We are trying to move MIL from her current place ( adult family home ) to a memory care facility. She complains about her current place being too boring and too quiet. We found a memory care facility for her and started the application process. The MC sent a nurse to evaluate MIL. We did the financials etc. everything is fine, a room is available.
Now the only hold up is that the memory facility needs a general medical information form done by the GP. They sent it to the GP’s office and it’s been 2 weeks already. We keep calling and asking about it and they’re just sitting on it.
GP is part of a big hospital system. It’s very difficult to reach him in person. We have to go through the hospital’s trees to reach someone, who might be a staff in the main office. They are always nice on the phone but are of no help to have this issue resolved at all.
Any suggestions about how to get this done? MC can’t hold this room forever and we’re running out of time,
I don't recall if the home care agency called but I believe they did. And the office staff was still balking. That's when I got aggressive and asked if they would prefer that I find someone else entirely to handle Dad's care and they would lose him as their patient. Apparently that worked, and the order was signed.
Perhaps you might ask the admin staff at the MC to call the doctor's office and let them know that care is being held up b/c the forms can't be signed. They (or you) could also ask why someone else in the practice can't sign. In my experience, doctors can go on vacation, or be unavailable, but they arrange for a back-up. Apparently this practice doesn't, but it should. To me, that's bad practice and unacceptable. What if an emergency arose?
Maybe if you sweetly asked for a recommendation to another GP practice, then they'd get the hint. There is NO excuse in my opinion for their failure to comply. And given that you're seeing this now, would it be appropriate to consider finding a different practice in the event issues arise in the future?
And the MD gets paid for the office visit but not for filling out a form.
In many offices someone on staff fills out the form, the MD reviews and signs it.
Is it practical to go to the office yourself, without your mother, and ask to speak to the practice manager? Or maybe see if you can get the practice manager on the phone?
Or send the form with delivery confirmation..you will know when the form arrived at the office (hopefully.)
Finally, if this MD has not seen your mother in the past 6 months, he may not be wiling to fill out the form as he does not know her current status.
Sorry this is such a big hurdle for you and your mom.
Just throwing out another option, since his office is so unavailable.
That’s the “new normal”, btw.
Don’t feel singled out.