PattiHere Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 My doctor will not sign the letter, says she is too busy. My fear is I will not be able to cruise again. I am 73, healthy, no medications, walk 3 to 4 miles a day, five days a week. What will healthy over 70 year olds do if they cannot get this letter signed. Wouldn't taking the temperature be enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCVoyager Posted March 17, 2020 Report Share Posted March 17, 2020 I'm sure your doctor will do so after this blows over. If not, find a new doctor. I had an annual physical appointment scheduled for this Friday. My doctor's office cancelled it because they are too busy and too concerned with sick patients. Kata and Baked Alaska 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 15 hours ago, PattiHere said: My doctor will not sign the letter, says she is too busy. Wow, that's insulting (to you). 15 hours ago, PattiHere said: What will healthy over 70 year olds do if they cannot get this letter signed. Wouldn't taking the temperature be enough? The answer to your question is, no, the temperature is not enough. The reason RC is prohibiting people over 70 from cruising (temporarily) is because people in that age range are far more susceptible to coronavirus and it is far more deadly in that age range. Once the coronavirus threat lessens, I fully expect this rule to be rescinded. Neesa, Baked Alaska and accio7 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgestang Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Call your doctor and ask him/her to prep all your records to transfer to another doctor immediately. Rene Desmarais, Baked Alaska, fonemanbob and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FManke Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 4 minutes ago, dodgestang said: Call your doctor and ask him/her to prep all your records to transfer to another doctor immediately. I'm sure she's too busy for that as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpeedNoodles Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Do we even know if they'll require a letter once this all blows over? And yeah, physicians and clinics are REALLY busy right now, I don't know that transferring to another doctor is the solution. Many are canceling appointments and even surgeries for elective procedures, so providing a letter for something like this is going to fall off the "we can do this" list. It may seem cold, and her response may have seemed cold, but try to imagine what they are going through right now as well. Services are not what they were last week. Most police in our area are not responding on anything but high priority calls as they would last week. If you need anything else, it'll be a phone call. We're in uncharted territory here. Neesa and Baked Alaska 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeK Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Will my wife have to pin the note to my shirt just before check in? chrisb732 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Re: elective surgeries....I feel so lucky to have gotten this knee replacement when I did. The surgeons that did this knee are now postponing all such surgeries. We have just been ahead of this awful wave in so many ways...I feel so blessed. Baked Alaska, accio7, Neesa and 3 others 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgestang Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 2 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said: Do we even know if they'll require a letter once this all blows over? And yeah, physicians and clinics are REALLY busy right now, Didn't say she had to transfer....just to ask them to get her records ready to transfer.....since scheduling an in-person visit and getting the form signed would be significantly lower effort and even have a copay associated with it....there might be a sudden change of heart by the doctor and/or staff fronting. CaraMiaBelle, PattiHere and Baked Alaska 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgestang Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 1 hour ago, MikeK said: Will my wife have to pin the note to my shirt just before check in? They are still debating if they will hand out Scarlet Letters or Stars <eye roll> WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zurc Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 When is your cruise? After the presumptive (per RCI) April 11 resume date? I thought I’d read the letter should be signed no more than 7 days prior to the cruise date. I wish I had advice for you. Good luck ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princevaliantus Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 20 hours ago, PattiHere said: My doctor will not sign the letter, says she is too busy. My fear is I will not be able to cruise again. I am 73, healthy, no medications, walk 3 to 4 miles a day, five days a week. What will healthy over 70 year olds do if they cannot get this letter signed. Wouldn't taking the temperature be enough? Hate to bring up the "the Elephant in the room", but if MY doctor won't sign a letter for me stating that I am healthy, THAT alone will make me question as to "am I REALLY healthy" and make me get checked with another physician. That would be the first thing that pops into my head. Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 26 minutes ago, princevaliantus said: Hate to bring up the "the Elephant in the room", but if MY doctor won't sign a letter for me stating that I am healthy, THAT alone will make me question as to "am I REALLY healthy" and make me get checked with another physician. That would be the first thing that pops into my head. This is precisely why this "healthy enough to cruise" process is a fool's errand. In my line of work (Safety Engineer), there is no such thing as a "safe" system. You can evaluate the system for risks, identify them, mediate them, redesign, evaluate, mediate and on and on but you never, ever, ever (if you want to keep your credentials) pronounce a system is safe. There's no such thing b/c no matter how automated it is, systems have to be operated and maintained by people....and people will make mistakes and use poor judgement. So most HCPs will never sign a document saying that it is safe for their patient to do ANYthing. If the cruise industry is trying to pare down its cruising population then this is a great way to do that. Even then they are going to find that even young people get sick or have accidents ! I really, really hate this kind of knee jerk reaction that implemented such a ridiculous policy that is destined for failure. This was a perfect example of overreaction in a crisis leading to very BAD policies. Well-intended though it may have been, it is utter nonsense. Baked Alaska, PattiHere, SteveinSC and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinSC Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Those in the medical field lean toward "worst case scenario" at all times. Its how they are taught, trained, and practice. Partly to rule out the worst, first....and partly to avoid malpractice. THAT being said...youre going to be hard pressed to get a doctor to sign a waiver of ANY sort....ever. Some will...but most wont. This waiver is a HORRIBLE idea, and I dont see it lasting. RWDW1204 and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brobbins246 Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 Does anyone else feel like life has been separated between "before" and "after" COVID-19? WAAAYTOOO and SpeedNoodles 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgestang Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 20 minutes ago, Brobbins246 said: Does anyone else feel like life has been separated between "before" and "after" COVID-19? I don't see how considering we are in the "during" COVID-19 phase Brobbins246, RWDW1204 and chrisb732 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gears Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 24 minutes ago, Brobbins246 said: Does anyone else feel like life has been separated between "before" and "after" COVID-19? Yup...got off the Adventure February 23rd. By the seat of our pants as it would seem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyfsu21 Posted March 18, 2020 Report Share Posted March 18, 2020 4 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said: This is precisely why this "healthy enough to cruise" process is a fool's errand. In my line of work (Safety Engineer), there is no such thing as a "safe" system. You can evaluate the system for risks, identify them, mediate them, redesign, evaluate, mediate and on and on but you never, ever, ever (if you want to keep your credentials) pronounce a system is safe. There's no such thing b/c no matter how automated it is, systems have to be operated and maintained by people....and people will make mistakes and use poor judgement. So most HCPs will never sign a document saying that it is safe for their patient to do ANYthing. If the cruise industry is trying to pare down its cruising population then this is a great way to do that. Even then they are going to find that even young people get sick or have accidents ! I really, really hate this kind of knee jerk reaction that implemented such a ridiculous policy that is destined for failure. This was a perfect example of overreaction in a crisis leading to very BAD policies. Well-intended though it may have been, it is utter nonsense. Is it difficult as a safety professional to “look the other way” when your on vacation? I’ve witnessed one OSHA nightmare after another on these ships. They need to maybe review some human performance training..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 19, 2020 Report Share Posted March 19, 2020 31 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said: Is it difficult as a safety professional to “look the other way” when your on vacation? I’ve witnessed one OSHA nightmare after another on these ships. They need to maybe review some human performance training..... Yes it is. I’ve seen some pretty sketchy stuff over the years. I just look the other way and keep on moving. PattiHere, fonemanbob, SpeedNoodles and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brobbins246 Posted March 19, 2020 Report Share Posted March 19, 2020 3 hours ago, dodgestang said: I don't see how considering we are in the "during" COVID-19 phase True! I guess I meant after it started. I don't want to think about how long it might be into we're really "after" it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcdave Posted March 26, 2020 Report Share Posted March 26, 2020 I do not see a doctor signing any such form without performing a complete exam of you just before signing/or not - she/he may want their own lawyer to read over the form as well (I would think most lawyers would tell the doctor not to sign). So if after, whenever that is, we get past this crisis will the cruise lines still require the form for over age 69 passengers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baked Alaska Posted March 26, 2020 Report Share Posted March 26, 2020 My son has to take an athletic physical every year to play High School soccer. . . Doctors DO sign patient waiver as such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted March 26, 2020 Report Share Posted March 26, 2020 38 minutes ago, Baked Alaska said: My son has to take an athletic physical every year to play High School soccer. . . Doctors DO sign patient waiver as such. Yes, the form that my son needs filled out by the doctor for boy scout camp every year is much more involved then the form the cruise line was asking for: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/HealthSafety/pdf/680-001_ABC.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonemanbob Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 Oh crap. I turn 70 in July. Another dam form to fill out. Just put it on the stack. We just moved and so many forms to fill out. I`ll just get an on line Dr. degree and sign the form. I will use the name Dr. WHO. Wise Health Official. No worse than some of the other fake news out there. I will have to work on sloppy penmanship to make it look official. Bon Voyage Ogilthorpe and WAAAYTOOO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fonemanbob Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 On 3/18/2020 at 12:03 PM, WAAAYTOOO said: Re: elective surgeries....I feel so lucky to have gotten this knee replacement when I did. The surgeons that did this knee are now postponing all such surgeries. We have just been ahead of this awful wave in so many ways...I feel so blessed. So for you it isn`t about washee washee. It is all about WALKIE WALKIE. Get well. Ogilthorpe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 4 minutes ago, fonemanbob said: So for you it isn`t about washee washee. It is all about WALKIE WALKIE. Get well. Lol. Yes, it’s been walkie walkie. I’m doing great, BTW. Thanks for the positive thoughts. ellcee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim S Posted March 27, 2020 Report Share Posted March 27, 2020 On 3/17/2020 at 9:52 PM, PattiHere said: My doctor will not sign the letter, says she is too busy. My fear is I will not be able to cruise again. I am 73, healthy, no medications, walk 3 to 4 miles a day, five days a week. What will healthy over 70 year olds do if they cannot get this letter signed. Wouldn't taking the temperature be enough? My doctor refused to sign my letter, not because I wasn’t fit to travel or had any chronic illness but because the government had issued guidance to 70’s an overs not to travel at this time. Hopefully once we get over the current Covid-19 crisis things will return to normal again. Here’s hoping anyway, otherwise it looks like I won’t be cruising again. WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaCruiser Posted March 28, 2020 Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 Please be kind to doctors during all of this....and all medical staff. Even if it’s not in the middle of the outbreak where you are healthcare facilities are very busy even preparing for this behind the scenes. Much of this is unknown chartered territory as far as healthcare and everyone is trying to see where the dust settles. There’s a lot of legal issues coming into play here as well that needs to be sorted out as far as work and travel restrictions as well. Unfortunately legal plays into writing letters for everything now. Writing a quick letter is not a quick think for physicians to do- it does take time- and EVERYONE is requesting letters for pretty much everything right now. I’m sorry if the response from your doctor was not as eloquent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairlynew Posted March 28, 2020 Report Share Posted March 28, 2020 On 3/27/2020 at 9:02 AM, WAAAYTOOO said: Lol. Yes, it’s been walkie walkie. I’m doing great, BTW. Thanks for the positive thoughts. Glad to hear you’re doing well. I’ve been thinking about you WAAAYTOOO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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