HUGS Orange County - Help. Uplift. Give Support.

Have you ever had a doctor, therapist or dentist treat you in a manner which left you thinking, “There was just something not quite right about that visit…”?

Do you want to make sure your health care professional (HCP) doesn’t just have a license, but a VALID license to practice?

Check out the links for the California Medical, Psychology and Dental Boards. At these sites, you will be able to find out information on your HCP. It’s a good idea to not only check out your current HCPs, but check out new ones before you go.

The majority of HCPs are on the up and up with valid licenses and no actions against them. However, we’ve all heard news about someone who has had a horribly botched procedure only to find out the health care “professional” was never licensed. Or had just been removed from a 3-year probation and had been disallowed to practice at 2 hospitals.

And it doesn’t hurt to go another step when dealing with someone who was schooled out of state. Feel free to check the appropriate board for that state. Did this HCP practice in Ohio and lose his license there and then move out here?

Everyone should know who they are dealing with. Few do. Sometimes, those of us with mental health issues are prone to having a little “well-earned” paranoia and when it comes to our HCPs, it doesn’t hurt. If your new doctor has a list of suspensions/actions, you might want to think twice before keeping that appointment. The last thing you need is to have your symptoms triggered by unprofessional treatment.

If you find that your current HCP has a less than perfect record, you have the choice of keeping him/her. If you feel comfortable, you do have the right to ask your HCP about what you found. If you are not comfortable with the answer, you have the choice to continue being treated or find another HCP.

“I think I have a Jekyll and Hyde…”

So, you’ve checked the record and found your HCP isn’t what you’d expected. Or, maybe, you’ve had a bad experience with your HCP. What, in a “perfect world” should you try to do?

(”Perfect world” assumes we have all of our faculties, unclouded by symptoms, especially those with abuse issues who shy away from confrontation or authority figures. That’s why it says “try to do”)

Step 1: Step back. If it wasn’t physical “abuse” were you having a bad day? Did you read things wrong? Was the HCP having a bad day? Remember, they‘re human, too and possibly overworked. (This does not make mistreatment OK.)

Step 2: Check it out. (Otherwise known as being assertive.) When whatever happens happens, ask your HCP if, for example, the procedure should hurt as much as it is. If it’s verbal, “When you said XYZ, did you really mean XYZ or ABC?” If it’s after the fact, ask a third party for their take on what you experienced.

Step 3: Voice your concern. They can’t do anything about it if they don’t know about it. Let them know how what they did made you feel.

Step 4: Take action. Speak up when it’s happening. If you can’t write off a few strange words as someone being human or realize that this went beyond the occasional minor slip up. Make a phone call. Write a letter. Ask that the letter be put in your chart and make sure you have a copy.

Your rights include being treated with dignity and respect.

If you have been treated in an unprofessional manner, you have rights. Each California site has a link to an on-line complaint form. Hospitals and clinics should have grievance forms. Call Patients’ Rights. (Link provided on this site.) Call your insurance provider and let them know what is going on. Call your clinic or hospital and ask them who you can speak with regarding your concern.

We all deserve the right to be treated with dignity and respect. That includes you, your HCP and the person who listens to your concern. The person on the other end of the line is not someone to throw stones at. Remember, their job is to hear patients’ concerns - not to be verbally abused. They don’t mind if you cry or maybe raise your voice a little. After all, you aren’t talking about a trip to Disneyland.

“Dr Pillbox is a total idiot and you need to do something!”

This is not quite the way to start out a reasonable conversation.

When speaking with a person dealing with your concern, after introducing yourself and getting their name, a good phrase to start out with is: “I know you are there to listen and help, so if I get a little emotional, know that it isn’t you. I’m just frustrated.” If you start your conversation with a line like this, you might relax them a bit as all they do all day is listen to people who aren’t very happy. They may assume that, hopefully, you are someone who is not putting the entire responsibility for the act on them.

And, yes, sometimes the person you get on the other end of the phone is as cold and uncaring and abusive as what you just went through. If you feel you are dealing with someone who is having their own “bad day”, you can ask to speak with someone else or a supervisor. You need to feel you are being heard.

Don’t make the call when you are seething with emotion. Avoid calling names. Avoid foul language. Avoid phrases like: “YOU need to straighten this out,” as they are probably just paid to listen and can only pass on the concern to someone who can handle the problem.

Make sure you write down the time, date and the name of the person you speak with. If you need to relate a particularly bad experience, try writing out your concern first and then reading it, rather than speaking off the top of your head. If emotions well up and you feel you can’t continue, that’s OK. If you’ve forgotten to ask the person’s name, get it now and ask if you can call them back. Find out, if when you call back, if you can ask for them or if they have another direct line or extension.

to be continued

“Just the facts, m’am. (Or sir.)”

“The Butler did it!”

HUGS-OC