Professionals know what they can and cannot do. How can they get away with this? Brain injured and many patients do not know this and depend on the trusted and working relationship with the healthcare professional. I cannot believe I would be so foolish to follow explicit instructions, but I did. Yep, to get a home equity loanand pay $4477.40 was only one situation I did this with. It happened more than once, and with the same professional.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (T.B.I.) (Photo credit: Divine Harvester)
My concern is this: If this happened to me how many other patients with brain injury, brain dysfunction and chronic illnesses or families has this happening to? In 2011, I made several telephone calls and requested my records from this one professional. I never received a return telephone call or an answer. What is truly scary, I know this is not my problem…but hers. She’s been treating people for many years since my injury and who is monitoring what is truly happening to these patients? Who’s protecting the patients? The professional will always be the one that is right.
Within a couple weeks after her outburst and our payment in full I received a letter that the attorney she sent me to was no longer representing me. She referred me in 1992. So in 2000 this law firm in Akron, Ohio notified that they were no longer representing me. I picked up my file and this is what they did……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. NOTHING! Did you have difficulty understanding the above? They did nothing.
Yes, this law firm did absolutely nothing with my Worker’s Compensation claim. I thought they were taking care of my claim. I didn’t know I was to be doing anything. I was told everything was being handled. I was told all my bills for the Akron, Ohio neuropsychologist was being paid by worker’s compensation as well. So who does one trust? I would have been best not trusting anyone. If I could have handled it myself, I would have…but I couldn’t! If you never had a workplace injury before, how is one to know the process?
How do you know what you should be doing or not doing? How do you know how long it takes? So, the average person most likely do not know these answers…so how is one to expect someone who has a brain injury to have those answers?
This is what I have learned and I hope it can help you:
- You cannot go back more than 2 years on most all claims
- Insurance companies will only go back 2 years
- Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (BWC) can only go back 2 years
- BWC can not go back more then 2 years even if the diagnosis is many years later like 18 1/2 years
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may take years before one discovers problems…and it will be too late
According to the insurance company the neuropsychologist would not be paid for more than 2 years from the date she requested payment in 2000, because my insurance company never received one bill from her office. The only way she could be paid, is if she demanded payment from me…and she did! She obviously knew that, because her secretary was fired. In 2011, I found out bureau of worker’s compensation of Ohio never received a bill from her. I was called a “liar” when I said I never received one bill. So what is worker’s compensation and insurance company called if I were the liar and they didn’t receive bills either?
The law firm did not process claims from the years of 1992-2000 so I could not go back and get anything. What the heck is going on here? Something is terribly wrong with this system. It’s definitely not working.
It’s no wonder this has been such a struggle. When I did my job I did it well, and never worried about causing harm to others. I knew every day I did my best. Where is this work ethic? Is it that these people have gotten away with who knows what? After finding all this out in 2000, I fired my neurologist in Akron, Ohio…also another referral from this neuropsychologist.
Here I found out this neurologist handled worker’s compensation claims, and hence was paid to do nothing but bill worker’s compensation. All these professionals have something in common…called withholding treatment! If you don’t refer, or do proper tests, you can’t treat. This certainly can be a lucrative business. I still kept a few other physicians, and did not fire them until 2008. I wish I fired them as well.
If you suspect there is a problem with any number of referring physicians, move on and see if you can find someone knowledgeable in the healthcare system to help (and that is hard to do). Start becoming your own detective…in the case of someone who is brain injured please have someone checking into the situation.
If you think there is a problem. Don’t be paranoid. There might be a serious problem. Follow your intuition. It’s your life and you are entitled to be safe and live the best life possible.
Related articles
- Trusting my neuropsychologist after traumatic brain injury 1992-2000 (braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com)
- Trust who with your life and healthcare? why? following traumatic brain injury (braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com)
- In All the Wrong Places for Healthcare or Was It Just All the Wrong Professionals After TBI (traumatic brain injury)? (braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com)
- “Brain injury survivors …” (brainhealthresources.wordpress.com)
braininjuryselfrehabilitation 
Author Thelma Cunningham
May 28, 2012 at 6:52 am
I have nominated you for the Thanks For Writing Award. Please bgo to my site for award picture. WordPress has rules of award.
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 28, 2012 at 8:14 am
Thank you. I’m humbled by this honor to receive this award. As easy as it looks…I have a one way track of thinking. It’s like write what I can, but to follow directions is another story…it’s very difficult. I’ve received numerous awards, but have difficulty following-through and how to maneuver even this website. I’m grateful for all those who visit and especially leaving comments and nominations. Again Thank you.
susan craig
May 28, 2012 at 9:11 am
You are an amazing survivor. I wish I found it hard to believe what happened to you, but I don’t. There are always those who will take advantage when they can. I am glad you’ve moved past those people!
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 28, 2012 at 9:59 am
Thanks. I’ve not only moved on, but I have literally relocated out-of-state where I know I can get appropriate healthcare and put the past behind us now that things are so much better. That’s a hard one, but it’s never too late to start over again!
Maria Tatham
May 28, 2012 at 10:54 pm
So glad you found better care, Edie! It can be found. But as you said, what makes this hard is that the person looking for better care is sick or injured, not at their best and can miss things, especially TBI patients, or those with mental illness. Unless those who need help have someone who can walk through finding good care with them, they can get lost or run over.
Someone told me the other day that they know of a woman who was on dozens of meds. The woman changed doctors and is on a lot less now. This has to be so much better for her. What was her original doctor thinking? And her pharmacist? There was no one looking at the big picture for her. Thank the Lord that she changed doctors.
People make mistakes, of course. But some people are just careless, greedy, or bad.
Again, I’m so happy that now you are living where better help is available! Because there are many good health care professionals out there. But we must look carefully, or have someone help us to look.
Maria
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 29, 2012 at 7:26 am
Medications are a huge problem in healthcare. People are often treated by multiple physicians and no one has the time, or takes the time to review all the side-effects. Frequently the side-effects are worse then the condition being treated. This compromises one’s health. Everyone needs to know what each medication does to their own body. It’s expected it makes you feel better and a certain dose is correct. We are individuals and no one is exactly the same.
We are made of chemicals, and additional chemicals can help, but they can also destroy us! We need to know what helps and what doesn’t. It’s a hard task to fine-tuning, and that is the patients responsibility. Only the patient knows what is happening to their body. Know your body. Be active in your own healthcare.
People also get their medications at multiple pharmacies, which also creates problems because the pharmacist doesn’t have the entire picture of your medical history, medications and drug-interactions. If in doubt, give a list to your pharmacist. Always consult your pharmacist. They will look these medications over and help you problem solve…and it’s a free health service! Write down your additional symptoms and see if any of the medications can be causing these symptoms. You might be surprised that eliminating one or two medications can enhance your life. Are the symptoms from the condition or from the medications (individually or combined)?
Maria Tatham
May 29, 2012 at 11:51 am
Great insight and advice, Edie!
After my husband was hospitalized twice for pancreatitis, we started looking up side-effects of his meds. He also has had low platelet counts. One of the meds he was taking had as rare side-effects both pancreatitis and low platelet counts.
You’re so right that we have to be involved and checking on things as much as possible as patients.
God bless you!
Maria
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 29, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Hope your husband is feeling better. As we age our bodies become more fragile and medications that once worked, may now become toxic. The dosages may need to be lowered with the aging process if one has been taking medications over a period of years. Praying for good health to all. Edie
Maria Tatham
May 29, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Edie, I have to tell you how surprised we were by what you said. No doctor ever mentioned the need to adjust meds for age or length of usage. Tom asked me to print out your comment for him, and I did.
Thank you!!
Maria
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 30, 2012 at 7:05 am
Infants, children and aging population all need specialized care. You wouldn’t give infants or children an adult dose. The same holds true as we age. Good news for seniors: Senior emergency departments are becoming prevalent offering specialized physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
Maria Tatham
May 30, 2012 at 11:56 am
So glad that this is happening for the sake of our seniors – smart! Thanks, Edie!
brain injury self rehabilitation (BISR)
May 31, 2012 at 3:53 am
I think so much is just assumed that everyone knows what to do. Good to know it’s helpful…we’re all aging! Thank you for the comments.