Don't Ask, Don't Tell

For going on three months now, we've had a closer relationship with the medical community than anyone should ever want. However, it has been generally as positive and professional as one could hope for. But I suppose it is inevitable that an occasional bump in the road should occur...and one did on Monday.

That was the day Bettie was to have an injection in her hip to relieve arthritic pain, and hopefully free her up to make more progress toward normal walking. When we arrived at the imaging clinic to check in, I mentioned in passing, that Bettie was on a blood thinner (Coumadin), just in case that was an issue. It turns out to be a big issue, and they can't do the injection until she has been off the thinner for at least four days.

This was my third contact with the clinic, the previous two being by phone, confirming the appointment, etc. In neither of those calls did they ask about her medications, nor did I think it important to tell them. In addition, the appointment was set up by a referral from another doctor's office and that office didn't tell (although they knew), nor did the imaging clinic ask. Maybe I'm just making excuses for myself, but it seems like if there is a restriction on a clinical procedure to be performed, the performing clinic should ask if that restricting condition exists, at the time the appointment is first set.

The result of this lapse is a reschedule of the appointment for next Tuesday, eight days later than it would have been. Eight days of additional pain...all because no body asked, and nobody told.