There is a Nehrologist in our area that routinely makes rounds on his patients in the acute hospital setting at midnight or later... He may see his dialysis patients 5% of the time. I am sure he is billing for seeing them during their treatments when in fact he has not been there. He will fall asleep and snore for hiours in the various nurses stations.. He has even nodded of while talking to a patient at 1 AM and has fallen asleed while on the telephone.. What can I do about this.. I have been told there is nothing that can be done.. I want to report this to Adm. This has become more than upsetting.

ES

I've had no similar experience, but would suggest you contact the local chapter of the National Kidney Foundation. Perhaps they can recommend a proper course of action.
Other readers of this board might well have other suggestions.
I agree something should be done.

Mike

REPORT HIM! Be professional and factual. Get someone else to validate your story then report him. The patients deserve better.

i have seen a similiar problem locally with a nephrologist who does not see his ESRD pts. Many of his charts have no note for months, he doesn't respond to calls. Letters have been written to the medical director , director of operations for the units but although everyone agrees it is a problem his patients are not getting seen or cared for. What to do, reporting has come up.????

If your nephrologist isn't doing his job why don't you change Drs. or isn't it that simple. I would look for someone else if it were me then ask the doc to make the referal.
It's a lot of work but seems like it would be
worth the piece of mind. Maybe he would get the message if he started loosing patients.

Perhaps the first thing to do is to sit down and talk with this nephrologist. Ask him why he makes rounds at the hospital at midnight. Ask him if he's aware that his patients have noticed that he rarely makes rounds in the dialysis unit. Find out his side of the story, if he's willing to share. If not you may have to report this problem to his superiors.

Have you talked with the nurses ? Maybe the Unit Manager can help.

Keep in mind, this physician is a human being. Maybe there's something going on with him that makes it hard for him to perform his job well. He may be ill, he may be having a rough time personally. There could be alot of things going on. He may think he's doing OK. Somebody needs to tell him that he's not.

There has been a pervasive problem for years in that no action is taken when patients, and healthcare workers, file complaints. That's one reason the federal government is currently investigating the Dialysis Industry. If you seriously want to help yourself and others I suggest you contact the investigators. They are conducting phone interview right at the present and actually do call all respondents back! Also, everything is STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. For your problem, and any other problem others may have regarding dialysis units, email THE SENATE COMITTEE ON AGING, SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY at: Cecil_Swamidoss@Aging.Senate.Gov And for furthur help/info from an organization that acts as a mediator regarding dialysis units and the filing of complaints contact: dialysisethics .org

Before you indict this physician please be sure you have all the facts.