Is there a Doctor in the house?

Originally Posted By MTL

True story:

Three years ago, I flew my family to DL for a week, staying in the DL Hotel. Our first night there, one of my daughters (who never complains) was complaining of a headache and couldn’t sleep. Around 11:30 PM, I kissed her forehead and could tell that she was running a low grade fever. Having 4 kids, I knew the diagnosis as well as Marcus Welby would have – ear infection. I immediately had visions of sitting in Orange County General for 8 hours waiting for them to triage gunshot victims and auto accident survivors before I could get a prescription for an antibiotic. I called the front desk, who informed me that they had a doctor on contract and he would be calling me back. Long story short, by 12:15 AM, he had come, looked in her ears, confirmed the diagnosis AND filled the prescription right there. Next morning she was raring to go and our vacation was saved.

This trip the price difference between DLH and the alternatives (candy cane, etc.) is astronomical. That got me wondering – does the service DLH had contracted with provide that kind of help at the other nearby hotels? Does anyone know? I want to think we aren’t going to need it again, but it sure was a life saver!

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

Good question. What doc in his right mind would do this? It must be one heck of a large retainer they pay the guy is all I can say.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

I mean, because I am certain that he has a private practice by day. HEY How did the guy get paid? Did he bill you right there? Did he file insurance? I am intrigued by this! What about health history and drug allergies? Did he quiz you on all that? Many docs won't treat kids without immunizations being current. Did he ask you about that? Please give all the details.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

Is it the LAW in California that a hotel HAS to have a doc on call? I'll bet it is, in which case I'll bet the poor guy was going room to room in a 10 mile radius all night.

 

Originally Posted By fkurucz

>>I immediately had visions of sitting in Orange County General for 8 hours waiting for them to triage gunshot victims and auto accident survivors before I could get a prescription for an antibiotic<<

That's what urgent care centers are for: people who don't want to or need to go to the ER. And since that only accept paying customers, the waits tend to be much shorter.

Still, it is nice to have a house doctor. I thought those had gone the way of tail fins and chrome on cars.

 

Originally Posted By MTL

"I mean, because I am certain that he has a private practice by day. HEY How did the guy get paid? Did he bill you right there? Did he file insurance? I am intrigued by this! What about health history and drug allergies? Did he quiz you on all that? Many docs won't treat kids without immunizations being current. Did he ask you about that? Please give all the details."

Details:
He took American Express, and did the insurance paperwork to bill it as an Emergency Room type visit. We were reimbursed by insurance by the time the bill came due.

He quizzed me about drug alergies and that type of stuff. She had an ear infection before, so I told him what it was treated with. He basically asked all of the questions you would expect a doctor to ask when he called. As a result he brought the filled prescription with him. The whole thing was really seamless.

 

Originally Posted By SuzieQ

^I had a doctor visit like that when I was in the Carribean. Dr. took all of the information over the phone and confirmed the diagnosis in person. He came prepared with prescription medication. I paid cash for the service and billed my insurance company when I got home.

At DLR, we are familiar with the two local Kaiser facilities, LOL!

 

Originally Posted By kaoden39

It's ironic but I have never thought about needing a DR on vacation but wow you're right. SuzieQ where are the Kaisers? And do they take N CA Kaiser? Just curious. Thank you.

 

Originally Posted By SuzieQ

Yes, they take Northern California Kaiser no problem. They use a different numbering system in the South State, so they give you a sticker with a number that ties to your Nor. Cal. records.

There is one clinic on Euclid and another with a hospital and emergency services on La Palma. Go to kp.org and enter Southern California region and they will give you a list of all the Anaheim offices.

 

Originally Posted By kaoden39

Thank you SuzieQ now I know if we need a DR when we go in December where to find one.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

Correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure that any HMO (such as Kaiser) will gladly accept a subscriber from ANY state.

I don't know for sure, as I don't have HMO, but it seems logical to me from a business standpoint.

 

Originally Posted By kaoden39

I think you are probably right DVC Dad I hadn't thought of that.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

I was so intrigued by this that I called my sister-in-law who is a Kaiser subscriber, no wait, is subscriber the right thing to say? A Kaiser customer, and she said that she has visited one out of state and received the exact same benefits with no problems. Neat. That is really good to know.

 

Originally Posted By SuzieQ

I've never had any problems with Kaiser. Well, not in the last 6 years or so. About 10 years ago, our hospital and clinics were horrible. Now local services are really great and highly rated by the members.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

I am glad to hear that SuzieQ and I would be the first to admit that if you are pleased then there is NO reason to change. No way am I going to bite on your post and start an HMO vs. Health Insurance battle. I'll certainly give you this though... If you have to go HMO, Kaiser is probably one of the best no doubt.

 

Originally Posted By SuzieQ

I've had both. Left Kaiser for Blue Shield and it was worse to see specialists, which I needed. By the time I got fed up and switched back, local Kaiser had cleaned up their act.

 

Originally Posted By SuzieQ

I think all health coverage varies greatly area to area and depending upon your health needs.

 

Originally Posted By DVC_dad

Agreed.

 

Originally Posted By dlandfans

We had the same horrible, but wonderful experience when we stayed at GCH in August of 2002 with our then 2 year old daughter. Her ears hurt on the plane and, sure enough, she woke up with a fever on the 3rd morning. The front desk got us in touch with a doctor service that they said would come right to our room (House Call Physicans of Costa Mesa, CA). We were skeptical with the idea and figured we'd wait all day, but desperate. Happily, we ended up being very pleasantly surprised. The doctor, a very kind and professional woman, showed up within an hour and found a 103.8 fever and diagnosed an ear infection. She was very thorough and took her time to completely check our daughter out. (She was miserable!)
Amazingly, the doctor had the right medication right on her (no trip to the pharmacy!) and we were able to start fighting the infection right away. After a day of rest and medication, our daughter was standing at the hotel room door begging to go to DL again.
The doctor took Visa for the visit and medication and gave us her direct line phone number if we had any questions or needed anything later. A few weeks later we received a reimbursement check from our insurance company (Premera Blue Cross) for the whole visit and most of the medication.
I was so impressed with the whole process and with the hotel for checking up with us later to make sure our daughter was okay. I would highly recommend DL hotels and House Call Physicians.

 

Originally Posted By kaoden39

Wow thats a great story but I would expect as much from Disney Hotels. I am impressed with the DR.