February 26, 2022
Saturday
Setup: I had several of my regular doctor's visits scheduled for the end of February and beginning of March and a number (25%) of the docs want lab work done before we meet so they are up-to-date on the status of my disease conditions. So I had two sets of labs scheduled for a week or two before two of my doctor's appointments; on February 20th and February 24th.
So, when the lab sends out the reports, they send 2/22 results to my liver doctor's office and the 2/24 results go to the kidney doctor's and they both want different tests done. For example:
The kidney doctor can only see on his report the light blue and the liver doctor can only see the light orange.
It's kind of like the blind docs describing an elephant only on the data they have on their specific chart! I have BOTH sets of data on MY chart, impelling me to make my HTML chart into a PDF (or JPG) to send to each of the docs... and as long as I'm doing that... I might as well send it to my cardiologist and neurologist as well.
Discussion: One of my ongoing concerns with having too many chiefs (not chefs) stirring the pot (purposeful mixed metaphor) is ensuring that the decisions are made somewhat collaboratively and that all the docs are seeing and agreeing on the whole elephant. This is challenging for patients with chronic health conditions who have a number of doctors, and specialists that have that generally patients who have complex medical issues with many doctors involved want more communications between the doctors treating them. It was acknowledged that "better communication among health care providers would improve patient care..." and could "...eliminate potential mistakes, such as medication interactions..." or even which medications might be better suited in certain situations.
February 28, 2022
Monday
Texas Liver Institute 3 Month Follow Up: At my follow up appointment with FNP Pingleton, the provider who took my case from Dr. Jennifer Wells when she left TLI, I verified that each of my docs receive only their own lab reports from Clinical Path Labs (CPL) so when my various docs ask for different lab analyses, those data are only sent to them... unless I make a PDF of ALL the labs and send it to the other docs! For example, only my liver doc got the following that shows how
low my Iron Saturation is: my kidney doc didn't get that low rating because it wasn't requested in his lab request. So, FNP Pingleton has made a referral to Dr. Poreddy for a "capsule study" to look around the corners Poreddy didn't get with his colonoscopy or EGD reach. Meanwhile, when Dr. Baru saw the lab analysis I made a PDF of and forwarded to the Austin Kidney Associates portal, he referred me to a new provider (to me) for monthly Iron Infusions.
February 29, 2022
Tuesday
Dr. Manchanda - Associated Neurological Specialties Follow Up: Liz and I met with Dr. Manchanda, who went over my recent lab reports carefully and agreed with Dr. Baru taking me off aspirin completely. Dr. Manchanda also listened to our reports about all the recent procedures and assessments I've been through. Afterwards he did a basic neurological... directing me to walk back & forth in his office to watch my gait, testing my arms and legs' push / pull strength (motor strength & control), tremor check, and coordination (quickly touch your finger to your nose and then to the doctor’s hand). He was focused on his exam and not overly talkative: rather watching and listening closely... and I got the impression he was paying attention to how fuzzy my brain and memory are today.
Dr M. concluded that he wants no changes in meds, copies of any lab reports that other docs are ordering, and for us to return in three months for another followup.
