Re: [IP] Endo giving me hard time over my choice of pumps

[Denise Mary May <email @ redacted>]

Kickbacks don't sound legal to me.  My doctor is not familiar with the 
features of my Deltec Cozmo, but he lets me have what I want.  He was 
still in medical school at the U when I got my first pump.  It does the 
same things as a MiniMed does and I think that it's better.  Doesn't 
have CGMS...but, hey!  When I first became diabetic, we did urine tests 
so we knew what had gone on 4 hours ago.  Everything else went by 
guesses.  This endo of yours sounds like she's wearing blinders and 
doesn't want to know about any insulin delivery systems other than the 
one she's used to.  Hopefully this type of focus isn't carried on to any 
other facet of her practice - that is, where she's supposed to be 
reading the physician-type journals necessary for professional growth, 
she is.  I'm talking about the serious publications that are for pros - 
things like JAMA and there are tons of articles produced for 
endocrinologists.  All physicians and nurse practitioners have to keep 
up with new medicines, new procedures, new devices, etc. in order to be 
good for us patients.Do you know of any other diabetes specialists 
practicing in your area?

Denise May


Dee Phillips wrote:
>
> I need some advice. After raving about my endo, she's really made me 
> mad. Long story short: I don't have insurance, can qualify for the 
> assistance program through animas, can get a pump in the long run for 
> about $2500 with supplies. Sounds like a good deal right? Well I 
> talked to my endo about it and she is just fired up about minimed (no 
> offense to you minimed folks), found out later, she gets $400 kickback 
> on all minimed pumps, none from the rest of the pump folks. So, here's 
> basically how our conversation went. Me: I'd like to go on a pump. 
> Her: That's great, minimed is wonderful. Me: no, I don't want to go on 
> minimed, I want to go with animas. Her: why is that? Me: because first 
> of all, I like the features, very similar to a minimed, but much more 
> inexpensive, you know I don't have insurance. Her: (kind of under her 
> breath) they're probably less expensive b/c they're going to go under. 
> Me: what? her: it doesn't matter, whatever you want to do is fine, I 
> just know that if I have 10 patients, 10 will be on minimed. Me: 
> Well...I can't afford minimed. Her: Well, just make sure it has the 
> wizard feature like minimed.
>
> Now, since then, I've been treated (please excuse the expression, I 
> mean no harm) white trash. We are a Christian family of 4, my husband 
> and I work like dogs, the Lord absolutely blesses all the way and we 
> have food on the table everyday and a roof over our heads. What makes 
> me any different than her? Once I told her I wanted Animas b/c of the 
> price, she just kind of stuck her nose up in the air and the rest of 
> the conversation was very "snooty" on her part. When the nurse called 
> me to set up my appt with her for converting over to the pump she said 
> she would get all my paperwork over to the rep for medtronic. I said 
> no, I'm going with animas. Oh, well we'll just mail you your 
> prescription and you contact Animas yourself. She was willing to leave 
> me completely in the dark b/c I wasn't going to get a pump like they 
> wanted. I finally got hold of my rep for Animas, and he said he would 
> handle my endo's office.
>
> I've only been type 1 since March of this year, I'm still learning 
> about diabetes, how in the world am I supposed to know how to set up 
> for a pump. Since the process is already rolling, I'm going to stick 
> with her through getting the pump, but I think I may switch endo's 
> soon. The entire visit was hurried. I waited and waited for months to 
> see her and have all these questions written down, all they need is 
> quick simple answers and she didn't even have time for that. But I 
> sure to pay enough in cash every visit for her to run out the door.
>
> I guess, I want someone to tell me I'm justified in getting irritated 
> and let me know if most endo's are like this. I know they have lots of 
> patients but dang, I wait 2-3 months at a time to see her and I have 
> to drive 1 1/2 hours just to get there and take a whole day off from 
> work and she can't even give me the time of day hardly. What do you 
> guys think?
>
> i'll put my questions about the pump I'm getting in a different post. 
> I'm sorry this got to be so long.
> Thanks in Advance, Dee (dx'd 3/06, novolog 70/30 + plain, prox 4 shots 
> a day)
>
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