OFF TOPIC: Specialists in silos, patient suffering as result

[MissMolly]

Looking to hire a private case manager might be an option well worth the expense for your client.

The private hiring of a case manager can be a real asset when medical services lacks cohesiveness among speciality providers or when a person lacks immediate family to provide support/advocacy.

Private pay case managers are most often associated with providing guidance for the elderly. Ex. Adult children who do not live in close proximity to aging parents will hire a private case manager to oversee their parents’ care. The case manager will accompany the parent to medical appointments, review incoming billing statements and coding for accuracy, file claims with Medicare/insurance, ensure that the treatment plan is followed, schedule follow-ups, etc. The case manager becomes almost like a surrogate family member.

For patients who are of more limited financial means, it is worth contacting a local office of the Department of Aging Services (state-funded) and/or a local office of the Social Security Administration (federal-funded). Both of these agencies provide 1:1 case managers to those who have complex medical needs and who struggle to manage their affairs on their own.
Karen

[mpbser]

Wow, thanks, Karen, for that very useful information!

My client wants to "sue" but that would not be advisable for so many different reasons. Her time, resources, and energy would be much better spent hiring a private case manager. I was not familiar with them until now.

[rp1954]

... However, I don't know of any in the local area who would have the time or skill to get a good handle on the root medical issues in this case. The quality of the doctors in the region leaves much to be desired.

Always a problem for newbie patients … and newbie doctors to CAM.

Unfortunately, as far as social workers or advocates g, the very top of the departments have already been enlisted to support this patient. The general response thus far has not been to assist the patient, but to cover the arses of the medical institutions.
Even worse, the medical facilities have taken to "dumping" my client in violation of federal law, because it appears they think it's easier to be dismissive of a complaining patient than to provide care.

Yes, I too think they would prefer to break off an unpleasant exercise in futility.
I actually agree they should withdraw, because they likely just can't do it successfully - for whatever reason(s). She's spinning her wheels, wasting time, effort and mental resources there. I just resent any compulsory contributions made to non serving facilities, e.g. Medicare/tax funds.

My client wants to "sue" but that would not be advisable for so many different reasons. Her time, resources, and energy would be much better spent...

… elsewhere. How much one can help oneself is crucial e.g. neurotic with degrees of function vs frank dementia.

... hiring a private case manager. I was not familiar with them until now.

I think you will often have the same problem as with the doctors, finding the right one for the needed treatments, at least for nonstandard areas, like integrative medicine, to be successful.

Our 3rd party experiences in this area 10+ years ago were discouraging, with a lot of early interference, bias and unfamiliarity (or incompetence). In the end, we had to take over many roles, especially those concerning conventional medical limitations, Medicare, and medical failure. In the end, we hired a complicated but competent nurse that followed our plan and instructions with alacrity, nominally overseen by our CAM gerontologist. We went through a lot of "hellp" to get and stay there, where we've done more support than is usually possible.

Perhaps the best she could do, is if by some miracle, she can get enough of a makeover and a working regimen, that she can self-advance from there. In the past (30-40 years), a patient might get a good start at a good several week "camp" but at home, lose support and interest, especially with local conventional medicine vs CAM issues. These days, there is more support available, for a price. But again, price, selection and quality are varied, as well as self-help.