Question about delayed communication from Cleveland Clinic

[dj/utvolsfan]

I am definitely not complaining, so don't take this wrong....but it has been about a month since I went to CCF and I still haven't received any kind of written communication regarding diagnosis, etc. My doctors told me to call at the two week mark if I hadn't heard anything back so I did call them at which time I had a really nice talk with one of the doctors who told me everything I needed to know. However, he told me I should be receiving a letter. I wouldn't be too awfully worried, but I need the info from the hospital to start my request for the use of my school board's sick bank of which I am a member.
Also other than a call which I initiated, I haven't heard anything from the surgeon's office. Am I panicking over nothing here? Is this the norm? Goodness only knows I know these people are the best and along with that kind of status comes the high case load. Just curious....

 

[ArleneT]

I didn't go to CC prior to my surgery. All my pre-op tests were done a few days before surgery, so I never received a letter regarding diagnosis, etc. The only information I received from them was a packet about a week before I left that included booklets on surgery FAQs, maps of CC, etc. It also had my schedule for the pre-op days.

I did have to call several times to get information before surgery that I needed, but they were always prompt about calling back. I would call them about the letter, especially since you neeed it to get your sick leave status activated.

Good luck,
Arlene

 

[Kate]

I had my surgery at CC and praise them to the skies whenever I get the chance - I received amazing care. That said, I have also waited 1 month or more for documentation. My recommendation would be to call again, explain why you need the documentation as soon as possible and try to get someone to personally commit to making sure the records get in the mail. If you feel like the first person is blowing you off, call back and try someone else (if you can't get good service from your Dr.'s office, try medical records or even billing.) Best of luck, Kate

 

[Turkey Hunter]

I am definitely not complaining, so don't take this wrong....but it has been about a month since I went to CCF and I still haven't received any kind of written communication regarding diagnosis, etc. My doctors told me to call at the two week mark if I hadn't heard anything back so I did call them at which time I had a really nice talk with one of the doctors who told me everything I needed to know. However, he told me I should be receiving a letter. I wouldn't be too awfully worried, but I need the info from the hospital to start my request for the use of my school board's sick bank of which I am a member.
Also other than a call which I initiated, I haven't heard anything from the surgeon's office. Am I panicking over nothing here? Is this the norm? Goodness only knows I know these people are the best and along with that kind of status comes the high case load. Just curious....

\
You are very right to wonder why you havn't gotten a letter. My recommendation would be to call Dr. Stewart again and request the letter, while explaining why you need it. They will understand and I am sure will get it to you as soon as possible.

As far as being contacted by the surgeon, my first contact with my surgeon at CCF was my first consult, no written communication before or after unless I requested it.

I hope you are still sleeping well. Take care and God Bless,

Ben

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Still sleeping well, but too much!

Still sleeping well, but too much!

Hey Ben, I am calling Dr. Stewart today. Checking my mail has become a major source of frustration for me. I am waiting for a WV state income tax refund as well as the communication from Cleveland. Both are testing my patience. I am having to be docked pay (5 days worth) before I can start using the sick bank for my surgery/recovery so the refund will definitely help bridge the gap for me. Oh well, you know what I think is my problem? I am just plain tired and no matter how much sleep I get, I still wake up teary eyed and exhausted. I feel like I am getting weaker and weaker every day. I hope it is in my head. I have pre-surgery dental work scheduled today and was needing to take the day off........to help divide up my docked pay over several pay periods............well, I was so darn tired after teaching and then tutoring an hour after school, that I just didn't have what it took to clean my desk and get my 'stuff' together for a substitute today. How pathetic is that?? Five weeks from today.
Debbi


You are very right to wonder why you havn't gotten a letter. My recommendation would be to call Dr. Stewart again and request the letter, while explaining why you need it. They will understand and I am sure will get it to you as soon as possible.

As far as being contacted by the surgeon, my first contact with my surgeon at CCF was my first consult, no written communication before or after unless I requested it.

I hope you are still sleeping well. Take care and God Bless,

Ben[/QUOTE]

 

[Ross]

Debbi they are notoriously slow with communications via mail. Do as suggested and call the Doctor and inform him or his nurse exactly why it's imperative that you receive a response. They may be world class care, but they are last class in the communications department.

 

[barbwil]

e-mail? phone? fax?

e-mail? phone? fax?

I knew I had Dr Pettersson's card somewhere; just a matter of finding it in all the material with which they load you down.

his office 216 444 2035 or 1 800 223 2273 ext 42035
fax 216 445 3294
I'll send you his email if you didn't already get it before I deleted it here.

He has a very nice secretary who would probably get some action for you.
God bless, Barb

 

[Turkey Hunter]

No offense meant, but 'personal business' e-mail addresses should not be given out on a public forum. Maybe best in a PM.
The docs at CCF have at least two e-mail addresses, one which is personal and one that is gone through by there assistants.

I would hat to see Dr. P's e-mail change and not have it anymore. Just a thought.

Ben

I knew I had Dr Pettersson's card somewhere; just a matter of finding it in all the material with which they load you down.

his office 216 444 2035 or 1 800 223 2273 ext 42035
fax 216 445 3294
e-mail

He has a very nice secretary who would probably get some action for you.
God bless, Barb

 

[barbwil]

You're right, Ben!

You're right, Ben!

No offense taken. I thought of that after the fact but then I also thought that they themselves make it public by including it on the cards they give out. Guess I was caught up in Debbie's frustration. Barb

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Finally...communication from Cleveland!

Finally...communication from Cleveland!

Someone wrote me earlier that once CCF communication DOES start, it is consistent and I do find that to be true as well. Anyways, just wanted to report that my Dr. Stewart not only wrote me, but he called me also. Maybe I was a bit too squeaky. He was so very sweet and compassionate as always. (I have good insurance too)
I am finding that days are flying by. Now that everything is in motion, wow, before I know it another week has passed. I am staying really, really busy at school. For those of you who are familiar with special ed, it is 'special ed season' for me. That means I have tons of specialized education programs to write, reports on this year's group, and lots and lots of training, then meetings with parents of next year's kids. ...not to mention still trying to teach....so in other words, I am going to be ready for a vacation at Cleveland World.
It will be ok!!

 

[geebee]

Deb,
Just think of your visit to CC as a visit to one of the world's best spas. You will come out so much better and have people to wait on you hand and foot. You can be so lazy you don't even have to breathe on your own for awhile.
BTW - did you move from Hurricane?

 

[ArleneT]

Make it a real spa experience by taking advantage of the massages given in the John Roberts Spa on the 10th floor heart section! It really helped my back soreness after surgery.

Arlene

Deb,
Just think of your visit to CC as a visit to one of the world's best spas. You will come out so much better and have people to wait on you hand and foot. You can be so lazy you don't even have to breathe on your own for awhile.
BTW - did you move from Hurricane?

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Massage....

Massage....

Hey, Arlene, How are you doing? Should I schedule my massage ahead of time or play it by ear? What did you do?
My kids and I are counting down. 14 more days together! Yikes! 14 more days to do about 100 days worth of work!!!

Make it a real spa experience by taking advantage of the massages given in the John Roberts Spa on the 10th floor heart section! It really helped my back soreness after surgery.

Arlene

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Gina...

Gina...

Yes, I did move. I will have to write you a pm and let you know why. One of those why, why, why type situations... right now I am heading out to work with a homebound student. Those days are counting down. I am just about finished with all my 'extra' work. Feels good, but at the same time, it is one less bumper, if you know what I mean before the 'big show'
Talk to you later, Debbi

Deb,
Just think of your visit to CC as a visit to one of the world's best spas. You will come out so much better and have people to wait on you hand and foot. You can be so lazy you don't even have to breathe on your own for awhile.
BTW - did you move from Hurricane?

 

[ArleneT]

I had two massages because I was having so much back pain and scheduled each of them two days in advance. The number to call is posted in each of the rooms. There is a charge and you pay it by credit card directly to the John Roberts Spa. Just give them the info when you call to schedule. I did a 30 minute session ($40) and wished I had scheduled an hour ($75), but I wasn't sure before I went if it was going to be tolerable to try to be on a massage table. However, as I soon found out, comfort wasn't an issue! Pure bliss!!

I am doing great. Just saw my cardiologist today and am released to go back to work next Monday which will be 6 weeks from surgery. I'm lucky that I can work from home and have been doing about 5 or 6 hours a day for the last few weeks or I would have pushed to go back sooner.

I'm amazed at the difference in how I feel today compared to last week. When I cough or sneeze now, it is a little sore, but not at all close to painful like it was at first. I also have a lot more energry this week.

By the way, I was told at one time that I had a salivary gland tumor also and it turned out to be just a "plug" in the tube. Good luck with that surgery also! You will do fine.

Can't wait to hear your good news after the surgery. Will someone be posting for you before you are able to get down the hall to do it yourself?

Arlene

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Arlene.....

Arlene.....

Hey again, Thanks for the encouragement. I am not too awfully worried about the salivary gland problem. I would just like to get it taken care of just to make sure! Not to mention that the weather is getting ready to turn warmer and I feel a little weird wearing my hair back with this 'thing' on my face. I am so happy to hear that you are doing good. Are you mentally and physically ready to go back to work? Sounds like this last week was a turning point for you. Hooray! Bet you feel like such a weight has been lifted from you.
My sister is going to be making the initial call from Cleveland for me to my teaching buddies and then I have one them lined up to get online and write an update to vr.com. Hopefully, God willing, Karen will post some good news sometime during that day...April 5. Depending on actual surgery times, etc. ... if not the 5th, definitely the 6th.
Keep healing!
Debbi

whe

I had two massages because I was having so much back pain and scheduled each of them two days in advance. The number to call is posted in each of the rooms. There is a charge and you pay it by credit card directly to the John Roberts Spa. Just give them the info when you call to schedule. I did a 30 minute session ($40) and wished I had scheduled an hour ($75), but I wasn't sure before I went if it was going to be tolerable to try to be on a massage table. However, as I soon found out, comfort wasn't an issue! Pure bliss!!

I am doing great. Just saw my cardiologist today and am released to go back to work next Monday which will be 6 weeks from surgery. I'm lucky that I can work from home and have been doing about 5 or 6 hours a day for the last few weeks or I would have pushed to go back sooner.

I'm amazed at the difference in how I feel today compared to last week. When I cough or sneeze now, it is a little sore, but not at all close to painful like it was at first. I also have a lot more energry this week.

By the way, I was told at one time that I had a salivary gland tumor also and it turned out to be just a "plug" in the tube. Good luck with that surgery also! You will do fine.

Can't wait to hear your good news after the surgery. Will someone be posting for you before you are able to get down the hall to do it yourself?

Arlene

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Debbi,

Great to hear you are feeling better about the upcomming surgery.
It sounds as if you and your kids have all the plans in place and are ready.

Take care and God Bless,

ben