Clinic Closed. I Lost My Medical Team! The Struggle to Find Doctors When on Life Support

When using a tracheostomy tube and ventilator, one of the hardest obstacles to overcome is finding doctors and a medical team who will treat the person. I have a fantastic medical team; however, when I called to make an appointment to get treatment for a pseudomonas infection, I found out the devastating news that the clinic is permanently closed. I burst into tears. #lifewithavent #pseudomonas #endometriosis
For more fun and adventures please check out my blog: mitowarrior.blogspot.com
Instagram: / lifewithavent
MeWe: mewe.com/join/lifewithaventil...
Facebook: / life-with-a-vent-11312...
Email: [e-mail]
Affiliated KZbin Channel: kzbin.info...

[@tomsclim72]

So sorry to hear about this. I feel the hospitals/clinics could have managed and communicated the closures better especially doctors should tell their patients if they will be moving their practice nearby or to some other states, etc. this just isn't right. Anyway wishing you the best in re-establishing your new medical care providers and gambatte!!

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you so much for sharing. I appreciate all your insight and support.

[@vivvpprof]

I've been watching your videos for months now. Thank you so much for sharing your, sometimes horrible but always riveting, stories (like the one with the doctor who tried to kill you). I don't have much to say by way of a comment, except that I just want to hug you, and I'm so sorry for the things that happened to you. The pervading feeling of being left alone with your problems; of people not caring to even inform you they have stopped practicing… that's all too familiar, and it's depressing. Nobody should be subject to such treatment, let alone "a seasoned patient" like you, who needs extensive care.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you so much for all your kind words and support. I really appreciate that.

[@abbygalortiz3784]

Wow I can’t believe they really treated you that way I think no matter what they should help a person with any condition or if they have Insurance or not!! Hope you can get all the help & care you need!!

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for all your support. I really appreciate it.

[@aco52672]

This is one reason I don't like going to doctors. The last "clinic" I went to was THE last one I will EVER go to! They misdiagnosed me with bronchitis. Well, there is a BIG difference between bronchitis and CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, which the hospital diagnosed me with. I now have an implanted defibrillator in my chest. So, I am VERY skittish in clinics! I DO hope and pray that you find the appropriate medical accommodations you need.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for sharing some of your story with me. I am so sorry this happened to you. I am glad the hospital was able to properly diagnose you. Thank you for your well wishes. All my best to you.

[@user-jo9jc7qb9w]

I am so sorry that this happened to you😢

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you. I appreciate your support.

[@user-jo9jc7qb9w]

I love listening to your story❤❤I love you❤

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you.

[@sarah2.017]

Wow. My doctor recently retired, and I got a letter several weeks ahead of time. I thought it was the law to at least inform patients of this.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for sharing. I am sorry your doctor retired, but I am glad you were given notice. Each state has its own procedures and rules. So there may be a state which has a law regarding this, but as far as I know, there is no law which requires a clinic or doctor to notify patients ahead of time of a doctor's departure. It is courtesy to do so to give patients time to find new providers. There are legal implications which can arise when a doctor does not warn a patient of the termination of the relationship such as a patient suing for medical abandonment. Medical abandonment occurs when a patient feels a doctor-patient relationship was terminated improperly. Medical abandonment falls under malpractice. Most legal experts advise giving patients a 30-day notice about the termination of a doctor-patient relationship to give the patient time to find a new provider. It is generally thought 30 days is enough time for a patient to establish care with a new provider. (Most medical abandonment cases are dismissed if a notice of 30 days or more is given to the patient to find a new provider.) However, this is not a law, just a safeguard to prevent a medical malpractice lawsuit.

[@sarah2.017]

@@LifewithaVent I'm not sorry he retired. He's a great doctor, but he had wanted to do this for a long time.

[@JanetPittman-v5e]

Your videos are very informative.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you so much.

[@HannahMcNabb-k4v]

I have to look for a new primary care because mine refuses to run the simplest of kidney function tests and would rather send me to the ER to get traumatized or to a specialist, who will be a 6-month wait, than order them. This was the last straw type of thing, she has been medically gaslighting me and neglecting my healthcare for years now.

[@LifewithaVent]

I am so sorry to hear this. How frustrating. I hope you are able to find a new primary care provider.

[@JanetPittman-v5e]

I am glad you had a good medical team and hope you find a very nice replacement team . My husband and I are just starting building a care team for him waiting to meet with a pulmonologist wh8ch where we live are scarce . Hopefulf he can suggest a good RT that we can call when needed.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for sharing some of your story with me. I hope all goes well getting a great care team. Thank you for your well wishes.

[@zzzoo2]

This is so unnecessary. With all the bureaucracy that’s been added, and keeps getting added, to the medical field, there should be an enormous opportunity for some sort of care coordination/continuity service. Unfortunately, bureaucracies tend to exist only to help themselves. I hope you find some resolution soon, and it’s at least as good as what was working for you before.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thanks so much. I appreciate all your support.

[@jessicah3450]

Doesn't this count as patient abandonment? They're supposed to notify their patients when they know their practice is closing, and offer a referral to another doctor. I've gotten notifications from doctors that I haven't seen in years that they're retiring or their practice is closing.

[@LifewithaVent]

I am glad you have gotten notifications from doctors about the doctor retiring or closing the practice. The clinic closing without giving notice probably was patient abandonment.

[@lisaottenweller8833]

I don't know how they could do that that is not right!

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for your support.

[@stacyphemister2792]

That is crazy they didn't try to help you transition with your medical issues.

[@LifewithaVent]

Thank you for your support.

[@DuchessArtisanCreations]

I am so sorry this has happened to you, I can not understand. I've worked in a doctor's office. When a doctor is retiring or the office is closing they always send a letter to the patients advising them of the situation, and that they can pick up their medical records. Did you not get a letter?

[@LifewithaVent]

The office sent out a letter which I just received. It is a very strangely worded letter. I will paraphrase what it says. It states the clinic is making changes. It lists five doctors and says they will be moving on from the clinic. The clinic thanks them for their service and wishes them the best of luck. The doctor who will be staying in the area and who will be moving to a clinic in the same hospital system, for that doctor it says the doctor will continue seeing patients until June 30. On July 1, the doctor will be moving to the following clinic. It then gives the information for the clinic. It states if you need your medical records to please contact the medical records department at the following number. It does not say anything about any of the other doctors. It also does not say the clinic is closing. If I would not have called and found out the clinic is closed, I would have assumed from reading the letter the doctors who are not mentioned in the letter are still practicing at the clinic.

[@HannahMcNabb-k4v]

@@LifewithaVentI feel like they should send digital and paper communications for something this important. I know that medical clinics and other healthcare places don’t really follow logic though because I too have chronic complex conditions. But I think it should be a rule that they are 1) clearer with their plans when explaining them. 2) send digital & paper communications so that if the letter gets lost in transit or something like that, you still get the information.

[@HannahMcNabb-k4v]

Sorry if my comment was a little repetitive. My brain fog is so bad today.

[@LifewithaVent]

@@HannahMcNabb-k4v Those are excellent suggestions.

[@edialvarado9133]

Question what’s the best way to get rid of hiccups with the tube

[@LifewithaVent]

Are the hiccups a frequent occurrence or do they only happen once in a while? If they only happen once in a while, doing anything which changes the breathing pattern (such as laughing, holding one's breath, scaring someone, etc.) will help get rid of the hiccups. If it is a frequent issue, it may require an evaluation by a medical provider. There are medicines which can help with frequent, persistent hiccups.