Dead ended in the phone mazes.

So I have contacted Dr. Natale's office, Dr. Santangeli"s office, and Dr. Lakkiready in Kansas. I am trying to find one to do an ablation for me, as I have been in 100% afib since July. (My heart rate is not alarming - around 72 bpm)

They all asked me to forward my medical records from my cardiologist. I did so, and now I wait. I called my cardiologist's records department, and they confirmed this info was sent on November 9.

So I assumed these offices would be contacting me once received. When that did not happen for two weeks, I tried calling them back to see if they had received, and/or if further action was needed on my part.

Long story short, there is no option in the phone maze for that. I have to leave messages on the machines of who I hope is the most relevant choice in the maze. Several days with no responses. Dr. Lakkireddy's office left a message for me to call someone back, but she only left the general 800 number and no extension. Dr. Santangeli's office said no one is available to take my call, please try again later.

So what does anyone think? Will the offices automatically call be back once they review my record? Or do I need to stir the pot somehow? Dr. Lakkireddy's voicemail message cautions against leaving multiple messages, because it only slows things down.

It's unlikely they didn't receive them. Pretty much all medical records are electronic these days, so there's no paper or mail to get lost. And a couple of weeks delay isn't surprising for top-shelf EPs (or any specialist these days - took me 6 months to see a dermatologist).

So I take it no further action is required by me at this point. When I first talked to Natale's office in late October, they told me this scheduling was out into January. That didn't seem too bad. I presume it will be a month or two after that before they schedule me, since it takes a while for the preliminaries to be completed.

I assume the protocol is someone will read my record at some time, and then the office will give me a call.

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nonthumper
I assume the protocol is someone will read my record at some time, and then the office will give me a call.

Yep! That's pretty much how it works. I didn't hear from Natale's office for almost two months after first contact. But once you come up on the top of their list, you'll start hearing from them, most likely multiple times by both phone and email.

I echo Carey's comments. Once the process starts you will be contacted with a variety of information, and after a procedure with Natale, you will be assigned a "nurse navigator" who will be a point of contact.

Steve
Klein, Tx