Angry with UMHS

This is about my frustrating visit to the University of Michigan Hospital--specifically the Department of Urology. I will spare you the details of why I was there but don't worry, it's not because I wet my pants or anything like that.

Back in early May, my PCP referred me to see an Urologist. They never called (like they're supposed to) to set up an appointment. So I call 2 weeks later to make an appointment and the lady on the phones goes "you already have an appointment". Nice. They scheduled it for a day when I'm out of the country and never told me. So I had to reschedule and it was scheduled for 7/24. I went to Japan 6/19-7/13, went to work 7/14-7/18, and traveled to Toronto 7/19-7/23 for a conference. Needless to say this 7/24 appointment was not something I was looking forward to.

Oh, and I had to keep a log of what/when/how much I drank and when/how much I peed for 3 full days. This really confirmed that I really only drink caffeinated and/or alcoholic beverages only. For example my fluid intake on 7/20/2008:

8:30 AM 6 oz OJ, 8 oz coffee
9:30 AM 8 oz coffee
10:30 AM 8 oz coffee
12:40 PM 6 oz coke
4:15 PM 8 oz coffee
8:30 PM 20 oz beer
10:00 PM 20 oz beer
11:00 PM 20 oz beer
12:00 AM 4 oz water

But to be fair, I was at a conference where there served coffee through out the day and exhausted scientists ready to drink at night.

Anyway, the urology office told me to get there 30 minutes early so I did. In addition to all the paperwork they made me fill out before getting there, I filled out more paperwork. Then peed in a cup and waited. They called my name pretty fast so I was excited about that. But the nurse couldn't pronounce my first name OR last name so I had to ask her to see the chart. She pronounced it: "yoo-raa, ai-da-ke". I think she's dyslexic. And she's a nurse.

The nurse put me in a room, took my pulse and BP (well, the machine did), and asked me how tall I am and how much I weigh. She didn't even bother to put me on a scale. She goes "did they tell you that the doctor is running 40 minutes late?" Me: "uhhh, no, they just said she's running a little behind schedule." Dyslexic nurse: "Oh. Ok, she'll be right in."

--- ONE HOUR OF NOTHINGNESS ---

I think I managed to take a few naps on the chair. Then FINALLY a knock at the door! No, it's a not a doctor, it's a Physician's Assistant. She basically sat there for 10 minutes and went over everything I filled out prior to the appointment. She said a nurse will do an ultrasound of the bladder and the doctor will be right in.

The nurse (not dyslexic, that I could tell) comes in and tells me to go pee. I'm like lady I just peed an hour ago for you people and she told me to go try anyway. So I come back, she does an ultrasound which took less than 3 minutes. "Yup, looks like your bladder is empty." Thanks...

15 minutes later, the PA is back. She has the discharge paperwork and told me I don't have to come back.

So I was there for 2.5 hours. Spent total of 5-10 minutes with a nurse, 15 minutes or so with a PA, and ZERO with anyone with an MD. Not even an intern. So yeah.

Ann L. Oldendorf - YOU SUCK.

That's the name of the doctor I never saw for you slow people.

Oh, and the dyslexic nurse is probably not aware of this thing called HIPAA.















Photo taken when I was in the exam room by myself.