Need A Doctor To Examine A Suspicious Mole? Be Prepared To Wait

The New York Times:

Patients seeking an appointment with a dermatologist to ask about a potentially cancerous mole have to wait substantially longer than those seeking Botox for wrinkles, a study published online yesterday by The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology said.

Researchers reported that dermatologists in 12 cities offered a typical wait of eight days for a cosmetic patient wanting Botox to smooth wrinkles, compared with a typical wait of 26 days for a patient requesting evaluation of a changing mole, a possible indicator of skin cancer.

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[Libsrule]

Sure reminds me of SICKO.

Greed uber alles when it comes to most any profession in America.

The saying,"The Love Of Money Is The Root Of All Evil" is especially true when it comes to our safety, either through things coming out of China or medical care and there has never been a time when it has never been more true.

[OtayPanky]

Here's what the mole-stricken need to do:

Make a botox appointment, and then, once in the office, tell the doc you just found a suspicious mole, so please look at that instead.

[LittleBrother]

Nah, they'd make you pay for the botox anyway-- it's a Policy, like cancelling an appointment in less than 24 hours.

[drumz]

This is about money, sure but the underlining factor is they get paid right away for these treatments because it comes out of the patients pocket instead of having to wait 30-60-90 for payment from insurance companies.
I have pre-cancerous growths removed with liquid nitrogen (they dip a Q-tip in the nitrogen and apply it directly to the spot for 45 seconds - burns like hell and looks like a cigarette burn when healing. Guess how much it cost last time? $500 and they call it a extraction. It's mainly the fault of insurance companies and not REAL dermatologists

[ElkoJohn]

It's all about the money.

[commonsenselives]

This makes me sick.

Someone with a possible CANCER has to wait while some self-absorbed jerks get botox? And if they do have cancer, do they get to sue the doctor that made them wait while it spread to other parts?

That would be like an OB/GYN refusing to deliver a baby because they were in the middle of a pap smear. Its just not right.

[EspressoAtNoon]

As usual, another part of our healthcare system is broken due to greed in the medical profession. I think this part of the article says it all:

"Other dermatologists said financial incentives to perform cosmetic treatments coupled with bureaucratic obstacles in obtaining insurance reimbursement for medical treatments might also have a role in the varying wait times.

Dr. Michael J. Franzblau, a dermatologist in San Francisco, said doctors typically charged $400 to $600 for a Botox antiwrinkle treatment, for which patients pay upfront because insurance does not cover it.

Meanwhile, doctors have to wait for health insurance to reimburse them for mole examinations, for which they receive an average of $50 to $75, Dr. Franzblau said."

[lvly1]

Dermatologists are the greediest doctors out there. I have never, not even ONCE, been to a dermatologist's office where there was not at LEAST 5 people in the waiting room. For ONE doctor.
And talk about getting the bum's rush. You're lucky to get 2 -3 minutes face time with the blokes.
I think that this whole specialty needs to be investigated and evaluated. I don't care if it sounds like a generalization or not...I've lived in enough different areas and have been involved with enough of them to know that it's not a generalization.

[Advocate123]

Yes, so let's push for Socialized Medicine.

Advocate123
http://copiousdissent.blogspot.com

[PerryClease]

Excellent idea! Furthermore we will give the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the Federal Government the same care as everyone else.

[dadw5boys]

We wait now for appointments unless it is an emergency.
We wait for proccedures.
We wait for operations.
We waint till doctors return from one of their 2 week vsctions every 3 months.
We wait for old doctors to retire so we can get a more younger doctor who will pay more attention.
WHY WAIT ANY LONGER AND PAY INSURANCE COMPANIES BILLIONS TO KEEP WAITING.
UNIVERSIAL HEALTH CARE NOW!