Sarah Howard has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
I get my GP’s office. He sends the samples to Quest.
It took a lot of work to get to this. I use to have my samples drawn after my Endo visit.
So results were 3 months old. My Endo’s office was 30 miles away. So driving over 60 miles for a 15 minutes lab to draw a sample was ridiculous.A year ago I had samples taken at a local hospital. But they were expensive and slow. I had to call two or thee times to get the results faxed to my Endo.
My GP who was local offerd to have blood drawn. That way he could see the results also. It took 4 cycles to sort that out with his office manager and the lab tek. My visut last month it fially worked. Now lets hope they can repeat the process.
TEH–Why is it we human beings, we mere mortals, have to frequently intervene in what was touted as a be-all end-all digital streamlining efficiency to the max . . . Is so mediocre? I guess these bright guys will now apply AI to the system such that no human ever talks again to any human.
For Endo appointments I go to a lab that’s part of the same HMO. For GP appointment I use the lab in their clinic that’s part of a different healthcare organization. Although I’ve repeatedly requested that the GP share lab results with the Endo, they don’t. Since I have appointments 4 x a year with the Endo, there are more labs…more history. She sends the results of my labs to the GP, but they don’t always include them in my file. That’s the business of healthcare that definitely does not benefit the patient.
I used to have an appt for a blood draw in my endo’s office one week before I met with him. They’d send it out to get results before our visit. My current endo is part of a large network. She and my other doctors enter lab orders into my electronic chart. I can walk into any lab in the network when it’s convenient for me or I can make an appointment with the lab nearest my house. I like this system.
I lost sensation in the bottoms of my feet, so I can’t get down my apartment stairs yet. I do have an OT that comes once a week to teach me new and safer ways for me to walk and she is an Outstanding professional. The VA pays for 1 visit only, so rehab is hard and slow. A nurse comes out to the apartment to do any lab work requested by the VA.
The labs done for my annual physical (CBC, lipid panel, complete metabolic panel and vitamin/mineral deficiency) are done at lab corp.
The AIC is done at the endo’s office.
I have a private insurance/Medicare advantage plan, but also receive treatment & medication from the Veterans Administration so I get most lab work through the Medicare advantage plan but also get some through the VA.
Close by clinic does labs, foot care like cutting toenails, has pharmacy, eye exams, physical therapy, has PCP. My endo, dietitian, nutritionist are by phone appointment. To see them in person I have a fun efficient light rail ride downtown which I combine with other errands. What I don’t like is that “advantage” plans like mine are over charging Medicare to bankrupt it to make all healthcare for profit…then the “advantage”plans will raise prices and cut services.
I used to get my labs at Quest. But now get them done in the lab that is in the same building as my Doctor (part of large medical center).
Endo office has own Quest lab in their office. So I get results by email. I like it so i know what I need to discuss with the Endo
I get all of my medical services through one hospital. All of the doctors and lab are part of the hospital, including the Endocrinology department.
A satellite lab of the hospital I live near.
I get my GP’s office. He sends the samples to Quest.
It took a lot of work to get to this. I use to have my samples drawn after my Endo visit.
So results were 3 months old. My Endo’s office was 30 miles away. So driving over 60 miles for a 15 minutes lab to draw a sample was ridiculous.A year ago I had samples taken at a local hospital. But they were expensive and slow. I had to call two or thee times to get the results faxed to my Endo.
My GP who was local offerd to have blood drawn. That way he could see the results also. It took 4 cycles to sort that out with his office manager and the lab tek. My visut last month it fially worked. Now lets hope they can repeat the process.
TEH–Why is it we human beings, we mere mortals, have to frequently intervene in what was touted as a be-all end-all digital streamlining efficiency to the max . . . Is so mediocre? I guess these bright guys will now apply AI to the system such that no human ever talks again to any human.
I think the road blocks and obstacles are a means for more “billable hours” on the part of HCP’s.
I have a Kaiser Medicare Advantage plan so get my labs done at a Kaiser facility. However, my endocrinologist is not part of Kaiser.
I work at a medical office therefore have my labs drawn there
For Endo appointments I go to a lab that’s part of the same HMO. For GP appointment I use the lab in their clinic that’s part of a different healthcare organization. Although I’ve repeatedly requested that the GP share lab results with the Endo, they don’t. Since I have appointments 4 x a year with the Endo, there are more labs…more history. She sends the results of my labs to the GP, but they don’t always include them in my file. That’s the business of healthcare that definitely does not benefit the patient.
I used to have an appt for a blood draw in my endo’s office one week before I met with him. They’d send it out to get results before our visit. My current endo is part of a large network. She and my other doctors enter lab orders into my electronic chart. I can walk into any lab in the network when it’s convenient for me or I can make an appointment with the lab nearest my house. I like this system.
My Primary, Endo. and Oncologist drew blood at their offices.
I lost sensation in the bottoms of my feet, so I can’t get down my apartment stairs yet. I do have an OT that comes once a week to teach me new and safer ways for me to walk and she is an Outstanding professional. The VA pays for 1 visit only, so rehab is hard and slow. A nurse comes out to the apartment to do any lab work requested by the VA.
Thank you Andrew for your service. I am so sorry the VA health program is not better. All who have served deserve so much more.❤️
The labs done for my annual physical (CBC, lipid panel, complete metabolic panel and vitamin/mineral deficiency) are done at lab corp.
The AIC is done at the endo’s office.
The blood is drawn at the physician’s office and the lab corp runs the tests.
I have a private insurance/Medicare advantage plan, but also receive treatment & medication from the Veterans Administration so I get most lab work through the Medicare advantage plan but also get some through the VA.
Close by clinic does labs, foot care like cutting toenails, has pharmacy, eye exams, physical therapy, has PCP. My endo, dietitian, nutritionist are by phone appointment. To see them in person I have a fun efficient light rail ride downtown which I combine with other errands. What I don’t like is that “advantage” plans like mine are over charging Medicare to bankrupt it to make all healthcare for profit…then the “advantage”plans will raise prices and cut services.