A Letter to a Certain Orthopedic Institute in Southern California

Dear Certain Orthopedic Institute in Southern California:

I have some bones to pick with you.  I think you take advantage of people and I have good reason to make this accusation, because not only have I been working in various forms of medical administration for 20 years, almost 10 in various orthopedic offices, but I also have  a glass son so I have experience in what happens when a boy breaks a bone.  I have experience in billing and paying medical claims and I know about how many x-rays are usually taken when there is a suspicion of a broken bone in a child.  In short, I am brilliant.

In the past, when Glass Boy had an injury that was suspected to be a broken bone, a single x-ray was taken of the bone and although a fracture wasn’t seen he was placed in a cast anyway because fractures of the growth plates (which don’t close until children aren’t children anymore), don’t show on x-ray until they begin to heal.  While the layman might argue, “What’s the point of taking the x-ray then?” I would answer, “Because there could be a break that isn’t on a growth plate.”  See?  Genius.

In the case of Glass Boy’s first break of his wrist, when x-rays failed to ever show anything, he still had clinical signs of a break so his wonderful orthopedist not with your group ordered an MRI with contrast dye which lit up his fracture.  When I shared this, your group’s response was, “A CAT scan could have shown the same thing.”  Really, Certain Orthopedic Institute in Southern California?  Because that’s exactly how my 13-year-old would respond.  Grow up.

Regarding the four x-rays you took of Glass Boy – both feet and both ankles – for  “comparison shots,” again I ask, “Really?”  Even I, a simple medical transcriptionist who worked in orthopedic offices for almost 10 years and have been through 3 broken bones with my son knows that you can’t see a growth plate fracture until it starts healing (as indicated above).  The best part of the 4 x-rays is when the bright girl at the front desk advised me they weren’t covered by insurance and went towards our deductible, along with the cast.  Then, she told the entire waiting room that my card was declined when I said, “I’ll pay $100 now and the balance when the insurance payment comes through.”  The money was there, as I told the waiting room while they all thought to themselves, “Suuuuuure.”  The problem was she didn’t know how to enter the security code on the back.  I wrote a check.  Good job front desk girl.

Oh, but it gets better.  Now x-rays have actually shown NO fracture but his foot is loose so he needs physical therapy.  Good news!  We can get it there!  Cha-Ching!

Here’s the best part of all:  Going online to read what the insurance paid, because I know how to do that, and seeing that my responsibility for the cast and x-rays was $22.28 NOT $250, and to be more specific, it was for the cast material only.  When I called your office I was told, “Yes, you have a credit on your account.”  And….??  I informed them that we would not be returning – ever – and it was then she advised I could expect my refund in about 2 weeks.  I guess funds are tight?

Oh and one last thing, real professional to bad-mouth our original orthopedist, who is a pediatric orthopedist, graduated from my high school with my cousin and coached Stephanie’s daughter’s soccer team.  Steph’s one of my oldest friends.  You just talked shit about one of my oldest friends.

You suck.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Pugliano