Slower than expected treatment

I feel for you, HR. My wife is treated at an excellent “center of excellence” cancer center and constantly fights the bureaucracy and poor patient service. Nothing ever happens with the speed she expects and constantly deals with poor communications.

I have been working with a urologist and radiation oncologist for my PCa who have stayed independent of any large center. They are always rated in the Top Docs in the area and are always leading edge with practice and technology. They are also sticklers for prompt, efficient and friendly patient care and service. I have always gotten things done in days, where it takes my wife weeks or months.

I say that choosing the excellent doctor is far more important than choosing the distinguished institution. The institution is only as good as their worst doctor or service, despite all the ratings. To my independent doctors I am truly their patient and they work for me. In the Center of Excellence, my wife is a number and she has to kow tow to the convenience and methods of the institution. Experiences will vary, but we see far too many situations like yours when dealing with the bureaucracy of the institutions.

hrpnstuf, sorry you need to deal with this stuff, its the last thing any of us need when dealing with a serious illness.
I have to agree with Mumbo, you might just need to make some noise, start demanding to speak to a supervisor or whatever you need to do to wake somebody up, The pace at which they are moving you towards action that you need is just unacceptable.

I thought about making a switch to another provider and I will ask my local urologist who is affiliated with this other provider what he thinks about switching. I think by the time I find a new urologist who can do the targeted biopsy, It'll be later than the current provider.
I spoke to a scheduler today trying to get another doctor do the biopsy sooner. I'm awaiting a call back, but wont hold my breath. The scheduler I talked with on Tuesday has yet to return my call.

It's a busy facility with thousands of patients from all over. All with cancer and all wanting their scan, biopsy or treatment ASAP. I will say that when it's my turn at treatment, it's first class.

Jim, I have no patience. But what choice do I really have at this point? I really doubt I could get the biopsy date improved by making some noise. I do have a contact for patient relations, but I think that there may be some blowback if I press the issue. I think it may make my relationship with my doctor even worse. As bad as my timeline is, I suspect it's just as bad at other major cancer centers in my area. It seems in the past 2-3 years the medical system has changed a lot. It takes months to get an appointment with some doctors now. My wife waited a year to see her new primary care doctor. My grandson was diagnosed with colitis at an ER this week and tried to follow-up with a GI doctor and next available for 3 doctors was in November.