I would like to relate my interactions with the Kaiser HMO system in the last 12 months.
First let me start by saying that I pay approx. $10.000.00 per year in health insurance premiums for me and my husband no kids with a deductible of over $3,000.00 each per year.
First I must say that I had a hysterometry at the age of 26 so I am very susceptible to bladder infections, which in a matter of hours move to my kidneys and require a 3 to 5 day stay in the hospital.
Incident #1
I was on vacation in the southern states visiting my family. I had a badder infection, called the Kaiser Nurse Advise Line to request an Rx of Antibiotics (Keflex or Cipro), The county has only 1 pharmacy so I provided the Nurse with the phone number of the CVS Pharmacy. Ended up in a 1/2 hour argument because they wanted to call the Rx into Walgreens. The Kaiser Nurse Advise Line could not understand in a County with less than 7,500 residents that there was no Walgreens. Finally made them understand. So I go to the CVS and there is NO Rx for me. Had to go to the local Dr. to get a Rx. I found out upon return that Kaiser called the Rx into an Los Angeles CVS vs a West Virginia CVS, also they called in something other than Keflex or Cipro which I had requested.
Incident #2
I was at home and I had a badder infection, called the Kaiser Nurse Advise Line to request an Rx of Antibiotics (Keflex or Cipro), I was refused. The Kaiser Nurse Advise Line stated a Dr. would call me 5 1/2 hours to see if they wanted me to go in to the office and provide a urine sample for testing. After 1/2 hour of auguring and the Kaiser Nurse Advise Line I hung up 1 hour later I ended up in the Emergency Room with an IV and and being pumped with Cipro and a bill of over $500.00.
Incident #3
Yesterday, 1:30am, I called the Kaiser Nurse Advise Line to request an Rx of Antibiotics (Keflex because the last 6 times I have taken Cipro). So the Operator/Call Center answered the call, I stated that I wanted the Nurse Advise Line. Operator/Call Center requested the nature of my problem before transferring me. Remember that is 1:30am and I am in pain and can not sleep. I was upset and stated I did not want to give "MY FUCKING MEDICAL INFORMATION TO AN OPERATOR". At which point the Operator/Call Center stated if I used a curse word word again she would hang up on me, (hanging up on me would leave me with ZERO access to any medical services). So I calmed down, and told the Operator/Call Center what my problem was with non medical personnel (Does Kaiser understand HIPPA). So I go and get the medication from the Kaiser Pharmacy, so they have Keflex waiting for me. Keflex 500mg 2 times per day for 7 day = 14 pills. I asked the Pharmacist why only 14 pills when the standard treatment with Keflex for a bladder infection was 500mg 4 times per day for 10 to 14 days. As you can imagine the Pharmacist's answer was this is "This is what the Dr. ordered".
With an average of 3 bladder infections each year, why will Kaiser not follow the standard medical recommendations ? Is Kaiser trying to have my bladder infection move to my kidneys and kill me ? Is this level of care that over $10.000.00 in annual medical insurance premiums purchase ?
A search of the web brought up this site.
http://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/Website/lectures/lecture/uti.htm
2. Women who have more than three UTI recurrences documented by urine culture within one year can be managed using one of three preventive strategies:
Acute self-treatment with a three-day course of standard therapy.
Postcoital prophylaxis with one-half of a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole double-strength tablet (40/200mg) if the UTIs have been clearly related to intercourse.
Continuous daily prophylaxis with one of these regimens for a period of six months: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, one-half tablet per day (40/200 mg); nitrofurantoin, 50 to 100 mg per day; norfloxacin, 200 mg per day; cephalexin (Keflex), 250 mg per day; or trimethoprim, 100 mg per day.
Tags: Kaiser Permanente Nurse Advise Line Failures
