I know why the U.S. spends more on health care than any other industrialized nation. It is because, at times, our system is incredibly wasteful. I have been having some knee issues for a while now, so I finally went to the doctor a few weeks ago, he said he wasn't 100% sure what was causing the pain but that I could get an MRI or try physical therapy. I opted to try physical therapy because my insurance deductible had just reset and that was the cheaper option but my doctor said to call him if I changed my mind and wanted to do an MRI. After two sessions of physical therapy things were getting worse not better, so on Friday, I call the doctor and said I'd like to get an MRI scheduled. His medical assistant put on hold and came back and said the doctor had said to schedule an appointment to come into the office and he'd do an ultrasound to make sure it's not a cyst first. I said okay, because an office visit is still cheaper than an MRI. I get to the doctor's office today and he comes in asks me a few questions and this is how the conversation goes.
The doctor says, "I think it's time for an MRI."
"I called on Friday and wanted to schedule an MRI and your assistant told me you said to come in and you'd do an ultrasound to see if it is a cyst first."
"I don't remember saying that, I can do an ultrasound but a cyst is usually caused by something else that I won't be able to see on an ultrasound, so we need to get an MRI."
I almost freaked out on the doctor. So you're telling me I left work and came in here for no reason! Instead of just scheduling an MRI when I called on Friday, I had to go in, pay $130 out of my own pocket and take up an appointment space that could have been used by someone else, just to be told I needed something I was already asking for. I am seriously so mad!
I am sure I am not the only person this has happened to and I am sure I am not the last person it will happen to either. We need to figure out a way to eliminate medical waste like this, so the cost of health care doesn't continue to increase.
