He walks a lonely road
Only on one ankle he strode
Doesn't know where it goes
He sits at home and walks alone
No. That is NOT an uplifting song. No siree, Bob! But it's the tone of The Pony's current journey to obtain medical treatment for his broken ankle. Strap on a neck brace. You're going to get a spinny head.
I think The Pony might have developed Stockholm Syndrome. Sitting, sitting, earnestly waiting for a call, a text, an email scan... something that will propel him into an actual doctor's office for an exam and a cast. So trusting, our little Pony. "She said she would get back to me!"
No. She never does. I'm not implying that people are deliberately ignoring The Pony's pleas, or maliciously not responding. The office is down four carriers right now, after two broken ankles and two letting-goes. The acting supervisor and the union rep are still running mail routes, not just sitting around waiting for The Pony to contact them. It's more a matter of the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. ON AN OCTOPUS!
When we last convened, all The Pony needed was a form saying the new doctor had permission to treat him, and bill his employer. Simple. A single form. That advice came from the new doctor's office, as a condition of them giving him an appointment. He was awaiting a reply (and the form with the new doctor's name and address) from his acting supervisor.
MONDAY night
1) Nothing after my 6:00 update. Pony sent a text to his union rep.
2) Union rep said the ACTUAL supervisor was back! [The one who filled out the disappearing form]
3) Pony sent a text to actual super. Nothing.
TUESDAY: all The Pony needs is that letter/form giving permission to treat and bill.
1) Text to acting supervisor following up on request for form. No reply.
2) Text to union rep. No reply.
3) Call FROM office of worker's comp, (not the KC office, but a nurse he'd never talked to before) asking his condition, and where he'd sought treatment.
4) Call FROM the Urgent Care (15 minutes later), asking what specialist he was seeing, since they needed to complete paperwork, and send his records to the new doctor. [My belief is that the worker's comp people were pretty inquisitive as to why no paperwork filled out by them, so Urgent Care jumped right on that CYA situation. The Pony thinks it's because they can't get paid without that form.]
5) Call to actual super. Who said acting supervisor was handling it. And sent copy of original form.
6) Call back to actual super, saying that form was incorrect, needed new doctor on it.
7) Actual super advised Pony to call The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy.
8) The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy said they don't issue a second form like that, she'd fax the form to the new doctor for Thursday, but she didn't have their fax number. [I wonder if this is the form Urgent Care just completed, showing a referral to new doctor, or the old form.]
9) FARMER H called the new doctor, got the fact number, and called The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy with it.
10) Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy said she would fax them the form Wednesday morning.
Of course I think The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy will send the old form that is showing what Urgent Care did not fill out. Seriously. After all this, I don't think The Pony is one inch closer to having the right form to get treatment on Thursday.
Farmer H wanted ME to call the new doctor Wednesday morning, and ask if they had the form faxed to them. All his blustering while he was out west, and now he's still blustering, telling ME what to do. The Pony said it was Farmer H's idea, and he should deal with it. I asked why THE PONY didn't call them himself, and he said people don't understand him on the phone!
Anyhoo... Farmer H says he's dropping by that new doctor's office while he's over in Bill-Paying Town at Lowe's on Wednesday morning. To ask if they have the form, or WHAT EXACTLY THEY NEED to treat The Pony. If they don't have it, The Pony has to call back to The Lady Named For a Part of the Female Anatomy and specify THE FORM NEEDED BY THE NEW DOCTOR.
Farmer H canceled his own appointment on Thursday, because he wants to take The Pony to this appointment and make sure he gets a cast! He's also planning to go to the post office Wednesday if the new doctor doesn't have what's needed, and not leave until he gets that form for treatment. "I'll be polite. But I won't leave without a form."
I hate to be a pessimist, but I have a feeling The Pony will be paying out-of-pocket for treatment on Thursday. IF the new doctor will treat him. At least The Pony has a pocketful of money. He's getting continuation of pay during his time off, 35 hours per week. That's one thing that has been completed. Supposedly...
2 comments:
This is a right royal stuff-up! If I wasn't reading with my own two eyes, I wouldn't believe it was happening. What recourse do you have if The Pony is left with a permanent limp after so many days non-treated?
River,
Yes! The Pony should be awarded a crown, so royal is this cluster-stuff. Even more bungling after this assurance that the info was being faxed to the doctor!
It looks like this matter will be headed to arbitration with The Pony's union. I think that's the word. The Pony says the USPS doesn't negotiate, they make the decision, and that's that, after weighing the evidence he provides the union. Following their rules and regulations, of course.
The other alternative would to be kissing that sweet, sweet job goodbye, and hiring a lawyer to pursue damages. I think. Haven't looked into it yet. Still HOPING it will eventually turn out okay.
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