My podiatrist said she might want to get an MRI of my left foot if the cyst grows any bigger. I mentioned I was having an MRI of my left knee the next day. Too bad my podiatrist’s private practice is associated with Mt. Auburn hospital and my MRI was ordered by a doctor at Brigham & Women’s hospital.
Brigham is part of the Partners Healthcare network and Mt. Auburn is considering joining, but it hasn’t happened yet. When I happened to say that, my doctor was shocked, and asked how I knew about that. I didn’t know what to say. I’m a patient with chronic illness, with doctors spread throughout multiple hospital networks. Of course I watch for these kinds of things in the news! It affects my life too much to not pay attention.
Then I got that MRI of my knee, and it’s not great. I’ll know more after I see the specialist on Tuesday, but it looks like my knee cartilage is being worn away by wear and tear. This is never good, but it’s especially not good for someone in her 30s who needs her knees to last another 50-60 years!
Now who should I tell about the MRI? So far I figure I should tell my primary care physician, my podiatrist, my naturopath, and my physical therapist. Maybe I’ll come up with more later, but for now, those 4 should know. Too bad NONE of them are in the same network as each other or as the doctor who ordered the MRI.
I have written about this before and I know that I will again. Because it sucks, and because it impacts my health in a very real and very negative way. The one consolation is that at least I have the option of emailing information. It doesn’t have to be done by phone and fax. So I copied the text of the MRI report and pasted into an email to my PCP. It’s not perfect, but for now, it’s good enough. I will have to continue to do that throughout this process, I’m sure.
I just hope nothing falls through the cracks. Because it is up to me to keep up with the paperwork. My doctors won’t communicate with each other, and if something falls through the cracks (again) it could be very bad for my health. It shouldn’t be up to the patient, but it is.
This is just one more example of why, in my experience, only healthy people say our system isn’t broken.
Chronic Rants 
If you are seen by the nhs you can be sure your results will end up in the system and can be seen by your Dr at the surgery, any hospital or emergency service if they look that is, which is a whole other issue. Nowhere near as frustrating as yours. The cost of having two mri’s instead of one visit to do both parts. I can’t even begin to understand your irritations and concerns but it must be thoroughly exhausting to see so many people and keep track of everything. I need a knee and hip replacement on my right side but have a bit more weight to loose so I won’t need another one so quickly. Big hugs xx
Good luck with your surgeries, Lorna! And yes, keeping track of it all is definitely exhausting.