Be wary of local cardiologist
 

I am writing this post to warn others of fraud and abuse which apparently is rampant in Florida. Medicare has established a separate fraud department specifically to investigate Florida claims! Specifically, I saw a cardiologist after my husband was referred to one. It was recommended to me by that cardiologist that I have an initial workup because of my family history and a past hx of smoking. I was asymptomatic, but told that heart disease presents differently in women. Better safe than sorry, right? I was immediately referred for a nuclear stress test (never offered the option of a cardio treadmill stress test). That test cost in excess of $2400., whereas the treadmill test would have been $174.00. Hmmm...never mind, as Medicare and my private insurance were also charged for the treadmill test (which I never had). As a result of the "equivocal" findings on the stress test, it was recommended that I start on Digoxin and also have an invasive angiogram (thousands more) to see what's going on. In the meantime, I was given several other tests, including sonograms, leg studies, etc. which I have since discovered EVERYONE who sees this doctor is given. I decided to seek a second opinion from a reputable cardiologist out of state. That doctor (and I) requested records be sent a total of FIVE times. No records were sent until I called the cardiologist down here and threatened legal action. I now understand why those records weren't sent as requested. It was because there is NOTHING WRONG with my heart, as per my second opinion! By the way, my husband was given all the same tests AND underwent the angiogram...and there was nothing wrong with him, either). My reason for writing this post is to make all Villagers aware of what can go on here. Be sure to carefully check all of your medicare/private insurance statements to see what you've been billed for. Do NOT engage in a ton of tests without getting a second opinion for someone highly reputable. Just because you may not have to pay for those tests directly, we all pay indirectly. Although I'm sure that some of the physicians here are honest, are not referring to establishments where they have financial interests for unnecessary tests or to specialists with whom there is some kind of reciprocity, many are. PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION.

Your caution to be wary of local cardiologist won't help unless you give us a name.

Yes, who is this dr??

You'd be helping us with a name. Please pm me with a name as my husband has recently been put through all these tests and has another appt next week to discuss possible surgery. He has no symptoms! Thanks

Need a name
 

[QUOTE=shrink;561015], I saw a cardiologist after my husband was referred to one. QUOTE]

Without a name, you make us wary of all in the area. That's not fair to the good ones and confusing to those of us who may need to see a cardiologist!

Please share your knowledge. Thanks

not that i am saying right or wrong but can you run tread for the lengh of time to get your heart rate up ....

Sure can as I did it with my first stress test. They incline it and speed it up a bit at a time. Took me only a few minutes to get my heart to 135 bpm.

Soooo how do we steer clear of this person?? Don't know their name or where their clinic is located. It's only by word of mouth we can do anything about this collectively.

After posting all that, I believe the doctor's name should be told. What is the point of the post if it has no name,

I am reluctant to post a specific name on a public forum. I simply advise that if it seems like too many tests are being run, if you are being told you need a nuclear stress test if in fact you are capable of doing a treadmill test, if the office seems to run like an assembly line, if you overhear one patient after another being scheduled for angiograms, if you get bills which do not reflect what was actually done, etc., steer clear.

Wasn't someone sued recently for posting a bad review about a doctor? I believe it was settled out of court, including an apology from the doctor, but still.....be careful what you say.

The post was not on TOTV, as far as I know, but was in our area, I think.

Please do not press me for a name. I want to help others, but do not want to be sued. Just exercise good judgment and common sense, look for the modus operandi I have reported, and rely heavily on word of mouth from others who have had positive experiences. Also, there is a website called vitals.com. You can go there and type in the name of a doctor and read the comments others have made.

Yes, thank you for understanding.

Regarding "I saw a cardiologist after my husband was referred to one. It was recommended to me by that cardiologist that I have an initial workup because of my family history and a past hx of smoking. I was asymptomatic,......"

Why get a heart specialist consult just because your spouse did?

And, where is your primary care doctor's referral in all this?

I sat in with my husband during his exam. The conversation somehow turned to me. And the cardiologist never asked me for a referral from my primary. Just scared me and scheduled me. Then scheduled me some more. Then some more. Then some more. I believe I underwent seven different expensive tests. My primary care doc out of state (whom I trust completely) was shocked when I told him what was done. His comment was, "No wonder insurance costs are so high".

Did Medicare actually PAY all these claims?

They paid and my secondary paid. Not only did they pay the claims for what was done, they paid for a procedure that was never done! Thousands total!

This is a slippery slope. Unless we have a medical degree it is almost impossible to decide what tests are needed and what tests are not needed.

Many medical problems are without symptoms, and when you get to the level of symptoms in cardiovascular illness, such as shortness of breath, blueness, pain, fatigue, swollen ankles,rapid heartbeat, fainting, than you have missed an opportunity to correct some serious problems earlier. Generally there is an ekg, a stress test and then a Thalium stress test and if that discovers something wrong, then a cardiac ultrasound and perhaps a 24 hour Holter monitor and then a cardiac catherization. It is apparent without extensive tests if a person is having some risk factors to further investigate, such as overweight, a sedentary life style and a history of smoking and high cholesteral levels.

It could be that these tests were a scam to make money and it could be that they ascertained that you were alright dispite the risk factor that you mentioned of smoking. This is a very difficult area. I agree with Ilovetv that generally a person is refered to a cardiologist by a primary care physician.

It is wise to check out a physicians background as you say. That in itself is difficult. Even excellent doctors have suits brought against them. There are suit happy people out there. And some not great doctors never get in trouble that is traceable. To figure out who is good, not great and bad in an MD is almost impossible. Large teaching hospitals have very high standards for their physicians and they have ethics committees too and I feel more comfortable with seeking treatment for serious issues by going to a doctor and group associated with a large teaching facility such as Shands in Gainesville or the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.

A friend who is himself an MD and lives here in The Villages goes to Shands in Gainesville, for his medical care. I myself trust large teaching hospitals and the doctors associated with them the most because of our frequent experiences with our daughters extensive birth related heart problems.

I am not a medical person..and I am sorry that you, OP had this experience. I think it was very odd you had the Thalium stress test without a regular one first. If you were charged for the plain one and Medicare paid for a test that wasn't performed, that is fraud.

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Well said, Gracie.:highfive:

Teaching hospitals are an excellent choice as Gracie said in earlier post.
However, even they use trials and experimental type procedures that they no doubt know might not end in a happy way for the patient.

We have a family member who was given an extended five years of life via great care and experimental treatment at DUKE UNIVERSITY in N.C. for liver cancer. However, they've now been told they have dementia as a result of the treatment. Early 50 years old and has been told the cancer is chronic but treatable with radioactive isotopes?? However, she has had to seek early retirement and go on disability via medicare. Duke is a great teaching hospital. Very forgetfull and unable to work as a result of the treatment.

Ditto for Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire......to which many of our townsfolk go for their cancers. Lots of experimental treatments.
It may "buy time" but ultimately most are dying eventually. It's sad to see....esp. among the young women in their 40's........all doctors are well aware that the chemo is poison to healthy cells as well as the cancer cells. We know people who've lost all feeling in their hands and feet; neuropathy, due to treatment. It will never return.

We do have an oncology center as part of our hospital, but for the more aggressive types, they send them to Dartmouth or to Boston....or even Mount Sinai in New York City. It's been a sad ending for all of them and their families.

When my mother in law had cancer back in 1970 (and years prior) there was no treatment at all.....she eventually did pass, with no pain at all.
Was able to function up to the end. Painless death. At the time, the family was told that her many cancers were caused by early xray treatment given to her during her pregnancies........30 years prior.

Senior.

Helene and I are cancer survivors and what you say is true...HOWEVER a person is not given experimental treatment as a matter of course. The risks are carefully explained and most people who receive treatment in these studies have been on a waiting list and carefully evaluated and usually because all other options have not been successful in stopping their cancers.

Chemo does kill healthy cells and people do get other side effects from chemo but at this point it is what we have to save lives.

Helene and I feel very fortunate to still be here. Cancer is survivable.

There are horror stories about radiation that was used in the 40's thinking it would help. Much more is known about radiation today and although there is still a risk factor, it too is a tool in saving people.

When we are diagnosed with a serious disease we need to expend every effort to find the best place to treat the disease and try to continue to live the life we are given.

Thanks for your good advice, Graciegirl. Well said and things to keep in mind. I do like the idea of Shands, and if we ever NEED serious intervention, that is where we will go!

fraud it is!
 

Yes indeed, it is fraud. I believe the reason I was charged for both was to "justify" to insurance the reason for giving the nuclear stress test, i.e., "tried the treadmill, couldn't complete, had to give thallium". This has been reported to both Medicare and my private insurance company which paid for all. Interestingly, when I tried to tell Medicare about everything that was done without medical necessity, they were unable to investigate anything other than the bogus charge. I did go on the site Vitals.com under the doctor's name and found other such complaints against him. Although anyone can go on that site and leave comments (such as the doctor himself, his family, his friends, etc.), its still a wise idea to look there before going to anyone new. Thanks for writing.

Sorry Shrink, I do not understand. By not posting this doctors name, you cast aspersions on all LOCAL cardiologists. Maybe it is my doctor, I don't know. If you are going to post a thread like this, have the nerve to state the facts.

The problem might have started when the doctor found out that you had secondary insurance. He thought, "Wow, I'll be able to talk her into all kinds of expensive tests and she'll go for it. Ca-ching! $$$$$$"

I don't blame you, I blame the doctor. But I think it's all too easy for the patient to be trusting when cost is not a factor. If you had to pay 20% you might not have been so trusting.

All heart patients should be warry of all heart doctors, in my opinion. Most of them (again my opinion) will never give the option of lifestyle changes to reverse coronary artery disease. They are in business to make money and placing stints or giving by pass surgery pays a heck of a lot more than giving someone a stern warning and a diet/exercise plan.

I disagree.

BULL-Oney!!!! Non-Invasive Cardiologists do not do these surgeries. They are trained in internal medicine first and are not surgeons.

You paint with a broad brush the very professionals people need both before and during a life-threatening disease/condition.

You could save someone's life by posting the name of the Dr. It would appear that he or she is only in the practice for the money. If he or she is worth their salt they can defend themselves,

This is one of the reasons our Healtcare costs continues to climb. Needless tests only hurt the patient and feed the Doctors.

You are again, in my opinion, proceeding from inaccurate information.

Here is the index page from The Mayo Clinic's book. Heart Healthy for Life.

They are first interested in life changes, stepping up exercise and changing your diet.


Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life
https://store.mayoclinic.com/BMC/ima.../293400_02.jpg

And here is from preventative health information page from The Cleveland Clinic, The Best in the country for problems with the heart and cardiovascular system
Heart & Vascular Health and Prevention


Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation

The Section of Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation helps those who already have heart and vascular disease and those who are at high risk of developing it.
Individualized & Group Prevention Programs

Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation offers a multidisciplinary approach to preventing the occurrence or progression of cardiovascular disease: nutritional services, prescriptive exercise programs, stress testing, multiple cardiovascular risk reduction programs, peripheral vascular rehabilitation program in collaboration with Vascular Medicine, comprehensive cardiovascular care for women, and educational programs for patients and healthcare providers.

• Learn about Hot Topics in Prevention by our Prevention experts

Nutrition Services

• Learn about our remote nutrition counseling or our on-site Nutrition Program
• Try our great recipes
• Learn what's new in nutrition news - New!
• Diet and Nutrition Information: Nutrition Strategies

Group Exercise Programs and Individual Exercise Consultation

• Exercise to good health: Exercise Information

Specialized Programs for Women and Teens

• Learn more about Women's Cardiovascular Health
• Pediatric Preventive Cardiology and Metabolic Clinic

Learn More About These Prevention Topics:

• Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Integrative- Healing Heart Therapies
• Weight Management
• Diabetes
• Evaluation of Risk Factors
• Stress & Emotion
• Women & Prevention

Web Chats

• Read transcripts of past web chats

Interactive Tools

• Take the cholesterol quiz
• Body Mass Index Calculator

Reviewed: 08/12


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Wendy.

The Cleveland Clinic doesn't have a branch here, but if there is a problem you can fly there as my oldest friend's husband did from Huntsville, Alabama. The local doctors didn't know how else to help him.

He is doin' fine these seven years later.

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Gracie, you are so wise and I appreciate your comments! I'm so glad you and Helene are survivors! I'd bet your sunny, sensible attitude had a lot to do with that!

Can anyone tell me if you have to be referred to Shands, do they accept Medicare and is there a cardiologist there you would recommend?

The only Cleveland Clinic I see in Fla is West Palm Beach and that is a little far. It seems Mayo does not participate in Medicare and that would be a must for us!

I don't understand, if you had no symptoms what prompted you to seek a cardiologist? Did you have angina? or shortness of breath? did you have fainting spells ?? feelings of discomfort when you exert yourself, you said you were asymptomatic but angina comes in many forms not just chest pain so I find your remarks confusing... I worked for USF Health Cardiology for 16 years and can recommend many excellant cardiologists just 90 minutes away if you like.A nuclear test is done rather than a treadmill test for many reasons for example because heavy smokers usually tire out and develop shortness breath before the test can be completed properly and diagnosed , or also in cases of obesity. Hope if you have any type of cardiac related disease like hypertension you will continue to seek care..

Great resources for everyone
 

:pepper2:

This has been a very educational thread. Sure are a lot of knowledgeable people on TOTV! Thanks for sharing.

You confuse me.

A nuclear stress test can be executed either on a treadmill or through the use of chemical stimulation of your heart. It all depends upon whether you are physically capable of exercising on the treadmill long enough to get your heart to the target heart rate.

In either case, treadmill or chemical, the thing that makes it a nuclear stress test is based upon the injection of nuclear material into your blood stream before the test begins.

You condemn an office that is "run like an assembly line." Couldn't that also be characterized as simply being well organized and efficient?

You say that one should steer clear if you get bills that do not reflect what was actually done. By then it's too late to steer clear.

Your original post, although possibly well meaning, is totally valueless because of your failure to provide the name of the doctor.

Perhaps you could have simply recommended that people should check out that doctor by name on the web site where you say others have criticized him.