Search results for

#OSF

#1 Click this link to see Blog page --> 02/12/2010

Tracey went to #OSF a week ago today, then faxed in her prescriptions. We still don’t have them from the #PharmacyWalgreens mail order pharmacy. They are supposed to be “in the mail” but that doesn’t do her much good now.

We can’t even figure out who dropped the ball but it sounds like both the pharmacy and the clinic got tangled up in playing phone and fax tag over not being able to read a poorly written date on the fax. Modern medical science at work.

MjL

#2 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/19/2012

Mom and I survived the trip to #OSF yesterday —— now she has to hurry up and wait for the test results to make their way through the system to the doctor and back to her.

MjL

#3 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/12/2012

I went to see Mom at #OSF hospital yesterday afternoon but very shortly after I arrived they came to take her for an MRI. It would sure be nice if that place would be organized enough to tell you within four hours or so when they intend to do things like that. Absolutely no respect for patients or family when it comes to procedures, results or time schedules. So I came back home after less than a fifteen minute visit as it was going to be an hour or more for the MRI. I just hope they get her healed up soon so she can come home.

MjL

#4 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/13/2012

#MedicalMafia #OSF
Tracey left for work around noon yesterday and I had planned to visit Mom at the hospital soon after but when I called Mom she said she had to have another MRI taken because the one taken the day before hadn’t been clear enough.

Alan was there visiting with her so I told her I would check back later. A while later I called and they still hadn’t done the MRI so Mom said she would call me after it was done.

I didn’t hear anything back until almost 7 p.m. and had thought perhaps she just wanted to rest but she called and told me they finally got the MRI done. DD was visiting with her and it was getting late so we talked on the phone a bit and I didn’t go to visit her.

I should have just gone over there in the early afternoon as I had planned. It is always something!

MjL

#5 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/05/2013

#OSF
As I expected, my trip to the pulmonologist yesterday was mostly a waste of time and $40. At least I have insurance to pay the rest of this extortion fee. The results of the data card surprised the doctor and he said I was his best patient. Evidently I am his only patient that uses the Bi-Pap machine every time I go to bed. Imagine that —— me a role model!

MjL

#6 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/06/2013

#OSF
Mom and I went to St. Francis yesterday to get a cortisone shot in her hip. What an ordeal! We arrived at 10:30 a.m. for an 11:00 appointment. It took the doctor perhaps five minutes to administer the hypodermic shot to her joint. The rest of the time was spent moving from one place to another answering irrelevant questions and listening to arcane lectures. It was almost 2 p.m. before we got out of there. I just hope it helps Mom with the pain in her hip.

MjL

#7 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/20/2014

I received a call earlier from #OSFHomeMedical. They want to pick up the oxygen supplies from Mom’s trailer since Medicare won’t pay them and the nursing home too.

The kid that called sounded like he was rather confused when I asked him when we could expect this to happen. Then he said “some time this morning”.

So I told him that I lived in Tremont and the driver should call me before he goes to the trailer so I could get there before the driver since I am coming from Tremont. I’m not sure he understood what “I don’t live there.” means.

Anyway it is already after 11:00 and the morning is fading fast. So either it won’t be this morning, they forgot to call and are sitting there waiting for me —— or who knows?

I am NOT going to go over there and wait for hours for them to come pick up their stuff. We shall see.

MjL

#8 Click this link to see Blog page --> 01/21/2014

I’m glad I told the guy from #OSFHomeMedical to call me when they were ready instead of taking him at his word that the pick up would be yesterday morning. I would have been waiting four hours or more because I didn’t get the call until almost 3 p.m.

This just reinforces my already critical view of how far you can trust people when they give you a time when they will arrive. And I don’t need that particular personality trait strengthened as I am already suspicious enough!

Oh Well. All is well that ends well I guess. I’m just glad I didn’t have any other plans for yesterday afternoon.

MjL

#9 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/23/2014

#MedicalMafia
I mentioned last Saturday that the breathing machine for my sleep apnea started giving me trouble. The saga continues ——

First thing Monday morning I called my pulmonologist’s office (#OSF) and the lady said she would “pass along” my concerns about getting a new machine. Then I called my insurance company (which I probably should have done first). I discovered that the outfit that originally sold me the machine was no longer on the “preferred” list so getting them to repair or replace it was not going to happen unless I wanted to foot the entire bill. On the good side my machine lasted long enough to be qualified for full replacement for a 20% co-pay and no deductible.

Later in the day I got a call back from the pulmonologist’s office and another nice lady said she would set up an appointment with a local medical equipment provider that was on the list. She thought they would want to repair the old one if they could. I didn’t say so, but I really don’t care what they would prefer to do —— they will do what they are paid to do. She said she would call me back and let me know what they decided I should do. I already know what I should do —— I don’t want to repair the old one. She never called back.

Later the same day another call from the pulmonologist’s office. By an amazing coincidence this person was “just calling to schedule an appointment” because I hadn’t seen (meaning paid money to) the doctor in the past year. She said she knew nothing about my previous conversations with her office. I was scheduled to see the doctor Wednesday (yesterday). I took this to mean no new breathing machine until the gate keeper had collected his fee.

I went to my appointment yesterday. The first thing I was asked was my name and birth date. The second thing was a series of questions about whether I had ever been to Africa, been in contact with anyone from Africa, anyone with Ebola, had touched or been near any dead bodies, corpses or cadavers from people who died of Ebola. etc. Yeesh.

So I shook the doctors hand and we exchanged pleasantries and he was out the door in about three minutes. They collected the fee as I left. I have an appointment to get my new machine ordered today. I could have had my car repaired in less time that it is taking to get this done. Good to know my health is a high priority with these people.

MjL

#10 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/05/2015

#MedicalMafia #OSF
I had to visit the pulmonologist yesterday for the yearly Meet & Greet. All is copacetic. I have his permission to have sleep apnea for another year and he gets paid a good sum for three minutes of conversation.

MjL

#11 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/15/2017

#MedicalMafia #OSF
Tracey took today off work so she can take me to the hospital. I will be glad to get this over with and really hope the results are not too horrible. I keep having flashbacks to seven years ago and it was not pretty —— but I survived. I guess that is the best I can hope for, that I will survive without any lasting effects.

I’m not supposed to eat or drink anything until after this ordeal is over. They don’t even want me to take my medications. I think this is over cautious but will comply.

MjL

#12 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/16/2017

#MedicalMafia #OSF
Obviously I survived my exploratory surgery yesterday. They found absolutely nothing wrong with me so it didn’t take long. The reason for the blood in my urine in the first place will probably forever remain a mystery but we now know there is nothing wrong with my bladder or kidneys.

Although I spent a lot of time waiting in one room or another, as expected, I have to say everyone treated me great. I didn’t run across anyone who wasn’t polite and genuinely interested in my welfare. That doesn’t always happen so it was the bright side to an otherwise thoroughly joyless event.

I have had some bleeding and it stings like crazy when I urinate but I think that will heal up by the end of today. It is good to have my morning coffee and get back to my normal morning routine.

MjL

#13 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/14/2017

#OSF
My visit to the pulmonologist’s office was quick and painless yesterday. I arrived at 9 a.m. for a 9:30 appointment and I was on my way back to the car in less than a half-hour. Done for another year. It took me far longer to drive there and back.

MjL

#14 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/16/2018

#OSF
I got a letter from my pulmonologist stating I needed to make my yearly appointment. I already had an appointment for next month.

I called yesterday and she discovered I was “bumped” by the doctor. I could tell she was a bit exasperated. She said, “We are always the last to know aren’t we?” Evidently he cleared the day and didn’t bother to tell the schedulers. It doesn’t sound like this is a new thing that happened.

MjL

#15 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/26/2020

#COPD #OSF #PharmacyWalmart
The saga continues for my COPD inhaler. The pharmacy says the doctor has to provide the prescription to get a price.

The nurse at the doctor office has decided I need to tell her which drug is affordable by calling the pharmacy.

Basically nobody wants to do their job.

MjL

#16 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/20/2020

#MedicalMafia I need to see the doctor but I would like to have the labs done before I do, so I called the #OSF in Morton to make sure the labs had been ordered by the doctor. I don’t want to go stand in line only to find out the orders were never put in the system.

The first two calls nobody would answer and I got a recorded message telling me to leave a message and they would call me back. No. I don’t want to wait all day for that.

I call again and finally get somebody to answer. She promptly transfers me to the lab where nobody answers the phone either. I call back and get transferred to the lab in Peoria. No answer there either.

I call again. The same gal tells me she can’t look up my orders, only the lab can do that and I can’t go to the facility in Morton because they don’t do labs. I can’t get through to her that I don’t care where they do the labs, I want to have the blood drawn and there has to be an order for that to happen.

She gets condescending and tells me, again, they don’t do labs in Morton and I can’t get her to understand the difference between DOING the lab work and OBTAINING the specimens. She still insists I can’t have blood drawn in Morton. I have done so several times so I know she is clueless, but she refuses to believe me. I hung up on her rather than call her names or shout at her.

I really don’t understand paying someone to answer the phone if they are so damn stupid they can’t perform a simple task like looking up my record to see if there are current doctor orders pending.

It looks like I get to stand in line and hope the idiots in the doctor office actually ordered the labs (they have not done so several times in the past) and then hope there is somebody on duty to actually take the samples. At this point I think I’m through for today.

MjL

#17 Click this link to see Blog page --> 12/02/2020

Just finished a teleconference with my Dr. (#OSF)

He managed to disconnect us for 10 minutes but we finally got my insulin issues resolved and some antibiotics ordered for my leg infection.

I think he was so embarrassed about messing up the connection he just agreed with everything I asked for to make up for it.

MjL

#18 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/09/2021

#MedicalMafia
Just got back from #OSF in Morton where I had blood drawn to satisfy the doctor’s office staff so I can get my prescriptions renewed. I am quite sure he has nothing to do with this extortion and never saw the renewal request.

MjL

#19 Click this link to see Blog page --> 06/09/2021

#MedicalMafia #OSF
I am amazed my test results are back so soon and I aced them. I didn’t even study. Everything looks better than last time so there is that.

MjL

#20 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/22/2021

#OSF
I had a video appointment with my pulmonologist yesterday. It was required by Medicare or they wouldn’t pay for the new breathing machine.

I was very surprised by the doctor asking, “How did your #COPD get so bad before I realized you needed treatment?”

I think it was mostly my fault for not realizing myself how bad it had gotten —— and a measure of self denial. Still, I very much appreciated the question. I don’t ever recall any doctor doing that before.

MjL

#21 Click this link to see Blog page --> 04/23/2022

Every three months I have to change out my oxygen tubing. To do that I have to call the #OSFHomeMedical supply office and tell them exactly how many of each piece of tubing or whatever I need.

(I’ve tried to get an email address to send my order to but they claim it would “violate my medical privacy” —— Like I give a toot who knows about my oxygen tubing?)

UPS delivered everything the other day and the box was open.
I don’t mean somebody had opened it —— it had never been taped shut. I am very surprised it made it without getting dumped.
I’m impressed the UPS people managed to deliver it that way.

MjL

#22 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/04/2022

#MedicalMafia
Tracey went to the #OSF in Morton to get some labs done and she was told it would cost “significantly more” because she was a walk in rather than having scheduled them. She will be going back in two weeks to save some money. Fairly sums up health care in America. The same people will draw the blood and the same people will test it —— all in the same rooms in the same building.

MjL

#23 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/19/2023

I’m once again being blackmailed with the “in-office” visit to get my insulin prescriptions. I’m trying to get them to agree to a video visit. I just sent this message through the “portal”.

#MedicalMafia #OSF

To APN Eskin:
I am an old, obese, diabetic with chronic COPD and bad knees. I will have to stop at least once to catch my breath before I reach the office. I will arrive at the office red in the face and out of breath. My pulse and BP will be elevated and Pulse Ox below 90. This data will be of little use. That data would be the only benefit of an in-person visit versus a video visit.

I also risk heart attack from the exertion or a broken hip if I fall during the light-headed journey. I will be at the mercy of whatever pathogens hover in the unfiltered air from maskless multitudes in a nexus of community disease. Without oxygen and insulin, I will die. No number of office visits will change those needs. Prescriptions for these life-giving necessities are held ransom to the routine rationing of visits. I feel like a hostage.

MjL

#24 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/20/2023

#MedicalMafia #OSF
After yesterday’s uselessness of forced in-person doctor visits,
I thought of a goofy analogy to the airports and the TSA.

Q: Where do you put all those bomb-making chemicals?
A: In that bin over there with hundreds of others.

Q: Where do you send the healthy people for wellness checks?
A: In that room over there full of diseased people.

MjL

#25 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/21/2023

The response from Nurse Alexa, OSF:

#MedicalMafia #OSF

Michael,

I apologize for the delay in response. I understand the risks/complications that arise from coming in for an office visit. This is just our office policy for all patients, it is not just you! It can be difficult for providers to get a full detailed assessment via video visit, and these sort of assessments are necessary to ensure there is nothing new that may warrant further assessment, medication adjustment, etc. There are a multitude of reasons why an in-person office visit is beneficial - to not only the patient, but also the providers so that they can best help you.
As for parking/walking in to your appointment - we do have a valet service at our front door, and I highly recommend utilizing that. We also have wheelchairs located at our front door to transport you back to our office suite. This would hopefully eliminate some of that shortness of breath and exhaustion to walk all the way back to our office.
Please let us know if you have any additional questions/concerns, and we will be more than happy to help as best we can.

So it is very clear that policy is the only concern and it is so important that I also know that, “It is not just you!” They treat ALL patients with equal indifference.

She is of the mistaken impression there is a full detailed assessment. They ask questions —— I answer them.

I would also note they do NOT have valet service and the wheel chair at the door is too small for me.

MjL

#26 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/23/2023

#MedicalMafia #OSF
One thing I forgot to mention in the recent messaging with OSF is that my messages are to APN Nurse Esken, but answered by Nurse Alexa. I don’t know what that is about. It seems a bit passive-aggressive that the person I am scheduled to see doesn’t answer their own messages?

MjL

#27 Click this link to see Blog page --> 11/07/2023

Last week I called #OSFHomeMedical Supply to have them ship me some more oxygen tubing and canulas. It arrived today. The wrong canulas and too few sets of tubing. Figures

MjL

#28 Click this link to see Blog page --> 03/07/2024

A fine example of the #OSF brand of #MedicalMafia.
I received a text message that my phone number was no longer valid.
I go to the portal and it is all fouled up. Won’t send email or text “verification” demanded. Eff em. I’m not going to waste my time trying to validate their bullshit broken web portal system. I did notice the snotty nurse practitioner has once again scheduled labs for later this month. Too bad because I won’t be going until at least September.

MjL

#29 Click this link to see Blog page --> 08/13/2024

We had surprise visit by a technician from #OSFHomeMedical Supply.
He came to check out my oxygen concentrator and was amazed it hadn’t been tested for over two years. He ended up completely replacing the concentrator, all my emergency oxygen cylinders, and all the tubing.

Tracey and I figured there must have been some shake-up
at OSF to start upgrading the equipment and policies.

MjL

#30 Click this link to see Blog page --> 10/02/2024

I survived my yearly visit to the #OSFClinic in Morton. I met with a different Nurse Practitioner (haven’t seen a doctor in years) and I like her better than the last one. She is more personable. I got a flu shot but they had no Covid doses. Probably no great loss there.

MjL

#31 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/16/2025

Spent part of my morning at the #OSF #MedicalMafia outlet to comply with the standard battery of tests and questions required to satisfy the maximum number of fees available. Also got flu and pneumonia vaccines.

I also started the irksome process getting an answer about some large masses on the calves of both legs.

MjL

#32 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/18/2025

The clinic also notified me that there are orders for doppler scans of my legs to diagnose the masses in my calves. I scheduled an appointment at #OSF for this coming Tuesday.

MjL

#33 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/23/2025

I am going to #OSF hospital later today to get ultrasound doppler scans of the veins and arteries in my legs to see if they can figure out what is causing the lumps and bumps in my calves. This is the second step in the multi-step red tape of the #MedicalMafia to get anything resolved.

MjL

#34 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/23/2025

Spent a couple hours at #OSF. As usual —— hurry up and wait.
The actual sonograms didn’t take long at all.
The people were all helpful and kind, so no complaints about that; it is the bureaucracy of being herded through the process.

Now I wait for a doctor to decipher the scans and send a report to the clinic. At least a few more days of waiting.
Admitting Wrist Band

MjL

#35 Click this link to see Blog page --> 09/24/2025

#OSF sonogram results:
No discrete mass or sonographic abnormality demonstrated. Essentially means the tissue in that area, assuming the mass is still present, matches the consistency of surrounding tissue.

Translated: Wasted time and money for no answer. (On the bright side: also means nothing nasty like a blood clot or dangerous hematoma)

MjL