ultrasound....vent

fuller81 · January 2011

So yesterday was our big ultrasound day, I'd been pumped for it all day long and I know my husband was also looking forward to it. So we get to the appoint a good 15 minutes early, my appointment was at 3:30 and then my doctor's appointment at 4:15. Well...for whatever reason (poor scheduling, backed up, we don't know) we didn't get in for our ultrasound until 4.

So the first thing the tech tells us his he'll have to rush so that I'm no to late to my other appointment. Basically to cut to the chase, I could barely see what was going and when I could see things I didn't have a clue what I was looking at. Anytime my DH would ask a question the guy was just down right rude to him. So he continues to rush things, we were sort of hoping to find out the sex because this was more than likley our only ultrasound. So he was about done finding all of the vital information and measurements and my husband asks him if he thought he could tell whether it was a boy or girl, he says nope I just don't have time to look.

Now, don't get me wrong I'm glad that he looked at all the vital organs and as far as he could tell I guess everything looks good, but once again we didn't get a lot of information from him. I guess my biggest deal is that I always thought this would be something special my husband and I would share together before the baby was born, but it was anything but special. I also know that the radiologist is the main one who reads the ultrasound, but this person clearly didn't have time to get that done then before my appoitment, so I know what will end up happening is a nurse will simply call and tell me everything looks good (hopefully) and that's all that will ever be said because it will be another 4 weeks before I see the doctor again. I guess the day just wasn't anything like I expected it to be.

Sorry for that very long vent, thanks if you beared with me and read the whole thing.

colik23 · January 2011

So sorry for your experience, The tech was wrong to "rush" through everything. There could have been stuff they missed. If your appt was behind, then everyones was and he should have taken his time, answered your questions, and checked for gender. If I were you I would definatly make an call and complain. This is supposed to be special for you, and he made it a bad experience.

paula81rosenthal · January 2011

My ultrasound was 45 minutes late, which only gave the tech 15 mins before my appointment, but she still over an hour. She showed us everything, explained what we were looking at and answered all of our questions. I think your tech was way out of line. I would definitely call and make a complaint. I don't think this is something a tech should rush through. I hope you can get a second chance with a much better tech.

IrishEyes0530 · January 2011

colik23:
So sorry for your experience, The tech was wrong to "rush" through everything. There could have been stuff they missed. If your appt was behind, then everyones was and he should have taken his time, answered your questions, and checked for gender. If I were you I would definatly make an call and complain. This is supposed to be special for you, and he made it a bad experience.

This! I would have made a complaint right then and there (but I can get a major attitude and not control it hehe) but definitely call! I would tell them that you want another one to make up for this one because you didn't get any questions answered or any information you wanted. I would also make sure they don't charge you for it!

dolphant3 · January 2011

How rude of them! YOU are paying for this so they should make it worth your money Sad .... And its not fair for them to rush you if they are running behind.

Some people are so insensitive. I'm sorry... I hope you get another (better) ultrasound later....

And I would totally complain... Even say they could have missed something with how fast the guy was going and that you didn't feel like he looked long enough! My ultrasound tech thought she saw that I have a cirucmvallate placenta, and she only saw that becasue she looked as long as she did... Sad

kmv68 · January 2011

I am sorry you were rushed. Did you tell your doc at your appt how upset it made you? If the doc is nice they may find a "need" for another u/s for you. You can also call and complain to the hospital.

mesr · January 2011

i'm so sorry to hear about your experience. appointment scheduling is so frustrating sometimes! i can't believe how long i've had to wait for some appointments recently. i agree with pp that you should talk to your doctor about getting another ultrasound since yours was obviously rushed and you are not confident that the tech did a thorough job.

11kacey · January 2011

I would have thought that the tech would have taken his/her time to be certain of everything and y'all would have just rescheduled your doctor's appointment. My OB said I could schedule them for the same day, but since they are at two different places I do not want to run into the same issue you had. I am so sorry that your US experience was so rushed. I agree with previous posters, please call and make sure that the tech saw EVERYTHING that they needed to. 15 minutes does NOT sound like enough time to see everything. However, I am not an u/s tech nor a doctor, so what do I know?

soontobe05 · January 2011

I'm so sorry. That is not the experience anyone hopes for. I hope that if you talk to your doctor they can figure out a way to get you another scan. Our scan went a half hour beyond our allotted time yesterday so my MW appointment was 30mins late, but they knew I was doing the scan so it wasn't a problem. Really hope they figure something out for you and you get someone better next time.

RClaffee · January 2011

He supposedly did a full anatomy scan in fifteen minutes!? I seriously doubt that since everyone I have ever talked to said they last about an hour. I can't believe that this person was so rude to you and your husband. I would definitely let your doc know that the scan was rushed and ask for another one.

jjones59 · January 2011

I would definatley call and complain, they accidentally forgot to schedule mine (stupid computers) and the tech for mine worked through her lunch because it wasn't our fault. Make sure that you only pay for the 15 minute ultrasound you got rather than the hour one that you were promised.

cvl105 · January 2011

I would be so annoyed. Just because they're running late doesn't mean you should be penalized. Like you said, it's great they got all the vital information...but it should take them 1 minute (not even) to look at the sex. I'm sorry. I would be disappointed too. Did you mention it to the Dr? I would have mentioned how disappointed I was that the tech wouldn't look at the sex for you. Maybe mention it at your next appt and see if she'll get you in for another one.

eaduvall · January 2011

How unprofessional! I would have told them that just because they f'ed up does not give them the right the screw me out of my appointment time. Make sure you call back and make a formal complaint. I am surprised that you had both appointments on the same day. Our office had me make our follow up appointment for a few days later. Now i am really glad I won't have this problem.

So sorry this happened to you. Sad

cvl105 · January 2011

RLH315:
He supposedly did a full anatomy scan in fifteen minutes!? I seriously doubt that since everyone I have ever talked to said they last about an hour. I can't believe that this person was so rude to you and your husband. I would definitely let your doc know that the scan was rushed and ask for another one.

Just an fyi - they don't have to last an hour. Depends on how "cooperative" the baby is in terms of position, etc. Mine was a half hour or less I think. 15 minutes, however, is definitely fast.

TheMrsHodges · January 2011

I'm sorry that you didn't get to have that moment with your husband. What a jerk that guy was to not even take a moment to look at the sex of the baby. I would be so pissed if I was you. I would have said something then and there and definitely would demand another ultrasound. You were there early and on time and you shouldn't have to suffer because they were backed up on their patients. It's ridiculous.

sunshine336 · January 2011

I'm sorry your scan didn't go well. While we had a great tech and a pleasant experience we weren't able to find out the sex at our scan yesterday due to an uncooperative baby- so I understand that disappointment. I agree with the PPs that you should discuss this with your doctor and see if they can get you another ultrasound.

11kacey · January 2011

I just wanted to come back and say one more thing. I was talking to a friend about my upcoming anatomy scan. Her's was over 2 hours b/c something was very, very wrong with her daughter. I still feel like the tech should have taken more time with you or rescheduled you, but I don't like the impression that the office messed up. Maybe they did over book (yes their mistake), BUT maybe they had one (or more) ultrasounds that day with very bad results and they were counseling those patients and that caused them to run behind schedule?

Birdies08 · January 2011

cvl105:
RLH315:
He supposedly did a full anatomy scan in fifteen minutes!? I seriously doubt that since everyone I have ever talked to said they last about an hour. I can't believe that this person was so rude to you and your husband. I would definitely let your doc know that the scan was rushed and ask for another one.
Just an fyi - they don't have to last an hour. Depends on how "cooperative" the baby is in terms of position, etc. Mine was a half hour or less I think. 15 minutes, however, is definitely fast.

Ours was half an hour, but the tech said she was amazed at how cooperative our LO was and how quickly and easily she was able to get measurements. So, I agree that they don't have to be an hour but also that 15 minutes when you know the tech was rushing sounds super fast.

I do want to throw in that, while the techs should act professionally, it really isn't their job to make it a special experience for you or find out the sex. That being said, it does sound like you aren't confident your tech was focused on doing his job- checking out that everything was ok with your baby. I would call the office and see if there's anyway you can get a follow up ultrasound.

Also, like a PP said, make sure they aren't billing you for a longer ultrasound. I know at our clinic if a visit takes less than a certain amount of time, we have to bill them with a less expensive code. The clinician needs to sign off that they spent x minutes counseling, so I would just clarify to see if ultrasounds have steps like that.

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