This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Does anyone know why it is taking so long to schedule specific dates? I realize that Dr. Simka was inundated at first, and had no capacity to deal with the volume of interest, and I even understand that his new administrative staff might have a learning curve, but once you have things ordered enough to schedule a few people, shouldn't you be able to schedule everyone? There seems to be a 10-day wait between each new scheduled appointment. Any idea why?

My guess is that it is an issue of trying to coordinate dates and times for equipment in three different hospitals/departments and for two or more medical specialists. They are probably doing it from the point of view of each individual patient and don't have special scheduling software to help them. Get over your hesitation to bother them, send an e-mail that asks for specific dates so you can organize flights/time off from work/etc for you and whoever is coming with you. It worked for me. In about 5 days after I asked (for that and other things) I got answers to most of my questions from 2 different Patient Coordinators. One of those answers was my dates.
...Ted

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Dx SPMS in 2004.  Liberated 29/04/2010.
My blog: www.my-darn-ms.blogspot.com

[quote="berriesarenice"]Does anyone know why it is taking so long to schedule specific dates?

Well, from what I've heard a week ago from Euromedic staff it is not that easy to schedule everybody in advance as they are trying to increase the number of procedures done a month. Doc, who was performing my doppler told me that they already increased the number of procedures from 20 during first 3 months to 80 during last month and they are working on increasing it even more due to large interest and huge waiting list but I guess it requires hiring and training some new staff to deal with demand.
Anyway, assuming that in 2-3 months they will manage to increase the number of procedures, it is difficult for them to set definite dates for u guys at this moment.
The same situation applies to myself. I had my doppler done a week ago but I have to wait in the line for MRV and procedure and when I asked them when approximately can I expect it to happen? Doc said that theoretically list is full for the whole 2010 but realisticly they are planning to increase the number of procedures so it is possible that in the 2nd part of this year my procedure will actually take place.
So guys, please be patient. Katowice is working hard

Thanks, Mila - so berriesarenice, besides the difficulty of scheduling I mentioned, you have the issue of trying to ramp things up at the same time. However, my suggestions still stands... be persistent but not pushy (like a good Canadian )
...Ted

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Dx SPMS in 2004.  Liberated 29/04/2010.
My blog: www.my-darn-ms.blogspot.com

fiddler,

for people here in Poland scheduling dates looks a bit different.
First we go to Katowice for doppler examination which in my case took 5-7 minutes and then, if it shows some malformations/irregularities/refluxes we are enrolled for waiting list and are suposed to wait for a phone call from from Katowice (maybe half of the year, maybe year).
MRV is done a couple of days before procedure so if we have MRV date, we also have procedure date.

I understand, that for people coming from other countpries such arrangements doesnt make sense because you need to have examinations and procedure all at the same time due to hight costs of jurney.

Hi Badger,

We asked our neurologist this question just before travelling to Katowice, and after thinking for a while the answer, he suggested not to have the infusion the month before the intervention. But he could have suggested to take it. In fact, he was hesitating for a while. After arriving home he suggested to take again the infusion of Tysabry waiting at least 2 weeks after the intervention.

Good luck!
Pepe.

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María was Dx RRMS 1996. SPMS since 2003; Dx CCSVI by Dr. Simka on Dec.-2009; Balloon angioplasty on Jan.-2010 in Katowice (Poland); Betaseron (2000-2009); Tysabri since June 2009. BBD since 2003. IBT since Jan.-2010.

I have no doubt that they are working very hard, and I am grateful. I can't imagine the difficulty of dealing with so many patients. I was simply curious how, once they had figured out a system to schedule one patient, why that system didn't work for 20 patients at a time. I am not the type of detail person that would be good at scheduling, but once I came up with a system, I would think it would be easy to replicate for other patients...does that make sense?

Fiddler, thanks for the encouragement. I have emailed Dr. Simka the same email multiple times and my email doesn't seem to go through. I'll try again though

Berries, I am dealing with the Patient Coordinators now, not Dr. Simka. Use the e-mail address for the Patient Coordinator, Euromedic Poland [info@euromedicpoland.com].
...Ted

_________________
Dx SPMS in 2004.  Liberated 29/04/2010.
My blog: www.my-darn-ms.blogspot.com

Actually, Berries, the problem may be that they ARE trying to use the same process for scheduling 80 people as they were for scheduling 20 (or fewer) people before. Given the large number of variables and constraints, the scheduling isn't 4X as much work, but rather becomes almost exponentially more complex, so that a system that (maybe sorta) worked for 20 people per month just doesn't work or requires many multiples of effort for 80 per month.
...Ted

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Dx SPMS in 2004.  Liberated 29/04/2010.
My blog: www.my-darn-ms.blogspot.com

yeah, you're probably right...oh dear...

Remember that Euromedic, with, what, seven beds at their disposal, have to perform other procedures as well.

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MS (progressive type, not sure which) since 1991
Current EDSS 8 (self-assessed)
Not taking any MS meds since 1998
Epilepsy (had 4 attacks to date) since 2004

Hi Asia

Euromedic only has 7 beds,WOW this is a challenge for them
My appointment is for March 24 and 25 they have changed my date once already and i think there are at least 5 other people from TIMS scheduled for the same day,they do have alot of planning to do.

Here's hoping it goes well my air tickets are booked and I'm very excited


Pam

EVERYONE, not got much to say I was just looking to keep this thread near the top!!!

I am not going for my Tysabri treatment on 15/03, I had my last on 15/02. I am going to Katowice on 21/03 with the Doppler, MRV and Surgery on 23&24th/03.

I am taking Vitimain D, Omega 3, Green Tea and I am using IBT, about 3". I am also awaiting my delivery of LDN.

So let the peace be with you all and I will update on any future developments!!

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<em>Badger
RRMS 2004</em>
Appt Katowice 23/24th March

Thanks Badger and to you. Many thoughts will be with you- we all look forward to good news!

Not sure if this is the right thread or if this subject has been discussed before. I'm scheduled to go to Poland 24/25th March and I have just received my invoice from Euromedic. This has focussed my mind of the best way to transfer the required 6900 Euros.

Obviously, this money transaction must have been carried out numerous times since the new up front payment procedure came into place about 6 weeks ago. Now this is probably not so much of a problem for people living outside the UK. However, the UK does have a bit of a reputation for our banks ripping off their customers. A brief Google search reveals some of these rip offs all too clearly.

I have been given a steer towards opting for CHAPS transfer rather than BACS. I would be interested in hearing the experiences of those who have recently made such transfers and any advice that anyone can give. The current exchange rate seems to be around £1.12791 sell rate - £1.2339 buy rate. Now I appreciate that these fluctuations may not apply to foreign money transfers but I am just tipping my toe in the water, so to speak. Obviously between these 2 figures is the difference of about £700. Good old rip-off GB!

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Nigel