"Physicians Not Doing Intake Assessments and Feeling Misinterpreted"

Unfortunately, I feel this issue is not occurring at one clinic! However, it is a very real concern of mine. I often feel frustrated when I spend a considerable amount of time detailing my specific issues to someone who isn't a physician, only for the doctor to enter with notes possibly based on someone else’s interpretations. I have no way of knowing if my concerns were conveyed correctly.

I would like to explain my multitude of issues directly to the doctor, once. They should be aware of all the factors affecting every part of my body. I’m tired of the decision-maker receiving what could be second-hand impressions from someone with less medical training.

I noted a clinic poster of recorded sessions, is this something that Alberta clinics have yet to commence?

The doctor is the one who needs to understand all my symptoms, how they interact, and their effects on my overall well-being, including my mental health. Missing even a single detail can distort my treatment, and I feel this has happened to me on several occasions.

I do not think I should have to correct inaccuracies, especially those I’m unaware of, because no one gives the patient access to the notes taken during an initial assessment! Assessment is the most crucial step toward successful treatment, and I feel unjustly burdened by having to reiterate, and correct the information provided to the attending doctor, that was either not included in the initial assessment, or written wrongly.

I feel that valuable time is wasted when I share everything with one person, who then notes what they think is important, discusses it with the doctor, and then the doctor comes to talk to me about what the initial assessor thinks should be discussed! Please streamline this into a single procedure. I understand that doctors have limited time, and I feel this could help eliminate future time-wasting by obtaining the correct information directly from the start.

I think the physician should be aware of everything and not relying upon another staff member to thoroughly provide the exact issues brought up by their patient.

 I feel notes cannot convey the patient’s urgent need for treatment, as well as how the patient emotes the negative effects on their physical and mental health that the lack of proper treatment has caused over many years.

I have undergone repeated tests for the same problems without a change in results. In my opinion, the doctor is pursuing the wrong treatment path based on someone else’s interpretation, rather than listening to the patient directly! For instance, my GP referred me to a pain clinic, and they incorrectly said I had back pain. However, I have never, ever, experienced back pain in my entire life; my issue lies with my hips. I have undergone several unnecessary Medial Branch Block due to this mistake. MBBs are painful and it costs me money to take a cab when I undergo a procedure like this that includes freezing. I am a senior on a fixed poverty level income, and I think medical professionals need to take this into consideration when suggesting these procedures that may be unnecessary! All my prior testing and results are on Netcare - use that pertinent information!

Patient’s never get to see the referrals and I feel my GP gets too many things wrong. Yet, this pain clinic continues to address my back and ignores my hips, regardless of what I tell them! I am now at the point of refusing the back treatments they keep scheduling me for! This situation is unacceptable to me. I believe my GP didn’t listen to me, so the clinic refuses to believe the patient about them treating the wrong area of concern! Therefore, I am the one still left suffering in pain because I feel I am not receiving the necessary courses of action.

Please, let us explain our problems, just once, and ensure they are recorded by the doctor who will be diagnosing and treating the patient. The doctor needs to know every detail of the symptoms of my numerous comorbidities, in order to refer me to the appropriate specialists.

The changes I would like to see:

1) allow only the physician to do the initial intake assessment at all clinics. Don't rely on referrals that can be incorrect - show the patient what their GP sent in - I feel GPs have failed me too many times and I don't trust them.

2) at the first visit, please provide a list of who does what at your clinic. It is overwhelming navigating a large center that will be treating my many overlapping issues.

I apologize if this comes off as harsh, but I am tired with what I feel is inefficiency in the system, and had hoped for a better experience at yet another clinic that I have been shuffled off to.