Dr. Harris seems to be caring, forthright and an excellent concerned physician, But he is not properlysupported by his nurse, who lacks knowledge and blocked contact by her ignorance of the term Radical pertaining to my pending surgery, and wasted a week of my concerns to him on it. And on one occassion did not get get proper instructions for tests required for Pre-admission, which my persistance under duress of pain and medication, corrected in a second unnecessary trip. The Office Manager, Kathy is not on top of things, allowing proceddures to occure according to policy, and took my accidental change in payment to bring it to the surface, and mere days before surgery, halted it, without patience for the system to work, and NO ONE ever mentioned they DO NOT accept state or county Medical Assistance. Being a self pay, and placed on dissability by my GP, had insufficiehnt funds to cover existing bills, and in the process of aquiring financial assistance. There is no up front review of ability to pay, or coverage from local Assistance programs.
The group could not supply and post-op referrence for preperation related to my proceedure, no matter how much I begged. I live alone, and lack close friends or any family to assist me. Dr. Harris did suply ample info. specifically related to my pending surgery, and options related to ED. But my need and desire for what I could do to prepare, once home alone, never came. My personal research and networking found answers luckily from a nurse who's husband, had been through it.
I have now been scheduled and rescheduled now 3 times, a lack of coordination? The first I forgive, maybe justified, but the second, I was told, I had to come up with a fee prior to surgery, without the Office Manager, asking if I had applied for assistance, I nearly paid by Credit Card, until she noted we may take one form of assistance, which I made clear I would be sure to aquire that form, but Surgery was placed on hold as our Welfare office was taking every last day allowed by policy to place things in motion. Upon finishing our discussion she noted it will not happen as scheduled, we moved it back, even if we get payment now!
This is very disturbing and axiety producing on top of Bladder cancer, the Dr. insists must be removed ASAP. The friday (March 2)afternoon at 2 PM 2 hours before the office closes, I was told surgery will not happen unless payment is made now before 4 PM overthe previous week, she had all the information of my now processed Medical Assistance and did nothing. But now exclaimed it doesn't take affect until after scheduled surgery (March 5). Ultimately she stated they will transfere me to a Dr. at Hershey medical, for surgery.
There is much more I can add upon request to clarify to any interested parties. Edward Love 610-334-8025 10 Mill Rd. Myerstown, PA 17067
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