African American Men- Watch Carefully The Staffs of your Doctors

Business and Lifestyle, Commentary, Community News — By Buddy Sampson on January 14, 2022 at 1:35 pm

Cover and Inside photo: Musician and Publisher Buddy Sampson. Cover photo: Bob Delgadillo.

First, Happy New Year.

We’ve had a turbulent last couple of years and I’m hoping that the Lord is watching over you.

Yesterday it was a simple thing, but it’s why I say I have The Lord’s protection. And it’s a cautionary tale that if you’re over 55 you should read- especially if you’re an African American male.

I am now a recovering cancer survivor. I’m not completely out of the woods yet but I had two surgeries. I am now getting bladder treatments- the first one Monday.

While working yesterday I got a call from my Urologists staff saying my treatments weren’t approved by my insurance. This same staff had somehow forgotten to schedule my appointments for my treatments(which should have started 7-14 days after my surgery November 14th. )

After a month of not hearing from them I called and my Urologist said it was a good thing I called- because otherwise my treatments wouldn’t have happened.

This same staff in West Hills- every time I go in their office they are kind, welcoming and engaging with all the white patients but as soon as I come to their desk, they become rude and curt. (Ask most Black men- that’s a common experience.)

Anyhow instead of dealing with them, I called my insurance company. I got this amazing person on the phone, Oceania. She was African American and I told her what African American men typically go through in medical offices. She asked me something about a code that I should have been given. A code? No one ever mentioned a code.

So she said “Let me call your Urologists staff.” The lady that was handling billing, Annette, immediately tried to blame the problem on me. Oceania the insurance lady saw right through it and said “we’re not assigning blame- we just want to make sure Mr. Sampson gets these life- saving treatments.” Then Annette tried to blame her co-workers for the mishaps but said she would handle it.

After Oceania ended the call with Annette- she said (and it’s something that I would not have noticed) that she had trust issues with Annette- that if she’s doing all this blaming she probably was the one that dropped the ball. She was forceful with them and knowledgeable- so much that Annette was somewhat intimidated.

Oceania explained to me that it’s often done to African American men. In offices they don’t explain the authorization process and they often skip things that are needed to be done.

This amazing wonderful Queen of a lady explained why she helped me. She said she adored her grandparents and how they gave her wisdom and that her calling in life was to help seniors especially African American men who often are abused in the medical community. She took over and got my treatments approved immediately.

I couldn’t help it. I burst out in tears- that of all the people I could have gotten on the phone, I got this angel. And when I wanted to speak to her supervisor to just express my gratitude she refused.

She said she doesn’t get her praise from others- she gets her praise from The Lord.

I knew right then that I was meant to hear her testimony. But African American men- ask a lot of questions when it comes down to your health. Make sure you check that medical staff’s are doing what they’re supposed to be doing.

I wish I had an advocate like Oceania in my life all the time- someone that can battle for me. I learned a lot yesterday- the lesson still is that you must be your own advocate. Don’t take it for granted that doctor’s staffs are doing their jobs. Follow up. Be sure they are setting your appointments and procedures correctly. If they get irritated, so what? It’s their jobs to be precise. Especially because it involves your health.

But the biggest lesson I learned was that when you put God first the angels watch over you.

Blessings and Love.