AfflictionAteHer

I haven’t feeling feeling great. Lots of trouble getting sleepy at a reasonable hour, and lots of trouble waking up too early. There was even one night last week when my Seroquel never took affect, which happens from time to time. I couldn’t focus yesterday. My speech was slow and my thoughts were slower. I had a little panic attack during my first break (because I was caught at work in this state). I tried to reach my doctor but her receptionist said the doctor’s calendar was locked in the doctor’s office, with the doctor, who was on a conference call. When I called back later the receptionist apologized and said she’d forgotten to get it from the doctor. Not that the doctor is going to be in, since next week is a holiday.

I have a chip on my shoulder about my psychiatrist. For one thing, she called me a couple of months ago and chewed me out because my pharmacy had contacted her. The situation was this: my doctor had given me new prescriptions for my medications, since my old ones had expired. When I called the pharmacy to get the prescriptions refilled they didn’t see the new ones on file, so they faxed a form to my doctor’s office seeking approval to refill them, then called to let me know they were waiting on said approval. When the pharmacy called me I corrected their error and they filled the prescriptions. The doctor called to tell me to tell the pharmacy never to contact her for a prescription, then went on to rant – and, really, I do mean rant – about how faxes from pharmacies cost her a lot of time and money, and about how pharmacies only do this to line their own pockets. I explained that it had been a mistake but she didn’t seem to hear me. It was a very odd call.

What I wish I had said to her was “Are you f’in kidding me? You charge $140 dollars for 30 minutes of your time, and you’re complaining to me about a fax?” Instead, I apologized.

So, the whole dollar amount thing… what I’m wondering, is, how does she justify it? 30 minutes per session means sixteen sessions per day, which comes out to $44,800 per month in client billings. Let me add that my doctor, like most other psychiatrists, does not accept insurance. Now, tack on to that the fact that she charges $25 per 5 minutes of phone consultation (i.e., if you don’t have time to make an appointment and need her to call you back). Now, tack on to that the fact that you are charged for missing an appointment with less than 48 hours’ notice. Now, tack on to that the fact that she charges $400 for an initial interview with first-time clients. Now, tack on to that the fact that you share your office office space and receptionist with 10 other doctors (so your overhead is nice and low). Combine all of this with the fact that your office hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, meaning that those of your patients who work (i.e., most of them) are likely to ask you to call them occasionally, and are not unlikely to miss an appointment here and there… Holy crap, lady, how much money do you make every month, and why in the world would you think I give a s**t about your dislike of the fax machine?

Of course, I’ve signed the same financial agreement with every other psychiatrist I’ve seen. They like to be sure they get their money. I’ve actually paid much more for a doctor’s visit, in fact. I think what steams me is that it feels as if I’m being taken advantage of. It feels as if these psychiatrists are saying, “You patients really suck. You’re horrible to be around! I will charge you for the time I spend rolling my eyes when I think of you.”

I should add, though, that my doctor seems to be a pretty good doctor. Of course, she did forget who I was once, and that was after she’d been my doctor for a little over two years. Still, we all have our moments.

Psychiatry in the real world is nothing like psychiatry as portrayed in the movies, in books, or on television.

More about this subject in another post. Meanwhile, I’ll simply wait for this latest whatever-state-I’m-in to pass. Again.

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