Post Surgery ED Care

Paul,

I suppose it depends on the patient picking a "full service" practice. In my case I worked with an ED specialist as soon as I was diagnosed. Regardless of the treatment option I chose I had a dedicated ED specialist. He is part of the practice that I chose.

Some smaller practices do not have this luxury and it would be up to the patient to even know that this was an option to them

Better Question is : Does that URO that is treating them realize an ED specialist exists to even bring it up in a conversation

Of course there is the $$ part of the equation, would a URO pass on his patient to a specialist if he/she feels that they could do what is needed himself ?

One interesting thing I have learned, Surgeons do NOT get paid for any patient visits for 90 days after surgery. Most insurance companies assume this after surgery care is part of the surgery fee. So this is far less a financial decision than it is of convenience. I also realize we are getting into an area of ego in all this.

Mr. Gimpy, so most of this would not apply to you, since you had an ED doc built into the system. Most surgeons don't have that. But your second sentence about it being up to a patient to know about it is the crux of the matter. That's why i wanted to know How you could have heard this message? i know it's a multifacted thing and hard to sum up in a sentence. And yes, every uro around here knows this ED doctor. They respect him, but he does not get a lot of post PCa patients. He gets tons of other ED guys, but not a lot of PCa men.

Doctor education is a dead end. Almost all corporations have given up with Dr. education now. The messages all too often do not get to the patients. The current thinking is bypass the dr and go straight to educating the patient.
Was just seeing if anyone had any thoughts about what would have gotten their attention...and how it might have been presented. Brochure? poster? email? commercial? etc.
thanks guys
Paul

Paul,

The ED issue lingers well past the 90 days of "included" visits. With rising ins cuts to physicians ( ie: Medicare) I suspect its patient seen per hour that drives monthly office manager agendas.

Good point though on the 90 day follow up, I wonder if that 3 month PSA follow up occurred post day 91 or if it were between day 80 and 89, I suspect the former for the reason you mentioned

I can see a patient calling for a 3 mo follow up after robotic and asking for an appt on day 88, receptionist says day 88 is way way to soon to come back in, can you come in 3 days from then

If my ED doc were not presented to me on a silver platter I would have never have known to even look for one. Many people here have never seen one. Perhaps start a poll to see how many member here have seen one

If anything our group here is far more educated that the average patient, so it would be curious to see how well informed patients took this info and took the step to see someone

Good idea, Gimpy.

Now i just have to learn how to do a poll!

Area doctors love this ED guy - it's all he does.  But for some reason, PCa docs don't send him patients...until it is way late in the game and things are in a bad way emotionally, physically, etc. Most of the Uro's say they will treat ED guys, but it is not high on their priority. they want to do surgery...it's what they do. So, just trying fill two needs...help men...and let surgeons off the hook for ED.

 We are seeing if there is some way to educate men about seeing and ED soon after surgery. Penile rehab would start the day the cath comes out with oral drugs. heck, you guys know the drill! LOL

Paul

Gimpy
Good point. And THAT is something no one can combat! Human nature, I suppose, is a hard thing to deal with. But good correlation re the cardio thing. yeah, and I sort of recognize myself when I think about it! i'll just fix it (plumbing, roof, car) myself...till I get in real trouble and have to call in an expert to bail me out. And that's exactly what is going on in this area.

Thanks for your thoughts. I think i will do a poll....and hope to get responses!
Paul