Follow up to staff issues between clinics

The doctor asked me to tell him how round #2 went. I used this opportunity to fill him in on how hard Monday was, and have him look at how low my blood pressure dropped. Then I told him about how the nurse chewed me out because my chart wasn't there, and wasn't going to allow anything other than the Nuepogen shot that had been ordered. And that it wasn't just once, but mulltiple times that she did this within earshot of other patients. He was FURIOUS! He wanted her name, but I said I do not have it. I recognize her and if she is working when I go again I can find out. He was insistant that he wants her name. I told him I think the problem may be the office manager there - because the nurse said to me, "The doctors don't understand this, but the office managers do." I think the office manager is the one putting the pressure on everyone. My doctor goes between the two offices and he says all of his patients can too! And if the office staff ever has any issues it should be solved within staff, not involving the patient, and not giving the patient a lecture - especially in the shape I was in that day. They will be electronic, but not till April.

I do have to get Neupogen shots again. I'm at the low end of acceptable for blood counts, so he expects I'll drop too far to stay on schedule without them. I asked if he could order fluids for Monday in case I need them again, since the first two cycles I did. Then I won't have trouble with the Burnsville staff. He thought that was a good idea. Rather than needing weekly labs just the first two rounds, I am now on a permanent weekly labs, and permanent Neupogen Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - with orders for fluids on Mondays. And I can just cancel them if I don't need them. Eaiser that way than the other way around. And this WILL all be done in the closer office - Burnsville.

So we thought all was settled. Michelle, the scheduler came to me to ask what times are best so she could set up my Burnsville appointments. When she called they were nasty to her. (In the past she's set up multiple appointments all over at once - Edina, Burnsville, PET scan, etc., no problems). She gave me the card and the Burnsville number and said I was required to call scheduling myself. I did, and they got me set up for the shots and the labs, but said the fluids were not on the order. The old order got faxed, instead of the new one with fluids. Michelle called to follow up and make sure the fluids were listed. They were downright rude to her. She apologized to me and told me she'd take it to regular protocal - have my doctor's nurse call a nurse in Burnsville. The problem is the charts...

Michelle has to take my charts when she goes to schedule. Then she needs to get them right back to the infusion room nurse. (This goes on while chemo is going on.) They were giving her such a hard time, that she had my files a long time - and my infusion nurse needed them for the next step. Now Nicole, my onc's nurse had a few appointments, but would need my chart to call Burnsville too. But they didn't want to have the chart gone too long from the infusion room again.

What drama! My oncologist got wind of this, and sent a very strongly worded email about the whole thing. Next thing you know, Michelle gets a call from Burnsville to set up my fluids - pushing my time to 7:40AM, saying that is the only time they had open (my shot appt was for 2:30PM). I have a feeling this is my punishment for being difficult. But I bet they will be very nice to me to my face from now on!

Kim, my nurse navigator is in charge of seeing that my chart goes back and forth - after chemo day it goes to Burnsville and stays till next time I get chemo in Edina. This should work fine from here on out.