Fax (949) 453-4095

-----Original Message-----
From: Zee
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 1:03 PM
To: Customer Care USA
Subject: Re: Records

YES
----- Original Message -----
From: "Customer Care USA" <Customer.CareUSA@fphcare.com>
To: Zee
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 12:47 PM
Subject: RE: Records


Hi Zee
So you are the patient?

Jason Cunanan
Customer Care Specialist
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
15365 Barranca Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92618
Email: JASON.CUNANAN@FPHCARE.COM
Phone (800) 792-3912 ext. 1392
Fax (949) 453-4095

-----Original Message-----
From: Zee
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 12:20 PM
To: Customer Care USA
Subject: Re: Records

Yes. Are you able to fix my humidification chamber?

Zee


----- Original Message -----
From: "Customer Care USA" <Customer.CareUSA@fphcare.com>
To: Zee
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: Records


Hi Zee
Are you the patient using the device or the hospital?

Jason Cunanan
Customer Care Specialist
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
15365 Barranca Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92618
Email: JASON.CUNANAN@FPHCARE.COM
Phone (800) 792-3912 ext. 1392
Fax (949) 453-4095

-----Original Message-----
From: Donald Whiting [mailto:xx1@att.net]
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 11:01 AM
To: Customer Care USA
Subject: Re: Records

This presents a problem. Doesn't anyone manage this in inventory
control?
On an entirely different note, I have a Fisher Paykel humidification
chamber
that is falling apart. I believe it would be cheaper to repair it than
to
buy a new one. Can I send it in to you for servicing? The push down
lip on
the front lost a spring or a screw. How much does it cost and where do
I
send it?

Zee



----- Original Message -----
From: "Customer Care USA" <Customer.CareUSA@fphcare.com>
To:
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 10:51 AM
Subject: Records


Hi Zee
Thank you for contacting Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. In terms of a
particular CPAP we sell to a customer, we don't keep track of serial
numbers so we are not able to tell you who bought a particular CPAP.
Hope this answers your question and have a great day.

Jason Cunanan
Customer Care Specialist
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
15365 Barranca Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92618
Email: JASON.CUNANAN@FPHCARE.COM
Phone (800) 792-3912 ext. 1392
Fax (949) 453-4095

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 10:44 PM
To: Customer Care USA
Subject: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Web Site : General enquiry (31 July
2009 23:44)

Name:Zee
E-mail:
Subject: General
Country: United States
Company Name: Fisher Paykel
Position: Customer
Hospital Name: Swedish Hospital
Product Enquiring About: c-pap Humidifier
Comments: Would it be possible to trace back some records on who you
sold a humidifier to? There is an unresolved billing issue that would
be difficult to resolve without this information.


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____________________________________________________________

This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential information. If you
are not the intended recipient (or have received this e-mail in error)
please notify the sender immediately and destroy this e-mail. Any
unauthorized copying, disclosure or distribution of the material in this
e-mail is strictly forbidden.
 
Z

zee

New member
Ripoff Report -- Fisher Paykel wants me to buy a new one.

Randal,
Attached is a letter stating we no longer service the HC150. Because we
are unable to service it, this letter should help you get a new machine.
Hope this helps.

Jason Cunanan
Customer Care Specialist
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
15365 Barranca Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92618
Email: JASON.CUNANAN@FPHCARE.COM
Phone (800) 792-3912 ext. 1392
Fax (949) 453-4095
 
B

barbara

Pioneer Founding member
Ripoff is right. How much of this goes on all the time? No wonder costs are out of control.
 
Z

zee

New member
Entire healthcare system in the US is a big ripoff

This morning I called Mercy San Juan Hospital in Sacramento, a Catholic Hospital, and requested that they transfer my chest x-rays from 1998 to UCSF. The response I got from Mercy San Juan was that they destroy all films after seven years and have destroyed my chest x-ray. To make matters worse, the medical records department told me they don't accept faxes or emails for records request -- even with a signature. At this point I lost my patience and asked for the hospital lawyer and risk manager. I did speak with the risk manager and they appeared to be a little more cooperative. As a general rule, the risk manager or the hospital's lawyer will be more cooperative. I did leave a message for one of the nuns who works in administration and I suggested that the hospital change its policy and return records to patients instead of destroying them. If you have COPD, those earlier records are essential in helping a clinician to evaluate lung scarring over time.

I then called the Polyclinic Radiology in Seattle and was told a similar story. However, the x-ray wasn't destroyed because it was not older than seven years. 7 years is not a very long amount of time. However, they gave me a bad time on the phone as well. After being put on hold and disconnected several times, an incompetent moron in the film room told me that HIPPA prevented him from discussing availability of films by email.

Patient beware. Virtually all radiology office will destroy your x-rays after seven years. If you want those records, you need to get them and keep them yourselves because the truth is that none of these people care about you. They are there to make a buck and will destroy your records instead of paying money for storage retention. Some of the newer offices are converting to digital technology, but still a vast majority of offices are using the old film design. Get your records now or loose them! If your office is digital, you still need to get a copy of those digital records as well.
 
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