Response Time

[Michaelena]

Hi Everyone,
For those of you not self monitoring, what have you been told by the "experts" a reasonable response time, (from PCP or whoever manages warfarin levels) after blood is drawn.

My PCP's office does not respond very quickly, the best is 2 days, the worst has been a week. I have an HMO, (for now, will be changing) and everything must go through the PCP.

Thanks in advance.
Michaelena

 

[Karlynn]

If you are speaking about an INR, 2 days might as well be never. You should get a response the day of the draw and at least before you take your next dose of Coumadin.

A doctor that waits 2 days to respond to an INR is a doctor that doesn't understand Coumadin enough to manage it. IMHO

My card from years ago, the one that saw me through my plight pre and post surgery, always ordered the results STAT and got very unhappy if I didn't get them (I would call for the numbers) in less than 2 hours.

 

[Ross]

You MUST have the results and dosing instructions the SAME day. Otherwise, it's absolutely worthless.

 

[hensylee]

brother's are sent to his cardio same day; his response is same day.

 

[Nancy]

Get on your phone and JUMP all over them and if they are not able to do their job, then FIRE them. Two days or a week are meaningless, absolutely. It's obvious that they don't have a clue what they are doing, or worst case scenario, don't care. Laziness comes to mind!

Do not put up with this kind of nonesense, it's ridiculous and very, very unprofessional. If it's the HMO that's causing this problem, call them and jump ugly with them as well. If you have a stroke or something else related to this problem, it will cost them much, much more than the simple act of calling you with the results in a timely manor.

this is not the time to be polite!

 

[John & Joann]

Prior to the coumadin clinic (results instant), Joann would often have the test in afternoon and results early the next morning. You should never have to wait over 18 hrs.

If they can not do the job quickly. look for a coumadin lab. They use the finger prick and the results are instant. Also eliminates the scar tissue in the elbow area. BAD NEWS when you are admitted to hospital.

Still clicking since 1971 with 2 valves.

 

[Guest]

Not getting the results back to you on the same day falls below the standard of care. It would be like stealing my fee to get this doctor on the other side in a malpractice suit.

 

[Michaelena]

Thanks everyone, I really really appreciated your feed back. At least I know I am not crazy for expecting to hear back from them the same day even if it (INR) does not change or is within acceptable limits.

You feed back and unbiased opinions are valuable, now I can approach them (HMO & PCP) get to the bottom of it.

I will let you know how the saga ends.

Many thanks
Michaelena

 

[Michaelena]

Get on your phone and JUMP all over them and if they are not able to do their job, then FIRE them. Two days or a week are meaningless, absolutely. It's obvious that they don't have a clue what they are doing, or worst case scenario, don't care. Laziness comes to mind!

Do not put up with this kind of nonesense, it's ridiculous and very, very unprofessional. If it's the HMO that's causing this problem, call them and jump ugly with them as well. If you have a stroke or something else related to this problem, it will cost them much, much more than the simple act of calling you with the results in a timely manor.

this is not the time to be polite!

Nancy,

"No more nice gal."

Michaelena

 

[Guest]

Kaiser in Denver has over 6,500 members in their HMO warfarin clinic. Everyone who gets their blood drawn before (10:30 I think) gets their results back the same day. This is the largest operation in the US, so don't let them tell you that they have too many members to accomplish the task. What they will be saying is that they want to keep the profits from a shoddy operation, not spend the money to bring it up to a quality operation.