The Health Care System in the U.S. Sucks

I don't have a Friday's Herbal for you today.  My sweet darling husband was rushing around the house this morning and fell down the stairs and broke his leg.  Bad.  We got him to the hospital.  Finally.   I kept dialing "9-3-3" and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working right.

At the hospital, they took x-rays.  He has "traumatic dislocated left ankle" and "fracture distal left fibula".  It's in pieces they told us.  He needs surgery.  They relocated the ankle and put on a temporary fiberglass splint and gave us the name of a doctor we were to call today to make an appointment for Monday.

I got him home and situated, ran and got his medicine from the pharmacy - terrified to leave him alone.  I fed him some lunch and then started dealing with a really messed up health care system.  I believe it is already messed up that they sent him home with a leg that is "in pieces".  I called the doctor that we were referred to.  They told me they don't accept our insurance.  So I called got on our insurance company website to look at a list of orthopedic surgeons.  How do you choose the person who is going to cut your husband's leg open just by looking at a list of names?!?

So I called the office of our primary care doctor to ask for a referral.  She doesn't work there anymore.  I explained the situation and the person on the phone basically said, maybe in different words, but what I heard was, "why the f*** are you calling us????"  She was nasty.  I said never mind and hung up.  I picked a name off the list of "preferred providers" and called.  I was told - and this is what the woman said to me - we have to go see the doctor whose name we were given in the hospital, because he is required by law to do the follow up visit.  Understand now, this doctor did NOT see my husband in the ER.

So I called the insurance company.  After spending 15 minutes talking to a computer trying to get a real human (yes!  I do have a question!) I actually got a pleasant, calm woman, which I really needed at that moment, and who did not refer me to their website, like they usually do.  I explained the entire situation including the strange "law".  She said she had never heard of such a thing.  She read to me some of the names on the list.  I said thank you and called one of the names.  I was told they couldn't get him in until September.  Have I mentioned that his leg bone is in pieces?!??  I asked if there was another doctor in the office who could see him.  She put me on hold, came back, and told me that "by law......" he has to go see the doctor that doesn't accept our insurance!  I explained that he did not see that doctor at the hospital.  She said, well, ok, but they couldn't see him until September.

Monday we will be taking my darling husband, whose leg bone is in pieces, to a doctor who doesn't accept our insurance.  My focus is going to be completely on him for the next few days.  I'll report back in next week sometime.  Send some love and light our way.

***Update: We finally found a doctor on our insurance that will see DH on Monday.  Thanks for the good thoughts all!