Health Care in the Lakes Region
 

I stepped on a nail a while ago and it has been over 20 years since my last tetanus shot. This event lead to my first experience with the Lakes Region Medical services. I'm not insured.

I know that there is a lot of hoopla around health care right now but I don't know anything about the specifics for any of the bills. I hope that they are doing something to address the problem I encountered.

I knew I needed a tetanus shot so I called the hospital. I was told that I needed to go to the emergency room. I responded that I had a window of three days to get the shot so ER care was not necessary. They told me that this is the only way I can get a shot without a primary care physician. When I suggested that their policy would cause me to incur additional and unnecessary fees the person on the phone all but stated that this is how they make money. A $15 shot turns into a $250 ER visit. That just does not seem right. If I can get a flu shot at a drug store why can't I get a Tetanus shot at the drug store?

Today I visited one of the Local Health Clinics. I hoped to leave some blood behind to have the lab test it for Lyme disease (I think I got bit by a tick on the golf course last year). They told me that they would not do the lab work without a request from a physician. When I told them that I did not have a physician they quickly started referring doctors from their network. I made mention of the thoughts I was left with after the first event and asked for an independent physician. The receptionist refused to share the name of any who were not part of their network.

It seems to me that these policies are intended to generate revenue for the system and not care for the patient. What ever happen to the Hippocratic Oath?

Does anyone know of a good doctor around here?

Welcome to the Lakes Region system where it is Live Free or Die. LRGH would probably just as well have you die, and you will probably hear many stories about them and how people went in for a simple operation and later died. Their Fast Track and ER are really the only money makers for them, but most without insurance cannot pay their outrageous rates, so they end up just not paying. I guess their goal is to have a percentage of those hopefully pay and the rest they will mark as bad debt. I would recommend you look at Concord Hospital for most health care, and use LRGH for only for emergencies, and by all means if you are having chest pains, stay away from LRGH!

I can explain a few things of what you encountered and the reasons behind the policies...

First off, I am not a nurse or doctor (yes, that's a disclaimer).

Secondly, anytime a diagnosis and treatment are administered, it has to be done under the supervision of a physician. This is the law. It is in place as much to protect you as it is to protect the practitioner.

Because you were seeking an immunization (tetanus) AFTER stepping on a rusty nail, it would be in the best interest for both you and the physician treating you to check you for any signs or symptoms of infection. This may include taking a blood sample for laboratory tests. Since you called an emergency room for advice, they are presenting you with the safest options for healthcare. You have every right to accept or refuse treatment.

Third, because LRGHealthcare is part of a network they cannot refer you to a primary care physician (PCP) who is not part of their network. Again, this is for their protection as well as yours.

Let's say you were referred to a PCP and there was a medical error that resulted in a lawsuit. This could open up LRGHealthcare to liability because they referred to the PCP who made the error. Since they are familiar with the physicians in their system and covered by medical liability insurance, this does limit who they can refer. However, a PCP can refer you to an out-of-system specialist if you should need specialized care. (For example, say you needed an orthopedic specialist and wished to go to Concord Ortho for treatment - that's certainly an option.)

You have every right to take their referrals or not. You have every right to open up the Yellow Pages, go on the internet, ask friends, etc., - to get references for a PCP. Any hospital group, such as LRGHealthcare, are governed by the same rules for providing you with information. Concord Hospital or Frisbee Memorial Hospital or Dartmouth Hitchcock Memorial Hospital would have similar situations. Considering the litigious society we live in these days, I'm sure you can understand why things are this way.

The Hippocratic Oath was not broken in any way here, just to be clear. At no time were you denied care. You were simply given the options that are available and within the framework the network has in place. Again, this is for safety reasons. As I said, you are welcome to explore options and have every right to do so.

As for referrals: HOSPITAL SOUP

LRGH saved my life!
 

couldn't disagree with you more... the short version is that I went in to LRGH ER late Saturday of motorcycle weekend... after a battery of various lab tests and a CT scan later, emergency surgery was scheduled for first thing Sunday morning... extremely nervous that I wasn't in my home turf or familiar doctors, but was unfounded... great work by a fantastic surgeon, followed by a week in "North 4" with outstanding nursing care... over a year later, we still keep in touch wtih many of them!!

in 50+ years at the lake, it was my first visit to LRGH (and in a good way, hopefully my last)... it is comforting to know that if needed, they are close by :)

thank you again LRGH -PIG

p.s. A couple of the nurses still chuckle about Misty Blue's visits

LRGHealthcare
 

I have used Fast Track at LRGHealthcare a few times along with my family and the care is top notch. Fast and efficient and accurate. We are all so lucky to have this facility here. As for what I think of your healthcare-no comment.

I don't understand why this was titled healthcare in the lakes region, suggesting somehow what bbb encountered is unique here. What bbb posted is standard procedure anywhere you go.

Oh I found all that out when I first came up here. I put a nail through two of my fingers with a nail gun working on the house. I tried for someone to look at it. Not one Dr. would look at me for two weeks. I wound up driving down to Nashua and going to the local health stop. $90 for an X-Ray and a Tetanus shot. Same day.

I too do not have a local Dr. in the area. If you remember I posted about getting pneumonia a couple years back. Cost me, well, the insurance company anyway, $8000.00 by going to Huggins ER. Thank the Lord I had insurance.

Yup, healthcare is great in this country. My wife has advanced cancer (sarcoma) and is now on Temodar (a daily pill).

The cost for 30 pills? $9,000. Yes, great healthcare system.:(

Oh Eagle, I am so very sorry. 30 pills for $9,000? It is just not right! I will say a prayer for both you and your wife.

Something has to be done about Healthcare.

My husband told me on Sunday that he was feeling a "rumbling" in his groin area (since Friday)...a day or two later his back began to bother him. Called his Dr. and they said they could see him in June. But if was a "real problem" for him to go to the local ER or Urgent Care at the hospital (he works at the Brigham & Womens in Boston). He went to Urgent Care today during work...was told ...probably just an infection that you are getting over. If it continues...contact your Dr. Hello! Isn't that what he did in the first place and they said June?

This is the worst kind of fear-mongering. This post is so pointless, and so far from any kind of truth that it's a waste of space. Just an outrage to read such foolishness from an adult.

I am trying to understand this but do not know why you have no health insurance? I do have health insurance so have not been in your shoes.and Have had good luck here in the lakes region the few times I have needed anything (like a tetanus shot when I scraped my heal on a piece of rusty metal.) I also had a nasty bout with poison ivy a different time.
Hope this situation works out for you and that you are able to find a way to have health care for sure. Do you live in the lakes region all year?

I did not inhale
 

I had insurance but when I switched it over to an auto pay system with my bank there was a glitch in the system. The third time that they charged a late fee I dropped them. I thought for sure it would be easy to get another company. When the new company interviewed me over the phone, they asked if I had used marijuana with in the past 5 years. I answered truthfully. A few days later I got the rejection notice in the mail. I paid for insurance for 23 years and never made a claim.

Posts: 67

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I am trying to understand this but do not know why you have no health insurance? I do have health insurance so have not been in your shoes.and Have had good luck here in the lakes region the few times I have needed anything (like a tetanus shot when I scraped my heal on a piece of rusty metal.) I also had a nasty bout with poison ivy a different time.
Hope this situation works out for you and that you are able to find a way to have health care for sure. Do you live in the lakes region all year?

You don't understand why he does not have health insurance?? Not all can afford health insurance. 500.00 per month for me, 80% coverage, 2500.00 deductible. I step on a rusty nail, a little hydrogen paroxide, a band aid, and I'm good to go. Something obviously has to be done to make insurance affordable to all.

My wife works in a regulartory compliance role for a drug manufacturer that specializes in rare diseases, such as things that only a few thousand people have worldwide. Don't get me wrong, these companies are out to make money, but they are made up of people dedicated to curing these illnesses.

Unfortunately, drugs are very expensive to develop. In addition to scientists, companies have teams of lawyers and other regulatory specialists to ensure the companies don't run afoul of FDA regulations that govern every possible aspect of creating and marketing drugs, right down to the punctuation in an ad.

One of the drugs my wife works on showed promise in treating adult leukemia. After over $100 million spent on mandated studies, the FDA panel decided in a 7-5 vote that more studies were needed. Cost of additional studies: roughly $40 million.

The system is broken, that's for sure, but it's the WHOLE system, not just hostpitals or insurance companies.

Fatnoah, I could not have said it better myself. I am also employed by a major pharmaceutical company. At my location, we make a couple drugs that have a very limited market. Millions were spent on R & D, getting the necessary approvals, and we still spend millions to make the product. Does the company make $$? Of course they do. But it isn't at a huge profit, as some would like to believe.

I can only assume the Messiah will wave his magical wand and all the problems with healthcare will be over.

I just heard a report that 55% of the patients at the ER, didn't need to be there.

This only creates a dangerous situation where those , really in need of treatment, will have to wait because mommy has Johnny seeing the ER Doctor for a runny nose.

Worried that June is not soon enough ... wait till 30 million more show up at the Doctors with runny noses, cause it's free and suddenly inundates heathcare with millions that don't need to be there.

Would it be better, if your husband gets to see the Doctor in June 2015...

There are only so many Doctors and most are over loaded with patients already...

How bout Wal Green, not filling prescriptions for Medicare(the Government) beneficeries because the Government has decided they'll only pay them so much... which by the way is lower than it costs Wal Green.

You think we have a problem now... you ain't seen nothin yet!

Uh, generally the people who are at the ER who don't really need to be there are the ones who don't have a primary care physician. It's not over-anxious mothers as much as it's people who use the ER more like a clinic. The real need is a "doc in the box", as we called them in the South - a bandaid and aspirin type place. Somewhere that people can go when they stepped on a rusty nail and need a tetanus shot or got a killer splinter from the docks when they were swimming.

I totally agree. We need walk in clinics in the Lakes Region. That is one of the things I believe will safe a lot of money for our health care system. People should not have to use them as their primary care physician.
Also being able to buy insurance from state to state, as they have talked about, and torte reform. THat is what we need for health care reform, not this ridiculous bill that is being forced upon us which includes everything from pell grants to land grants and which is tax, tax tax for four years before it even goes into effect. What a joke.

One darned good reason why my parents are still alive at ages 93 and 95 is because they get 100% health insurance, down to the very last penny, and their bills have run into $100,000 & $100,000's, all courtesy of someone else. Between Medicare and Tri-Care (U.S. Navy), they definately hit the lottery for all health insurance coverage.

......anchors away....full speed ahead...and damn those health insurance torpedos...:patriot::cheers::patriot:

..............

Here's a tip....if you catch a bad case of the flu, and have a fever, sore throat, and start coughing up an endless stream of gooey yellow phlegm and need to get some antibiotic pills like ampicillin 500-mg to cure the fever and bust up that miserable phlegm....in the Plymouth NH area...and HAVE NO INSURANCE...suggest you drive right past the Speare Hospital emergency room and take a left-turn, go way up the high hill, just before the Plymouth Wal-Mart... and go visit Mid State Health to get examined by an A.R.N.P. on-duty medic, who can examine & proscribe for less than an M.D., and probably do it with a better attitude. ... :)

Mid State Health has an almost invisible sign down by Route 25.......their underwhelming sign board says .....'The Health Place'...

I am unemployed with no health coverage. I contacted a flu/virus last january and I got worst. Luckily I was in NC visiting my sister as NC has free state sponsored clinics for the unemployed, no insurance folks. Had an MD check me out and prescription meds at no cost. Got to count my blessings.

As for LRGH, I shattered my humerous into 10 pieces two winters ago. The emergency clinic at LRGH couldn't get an orthopedic to look at my arm so they put me in a remporary cast/sling. After calling the orthopedics in Laconia/Gilford that weekend, it seems they were all attending a frigging wedding in the Carribeans that weekend. I got an appointment that Monday and it was in Manchester. Lucky me, Dr Wang is the best of the best according to NH magazine and other sites on the website. Again my blessings steer me away from LRGH. Living in Laconia I heard a number of horror stories about that hospital and the doctors that are connected to it. I see a number of malpractice/lawsuit on the hospital in the papers. I will definitely go elsewhere.

Your worries are over now
 

The Dems just fixed all the problems with healthcare. You think it was bad before? Get ready because the government always does a much better job than the private sector :eek:

Walk in care
 

No more walk in clinic at Laconia Clinic? I remember one there (but quite a few years ago, will admit). Used it for sinus infections and the like--that I needed care for that day-- my insurance did pay, too. Of course, "that was then; this is now"!

We have several of those "doc in the box" places that AW refers to down here. Now on Medicare and a supplement; and I have gone there a couple of times on a Sunday AM for minor stuff that I need looking at right then. My insurance has paid, too. We have a regular physician, but Sunday AM is not a time you'll get to contact him. This option beats the ER, for sure, as long as it isn't an actual emergency. I do not know how expensive it is without any insurance...would think not as bad as an ER, but that's a guess. I don't remember the exact amount I was charged, but didn't think it way out of line.

Nope. You have to call ahead. They do have a lot of same-day appointments (usually) but you have to call early. Plan accordingly.

I couldn't agree with you more, Sik. I don't know what this country is coming to. We can't afford Medicare so let's add another health program we can't afford. I wonder if the NH Atty. General will file a lawsuit as 7 other states are.

Thanks. This is a good tip. I will be sure and look for it on my next time at the Plymouth, Walmart and then know where it is. I have health insurance. Not always easy to get a doctor here and most of mine are elsewhere.
Rain today but no news on Ice Out even though there were boaters all weekend enjoying the 70 degree weather.

well, the FAA comes to mind. I hope and believe you are wrong. The feds can mandate tech advantages the insurance folks would not. The party of no may delay the improvements, but the health of the lakes region population will improve due to the changes.

There may be some unforeseen consequences that unwind as time goes by. For example, having 305-million American all covered by some form of insurance will probably drive the demand for easy access, low-cost, walk-in health checks where people can be seen by a medical person in a retail store. Stores like CVS, Walgreen, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and other stores could coordinate with federal health policy and come up with some low cost, entry level venues that would attract people with lower level medical ailments like a runny nose /sore throat.

Social Security - 1936.....Medicare - 1965.....and health insurance - 2010.

Best thing to happen since chocolate-chip ice cream was invented!

It's shameful that so many people today could care less about our children, grandchildren , and great grandchildren.

You'd rather live your lifestyle today and shackle our childrens future.... who do you think will have to pay for this?

We're already so far in debt we can't get out of what we already have!

Shame... shame to all the self centered people that have decided they want something for nothing.

We're all about to find out there's nothing for free, you either take it or steal it from someone else.

Shame shame on all of you that think this is the best thing for this country.

But then again, it has now become policy, it's politically correct to vilify those that work hard and pay for what they have.

Wow, swnoel. What a great post. I wish I could have written it that well!

This is where I really need the thanks button.Well stated.

This where you realize polititicians are very self centered. :(

Irish Mist, I'm sorry you don't agree with my posting, but if I am such a fool then why does an independent health care review company rank LRGH as "poor" for those that come in with a heart attack? See ratings here http://www.healthgrades.com/hospital...user_agreement
My uncle went in for a heart attack, but was later brought to Dartmouth. The first thing out of their mouth was, "I wish we had him 3 days ago, we could have saved him."

The source for the reporting on Heart attack (myocardial infarction) for HealthGrades is Medicare and Medicaid Services from 2006-2008. It does not say what the criteria for scoring consists of and that, to me, would be a more comprehensive report. I am sorry about your experience and the loss of your uncle.

Mom and Dad
 

Both parents stubbornly rely on LRGH geriatic physicians for all their diagnostics. My dad had problems with his urine and the doctor played around with all kinds of medications for a year and a half. One weekend he had to go to to the emergency room at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, NH while he was visiting me. A quick blood test confirms a major problem and was quickly scanned. he had cancer all along and it had spread from his kidneys onto the liver. This should have been taken care of from the start! He died a few months later. But at least they caught the problem and gave him the correct comfort.

As for my Mom, she had problems with her stomach. Again, all kinds of drugs, including medicine for depressing and sleep pills. She spent the holidays one year with my sister in NC. My sister had to take her to the Winston-Salem Baptist Hospital that specializes in geriatic care. After a checkup, the doctor ask what medications she is taking. Not only was she over medicated but the combination of the medication is not approved to be taken together! After a scan, they found she has a tumor on her stomach and it had spread to her lower intestine. Again it should have been caught early. She died a few months later.

Again, this year, I see no LRGH physician in the Top Doctors line up in NH Magazine.

So if anyone is getting great care, he or she is very lucky. I would not take my chance on luck. :cool:

Medicine
 

I am on seven different pills, and I figure that I would be spending about 1500 per month. I had the doctor change the presciption to generiac brands. That alone will save a lot of money, But then she sent me to yup of all places Walmart. Now I am getting 60-90 days of meds for 10.00 a prescription. Big difference. However they gave me these Horse Pills in place of Acto's and you need to take two for one. The doctor said it might cause loose bowl movements so take one in the morning and one at night.

I tested her theory, first day no problem, Next day I was in a meeting when all of a sudden.....:eek:. Two days later I decided to take only one per day. I will find out next week how that works out.

I'll be waiting for an update on how that works out John.:eek:

I don't think you are a fool, but I think when you condem an institurion in such a broad manner it's foolish. LRGH is not Mass General......we all know that, but it's not some kind of death-trap that when you walk-in, you never walk out again. LRGH has a great emergency room. They do excellent work in conjunction with Laconia Eye Care. People come there from all over the state for cataract surgery. Again, if you're looking for high-end care Dartmouth is the place to go. For a rural hospital LRGH does a good job.

I had an ER visit where I was having symptoms of meningitis. After extensive testing, and EIGHT HOURS of crushing pain and waiting, they still refused to the last test - a spinal tap. (Really, who pleads with the doc to HAVE a spinal tap??) The ER doc at LRGH actually was great, and wanted to do the Tap, but the Neurologist on duty refused to let him! They couldn't find anything else wrong, and wanted to send me home with Tylenol. I let them send me away - I went straight to Concord Hospital, where I was diagnosed and treated within two hours. (No meningitis, but we did the spinal tap and were able to diagnose from there.)

I have since seen the LRGH ER doctor, who didn't remember me, but I told him that he was right, and should have followed his instinct to do the tap. I thanked him for at least trying to do what was best.

A family member of mine also had an "Outpatient" surgery at LRGH... three days later, she was plummeting fast. They kept adding drugs, adding drugs, she got worse and worse! She's allergic to some drugs, so I convinced the doctor to CEASE using meds completely for 12 hours to see if that helped. She recovered immediately. She was allergic to something in this drug cocktail that they had been giving for three days! Geesh!

Now, I have friends that work there, and the people there are really great, nice people overall. I think there are just certain times when the system breaks down, and you don't get either "health" or "care"

Glad to hear this. Do you share what type of surgery it was? I think it is foolish to stay home and die and many men seem to do that. Good that you went and good that you had a good outcome. It is reassuring. Thanks for writing.

Lrgh
 

We had a good friend that went to LRGH and kept complaining about a cough she had and they told her she had a chest cold and sent her home, a week later she was back and they once again told her she had a cold, and she went home and was back a couple of weeks later and they told her she had nothing more than a cold finally she went down to concord and they did some exstensive tests and found she had lung cancer and it had spread into the rest of her body. she ended up dying at the age of 38 years old. so needless to say I will never go to that hospital except for small stuff.

The suitablily of this type of thread was questioned regarding if it was really about the LAKE. So I thought on it a bit and think that where you fill your stomach (restaurant thread) and where you go to fix your stomach ache (medical care thread) seems the same to me. What do others think?

I have found out about a place near Plymouth Walmart for simple medical things and a name and telephone number of a dermatologist as well as the name of a great sounding pizza place and even a supermarket that has lobster salad. To me all of this is great information for me while I am injoying the lake.

I love this forum and am learning about all kinds of things that enhance my happiness at my wonderful lake.

I am also interested in what registration my boat needs, and new things about insurance, and how I can fix my sunfish, and what the rules are for docks and that we should not fertilize ( I do not anyway) our yards etc.