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This is a topic I have advocated forwith patients since shortly after diagnosis. I am not sure why, butmany people are pushing back and saying they don't need copies oftheir laboratory results. I am guessing many that are older than Iam have passively followed their doctor and do not have any idea orcare what the results are. They trust their doctor to inform them ifsomething is out of normal or prescribe a pill to correct theproblem. This implicit trust may be earned, but I can't help butwonder if this is a wise course of action considering many patientsonly see their doctor for 10 to 15 minutes per appointment and manyonly see the doctor twice a year.
Even patients younger than myself putme off saying they don't need them. To this I ask if they know whatthe trends are in their test results. Are they holding steady,heading downward, or heading in the wrong direction. No one cananswer me. Yes, people do seem to be tired of me and my talkingabout test results and getting copies of them.
Well, one of my acquaintances found outthe hard way this last week. He was lucky his wife just happened toforget something needed for her job and came back to get it. He hadcollapsed on the kitchen floor and was unresponsive when she foundhim. She called 911 and then he was airlifted to another hospital. He will not be home for some time as his doctors say the normal stayis in excess of two weeks, and with his condition on arrival, theyare estimating a longer stay.
Turns out his doctor had overlooked akey test result that would have prevented this and a supplement andmedication would have corrected it without being hospitalized. Whatthe wife found out from the hospital after they had requested a copyof the lab results was that the key note was on a page two and thedoctor had thrown page two by mistake. Most lab reports are on onepage unless they are noted page 1 of x pages at the bottom and thisone had nothing. Even most one-page lab reports say page 1 of 1.
The doctors even talked to the wifeabout making sure that they get copies of all lab reports and othertest reports. She asked why and was told that this was so they aspatients might spot something the doctor(s) may miss. They statedthat they would take the time to discuss the lab results with them,how to read them, what to look for, and how to track the results. The wife still isn't sure she wants lab reports? At least thehusband now wants the test results.
My doctors know me and that I will beasking for a copy. Normally they like to cover them with me and theyknow I will be entering them into a spreadsheet, and even graphingthem. From what I am reading, many people need to go in several daysbefore the appointment to have the blood drawn or give a urine sampleand then obtain the test results at their appointment. I seem to bedifferent than most as I go in about 30 minutes or more ahead of myappointment and have this done and receive the results at myappointment. Yes, occasionally a test is done from the already drawnblood sample, and I am told this. I always request a mailed copywhen it is given to the doctor or some will email a copy of the testresults. If I don't receive either within seven working days, I callthe doctor's office and ask. If I am told something like it is inthe mail, I make a point of going to the office and asking for acopy.
Trisha Torrey at about dot com wroteabout this back in early April and this is very important in today'smedicine when doctor's do not have the time to make phone calls anddo not use technology except for the records and at home for personaluse. Thinking that a test was normal because you received no callcan be life ending in today's medicine. Doctors today do not havethe time that our doctors in the past had.
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