BirdbyBird wrote:I will officially check in later but I wanted to ask if any of you live in areas where the medical systems have "My Charts" Here in the greater CIncinnati. over the years, I have either been provided service from hospitals or medical practices associated with three of the major providers: Tri Health, Mercy, Christ Hospital. The last 5 years or so have mostly been Tri Health. My switch to a private medical practice not associated with any of the hospitals now has me signed up for their portal also. I get results of tests within 24 hours and often are looking at the numbers and brief write ups before the physician that ordered the tests probably have had time to sit down and read them much less call me to discuss. I will say that though I had immediate tests results, my current physician is the one that calls to go over the results with me whether or not there were anything in the results that really needed explanation. Then again that is why I paid extra to join her practice. She also returns phone calls the same day....
Hello, Tina.
I read your post this morning, but didn't have time to respond until now.
I do have an online "portal" with my health care provider, who shall remain nameless here.
This organization has a bit of a monopoly in my area, as well as in much of Northern California.
I usually get my test results via my online portal in about 48 hours, and then I can generally decipher them using Dr. Google. My physician
never phones - if I want an actual explanation of the actual results from my actual doctor, I need to schedule another $400.00 10-minute appointment with him. Yes, I have insurance - but this is the amount my insurance is billed.
My physician
never returns telephone calls. Not
ever. The only way I can "contact" him (for lack of a better term) is sending a message through my online health portal. After the message is sent, the response time is 24 - 48 hours. The response, when it comes, is (obviously) written by some kind of assistant who does not possess the most basic of spelling and grammar skills.
Without the very most basic spelling and grammar skills (plus seeming not bothering to read the actual question I have asked) the response is usually either illegible or confusing. Or both. I then need to message back (through the portal) for a
further clarification. Which (you guessed it) takes a further 24 - 48 hours. And so on. . .
I spent well over two weeks on this messaging system back-and-forth trying to get a simple question answered; finally I phoned the "patient advocate" department.
Finally (and this was the only time I have ever received a call) my doctor called me on the phone (in a bit of a huff, I might add) and I finally got my question answered.
I had written a bit more here regarding my ongoing frustrations - and absolute despair - in trying to get health care in my area, but I am deleting the rest of the post. Too personal, and much more than I wish to discuss in an open online forum. What you are reading here is the short -
very short - version.
Bottom Line: I can't speak for anyone else, or what kind of health care (or lack thereof) they might have in their own area.
I felt I had good health care here in my area (had felt this way for years) - until I retired, and my primary insurer became Medicare.
That's when it all changed.
Anne
My energy level has really picked up this past week or so. Guess the increase in Vitamin D is finally kicking in. I had been feeling really achy as well and that’s gong away too. Martha, your son isn’t the only one getting results late. I had my blood work done in December and then was scheduled for a mammo and bone scan Got a call from hospital telling me the scan had to be cancelled due to machine breakdown. Was finally rescheduled for end of January after a new machine was installed. Didn’t get results of that or my blood work till first week of March 
Hope they figure out your son’s problem. Sounds almost like drops in blood pressure. 
