AboutMargot RN BScN GNC Expertise Please feel free to ask anything, but the more specific you are, the easier it is for me. Please share as many details as you are comfortable doing. I do check my Emails daily Monday through Friday so you should receive an answer within 24 hours on most business days. Thanks.
Experience I have 18 years experience as a Small Business Owner-Operator; I own a Nursing Agency so often deal with both employee and client injuries. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. If I can not answer your question I'll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you. Experience in the area 20 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and PalliativeCare.
Education/Credentials Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing >
Question Hi. I was injured in 6-2003 and have had 4 surgeries to repair my left elbow. It needs more repair, however my doctors are not sure of what to do and want me to be evaluated by the best elbow specialist in the US who is at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, however California state comp had denied it repeatedly. I have been sent to other orthopedists who all say I need to be evaluated by this doctor in Minnesota. 5 elbow specialists in California have now recommended this. Comp continues to deny it. I went to court and the judge denied it, said if I had another orthopaedic surgeon recommend it, they might take that into consideration. They suggested one at UCSF, I went there and she said to go to Minnesota also. However comp again denied it. My surgeons are not certain how to proceed at this point. My attorney is also without ideas as the comp judge also denied it. What am I to do now? Any ideas? Has there been any precedent set in sending someone out of state for a consult? I even offered to pay for the travel and they still denied it. I don't understand why as it would have been cheaper for them then what they are paying for now. My surgeons, attorney and myself are at a loss of what to do. Could you please help or point me in a direction where I might find some help? Thanks. Julie
Answer Hi Julie and thanks for writing,
If they denied even you paying for the trip, then I really don't know what to suggest as I get the feeling they just don't want to fund another surgery.
The only thing I can think of is to ask if the Mayo clinic surgeons could make recommendations if they simply saw your X-rays and surgical history reports - why not ask your surgeons about it. At least if you sent your medical records to Minnesota thy may be able to make recommendations that would help your surgeons.
I do know others who've fought similar denial fights; it took years and years but in the end they did
win" so don't give up.
