spinecor

[concerned dad]

Hopefully, it will all pay off .....

Yeah, like maybe a dozen free body suits!

Sorry, I couldnt resist the poor attempt at a joke.

The cost of travelling up to Montreal far outweighs the medical cost of the bracing. What, between time off of work, school, flights, rental cars, hotels.... It's not like you're going to the dentist across town.
I certainly hope this is an anomaly.

[BellasMom]

I certainly hope this is an anomaly.

me too ... me too ...

[christine2]

This is the 1st I have heard of this. Like I said I have had appts rescheduled last minute but have been able to cancel hotels ect... Time @ work is tough because I work by appt only. I basically lose out on some revenue. I would immagine it is a receptionist issue which I would bet Dr Rivard will handle.

Free bodysuits ????? Great idea!!!!

[BellasMom]

Just got this email from Dr. Rivard


===================================
I have to really apologize for this mistake, but when I leave for Germany, I was sure that all the appointments has been rescheduled. Accept my apologies and I will try to arrange something to compensate you trouble
===================================

As I suspected, secretarial problem, but does not make it feel better

Confirm, confirm and confirm!!!!!

[BellasMom]

appointment question

I keep forgetting to ask you, guys, how much you pay for the follow-up visits.

There is so much information about the initial one and nothing about the follow-ups

Do I pay for the X-ray? Doctor's fee? How much?

Thanks

[christine2]

We pay $100.00 per visit with the orthos and $278. for hospital fees (x rays). We used to get reinbursed for those fees although our ins. has recently changed to a $1000. deductable per person...ouch!!!

[BellasMom]

Just an update - the secretary called me in the morning and she was way unprofessional.

She kept telling me that she knows better, because she has a note that she indeed did call me and re-scheduled for the 29th. I kept telling her that she was mistaken, but she kept insisting.

Yeah, right, I am such a total and complete idiot that I would make my husband and child drive 5+ hours there and 5+ back just to piss her off

Anyway, my husband, being a hero he is, is driving to Montreal tomorrow again and coming back home TOMORROW. A one-day trip!

[jillw]

Bellas mom, Wow, I can't even believe how you must have felt! It is such a major ordeal for my husband to get off work and the time to drive up there (not to mention the emotional preparation). I am so sorry that happened! I guess I will now call and confirm each appointment also! We've been up about 5 or 6 times and never had any issues - quite the contrary, WE'VE been the ones to try and reschedule last minute once or twice and they have been very accomodating. I was thinking that is so unlike them - until Christine mentioned that the receptionist left.

Christine, first of all, I didn't know her name was Sue Anne....I thought it was Joanne!!! How embarrassing, I've been calling her the wrong name all along. When did she leave? I didn't know that. What a bummer! She would never be rude and I wouldn't see her letting that type of mistake happen.

Bellas Mom, as Maria said, I hope you get totally wonderful news today to compensate for the major major hassle. I forget where you are from - but you're from the US, right? Because to me, going to french canadian territory is more involved than driving the same distance within the US. I really have to get myself psyched - where are the passports, i get nervous going through customs (I don't know why, its not like we have anything to hide), I don't speak french, etc. All I know is that I am very tired after a trip and to have to make that trip for no reason would be a real bummer. I can understand your anger and frustration.

[BellasMom]

speaking of "where are the passports"

They left today at 7 in the morning and called me at 7:30 saying that they are almost back home - they did forget the passports

This is so unlike my husband, but thank G..d he remembered 15 minutes away and not at the border

[BellasMom]

Here is the name of the current secretary: Johanne

[BellasMom]

Just got a call from my husband - all is well. When Bella was first fit for the brace last November, she had L20 and in brace she measured L15

She is the same L15 today, which is very good according to Dr. Rivard

They are driving home right now, I just wish them an easy and safe trip home. Such a tiring week

[CAmomof2]

Bellasmom,

Glad to hear the good news. Sorry you all had such a bad week. Thanks for the heads up - we'll be calling to confirm our next appt.

[christine2]

JillW

I could have been wrong about her name too. Perhaps I should feel bad. At our last visit in Oct. she told us she was leaving because of her long commute and low pay. Because the Spinecor is a "bracing clinic" and is still in the stage of establishing recognition in the orthopedic world, I don't think the doctors or staff makes much $.

[christine2]

Good news Bellasmom!!! Next week can only be better

[concerned dad]

snip.....

They are driving home right now, .....snip

Do they have a trunk full of body suits to declare at the border?

I'm glad the results were good for your daughter.

I would also be curious to know if the inbrace xray was performed after adjusting the brace. I imagine that they are.
I asked the Drs about the tension of the straps. I was wondering if the straps were tightened wouldnt we expect to see better correction. Dr Rivard basically said that Dr Coillard shoots for the "sweet spot" (my words, not his) between too much and too little tension.

The other thing I am curious about is, do we have any parents on here who have a child who was braced before the adoloscent growth spurt? and then continued on in the brace after the growth spurt.