Letter To The Editor:

The extra cost and medical practices of doctors I had in Cleveland, TN.
The incorrect diagnosis of your medical problem plus the out of pocket you have to spend is ridiculous.

I arrived, or moved to Cleveland, TN. about a year and a half ago and applied for health insurance, as the state did not handle the insurance I had in Florida. A primary doctor here treated my swollen right leg with water pills and my wound opened that was healed by my doctor in Florida.  All he did, was give me a strong pain prescription to relieve my leg, and did a bone density scan and x-ray and discovered I had osteoporosis. I waited 5-6 weeks for results and when I contacted the medical insurance company to investigate, the doctor cut me off as a patient. I went to the surgeon who installed my pacemaker (who is a vascular doctor) practiced with 7 uni-boots at my cost of $120.00 which did no good and then sent me to a wound doctor, it was a waste of money. (I told him that it did not work in Florida.)

I had to get another primary doctor and he farmed me out to hospital for blood work (haven't received a bill yet) and to a compound pharmacy for a shingles shot, with a cost of $57.29. Then he also, after a visit to him at $15.00, sent me to pain management who said they have to prescribe pain medicine, that visit cost me $30.00 for visit plus prescription. The wound doctor advised me of supplies I had to pay for; salve cost me $28 (twice). Plus gauze and bandages I bought at Wal-Mart over $20.00 to redress the wound at home. In Florida wound supplies are supplied through Medicare to doctors office at a no charge basis.

I have had over 6-7 visits to the wound doctor and I called my doctor in Florida to receive the name of a salve patch they used to heal my wound and now the wound doctor here is using the same.

The dollar amount is too numerous to mention the extra expense that I paid for prescription drugs for the incorrect diagnosis of the problem. I had to go to the hospital on a Saturday back a few months to secure pain pills at a cost of $50.00 ER fee as the doctor's office was closed.

The doctors also collect from insurance (medical) companies for not solving problems just the same.

What can be done to look into medical practices that are happening and public is bearing the blunt?

I hope you print this letter and inform the public to be aware and cannot do anything to change it.

Please have medical authorities investigate this and other problems as they exist.

Robert D. Rhodes
Cleveland


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