Give your opinion - Test Results Poll

Knit4Brains · Regular Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 14

In another topic, brainman brought up a topic that interests me. I didn't want to muddy the original poster's responses so I'm starting here.

1. Have you ever gotten important results (biopsy result, MRI report, other serious test) over the phone?

2. Did you get that from anyone other than your physician? If so, from whom?

3. Was that okay with you?

4. Were there any problems later on because of getting the results in that way?

My question/concern was liability. A question came up about a nurse or some office personnel interpreting and giving someone the results over the phone because the doctor was ill for a significant amount of time. MRI reports can be rather complex. Sometimes what is significant to a radiologist may be more trivial to a neurosurgeon. Straight reading of an MRI report could be very misleading to both the staff member and the patient. Results need to be interpreted in my opinion, and that is one of the few concessions I give to the physicians. They are not god. But they are educated, experienced and talented.

For instance: The printout of one of my old MRI results shows "increased in size". My surgeon's copy of the same result has the measurements and placements of my tumor circled and the words "increased in size" crossed out. He had looked at my films and found the changes insignificant but due to normal variations in MRI scan techniques. If someone had merely read that report to me over the phone before he had done that, I would have been quite upset.

The "liability" I referred to was the physician's staff. Is the person on the end of the phone licensed, authorized, insured and capable of giving you the results? Who is responsible if they give you incorrect information? Are they reading straight from the sheet? Interpreting content? Faxing them to you? Can they answer your questions? I sure wouldn't want to be them.

I totally agree with brainman who said in another topic to remember to get copies of all your test results. In fact I highly recommend people get copies of other records as well. Operative reports, biopsy reports, discharge notes, consultation notes - anything you can get your hands on. You may not understand all of it, but if you ever change doctors or institutions you will have it. And try to keep your original copies - have the new doctor make copies at their expense.

My thanks to brainman for starting me thinking on this topic. Geez, I like you. You make me think.

brainman

One clarification about the times I have gotten results over the phone: The nurse did not interpret the results to me. After getting the doctor's permission, she read the report to me. I already had an appointment scheduled to see my oncologist to discuss the results with him.

I had the reports read to me many times but only from that oncologist's office. My current oncologist is not so helpful Razz

. I do get copies of my reports but I have to go into the office first... same as anyone else Razz

.

What you need to know about me is that at the time of first diagnosis, I was working in the hospital where I was diagnosed and was assigned the oncology unit. I saw my doctor at least twice a week (once at Church and once at the Tumor Board Conference). I was the chairperson of the hospital's Ethics Committee to which my oncologist was a member. And I was a member of our Institutional Review Board with my radiation oncologist. We approved ALL research protocols before any oncologist who was on our staff could participate in that study (not just Cancer related, but any study. However, most where chemotherapy studies done with MD Anderson). So, I am not like others in many, many ways. "I'm not a doctor but I stayed at a HolidayInn Express last night." Laughing

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Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

jenugl

Hi Knit4Brains, thankyou for this topic. It makes sense in what you say regarding interpretations of MRIs. I had never thought of it before and am glad you have given examples. I love this site, it is so helpful. We keep all our scans etc (after Dr has looked at them). We see our Oncologist through our local hospital. MRIs are done at an X-Ray place and they send them over to hospital. Because we don't pay for anything (we are so lucky) all reports, x-rays etc belong to hospital but we were told right at the beginning to hold onto them as they can get lost in the system. So when Andrew goes and gets his MRI done we take all old scans and leave them there for a few hrs while they do there reports and then go back and pick old ones up and then new ones are sent over to hospital and we wait to see Oncologist to get the new ones. Our team is spread out as his neurosurgeon is about 400 odd kms away and radiologist is about 2000 kms away - so the only one we can see is Oncologist which is fine most of the time. I really feel for her (oncologist) as being the only one to cater to unfortunately an ever increasing list of patients plus being a new first time mother it must be hard. Anyway I have learnt a lot from all of you and will keep on guarding our reports etc. Thanks for everyones advice. I can fully understand Jim's position being different as he was so involved in the industry. Once again keep up the good work everyone it helps us all. Love to all. Jen.

In

1. Have you ever gotten important results (biopsy result, MRI report, other serious test) over the phone?
- Yes- Was my Pap-smear result, which was abnormal. And need to have follow up and colopscopy.

2. Did you get that from anyone other than your physician? If so, from whom?
- Yes- again. was the receptionist (the one with no medical degree, just answers phones and books appointments Rolling Eyes

). And a rude on at that!

3. Was that okay with you?
-No- As it was my first Smear and first I'd heard of abnormal one. So not ok at all. Plus when i needed some answers, i couldn't talk to the Dr, just the rude women^. Couldn't even leave a message for the Dr.

4. Were there any problems later on because of getting the results in that way?
_the only problem was< when i left this doctor (who wouldn't Wink

) i couldn't take any of my files.

But it was worth it.
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

*Administrator*

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

ksplat · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: Pathology results

Hi all,

Just wanted to add my experience to this post. I work as a receptionist for a general practicitioner & our patients' are able to phone & get results over the phone from office staff (after identifying themselves, DOB, address, etc).

At our practice there a 3 levels of pathology reporting.
1. URGENT - Doctor contacts patient himself by phone & offers an "acute" appt time for patient.
2. NON URGENT BUT NEEDS TO SEE WITHIN 1 WEEK - We office girls phone these patients & tell them their results are back & their Dr would like to discuss the result further with them & advise them to make an appt within the week.
3. NON URGENT - No need for an appt. Dr's discretion as to whether there needs to be follow up or not.

I must say I do feel very uncomfortable giving results over the phone but results are always checked first by practicitioner prior to making results available on our computer system. As the urgent cases have mostly already been contacted by either the Dr or receptionists, the remainder of results are "within normal range" & we tell our patients' "there is no action to be taken".

Unfortunately, I don't know if a "specialist practice" adopts this reporting system.

Cheers to all. Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

Noid · Experienced user Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 57

I've never had any bad results read to me over the phone at all. I have had the doctor call and tell me that my results were normal before. Now i get a queasy feeling when they want me to come have the results read. I've gotten good results from the "come in and we'll read them to you" type calls as well. Guess it all depends on the practice. I have had however, some things happen that makes me feel a little uneasy...such as the time one of the nurses yelled the results of my pap smear across the obgyn's office Embarassed

..thank god it was normal. I've also had doctors announce my conditions loudly to me while heading toward me in a hallway, passing several people who were all like -> Shocked

I'm not all shy about what is wrong with me, however a little common sense should tell them that the question "does that disorder include mental retardation?", or "when was your last menstral cycle" shouldn't be spoken in a voice that puts a bull horn to shame. You'd think in this modern day that yelling things across a room would be an outdated form of communication, but think again. Rolling Eyes

in short.. yes, i have had diagnoses read over the phone..all good
and no..we really don't have any privacy really. Even with hippa.

jenugl

Hi all, as you will read in another topic - Andrews MRI was all clear but I do have concerns about our GP. Speaking about how different people interpret results / conditions etc. He interpreted the results which we got a copy of but his comments make me wonder. He told Andrew that it looks like he is definately in remission and that this type of cancer is on the low end of recurrence compared to others. He said because they see the tumour and take it out and that's it. I know he is one of these people who believe that you have to stay positive because if you think you are going to die you will, which is a great way to think but it worries me of how he described a GBMIV. Andrews comment to him was "I hope you're not lying to me" which he just smiled. I want Andrew to believe that he is going to beat this so that he has a good mental attitude to fight it but I cannot understand a Dr saying that about what most say is the deadliest cancer to get. What are other readers thoughts? We are still seeing the Oncolgist on 30th and I will try and speak to her about it, my only worry is saying too much in front of Andrew - don't want to sound pesamistic as we are both staying positive and I know they say there is a 1% chance of surving (is that true?). Anyway that is my only concern about receiving conflicting information. I will make a new post with report as I would like some information on some things written in it. Love to all. Jen.

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