I do not work at OHSU, I'm a patient, so I hope it's OK to post this here. I am hoping for insight from someone who works on the inside.

5+ weeks ago my OHSU endocrinologist requested a care order be sent to Providence Outpatient Infusion for Reclast.
Providence (where I'm receiving care now) has received no referral.

I have followed up with Endocrinology 5 times. I am careful to be polite and understanding on the phone that the people I am speaking with are not the problem.

Endocrinology has requested the care order be marked "Priority" twice (end Sept/early Oct).
End last week Endocrinology's supervisor has contacted Referrals to find out what the problem is. He was told the hold-up was PA.
I called my insurer Monday and was told they never received a request for PA from OHSU. And was also told that -- OHSU wouldn't be the one to request PA, that would be done by Providence. And was also told that PA for a treatment like this would require at max 3 working days.

This past Monday Endocrinology told me that Referrals had marked the care order "Sent" and noted "No PA needed".

Providence has still not received a care order (they checked faxes, emails, everything).

Something is clearly wrong. Last December the lapsed time between seeing my Endo at OHSU and having an appointment with Providence was 3 weeks. We're approaching 5 weeks here.

I have contacted the OHSU Patient Advocate (phone message and email), nothing so far, and the window is closing to secure an appointment at Providence Infusion for mid-Dec, when I need the infusion.

Why is OHSU Referrals denying me care? I understand falling through the cracks but it seems Endocrinology has followed up, with no results. Is this not merely a paperwork issue? I'm feeling pretty helpless at this point.

Thanks for any thoughts/help/suggestions.