Have you ever gotten a bad vibe from a doctor?

[Tenor CS]

Some of you know, I went to the ER last Monday.

It turned out to be nothing major, just a bad ear infection, but the symptoms were feeling like they could be anything from a heart attack to a stroke.

The doc who saw me in the ER gave me his card, told me to follow up with him. At the time, it seemed like a medically sound thing to do.

Now, after my follow up with him, I feel like he was just trying to drum up more business, and really didn't give a rat's rear end about my health.

My issues:

I was not seen until 65 minutes after my scheduled appointment time.

His office is like a medical ... "factory" is the best way I can put it. He had 12 exam rooms. Most doc's offices I know of and have been to have 2 to 4.

I was asked, three times, by his medical assistants, if I planned on switching to him as my new primary care physician. It seemed like they were putting a hard sell on.

In the ER, I put sleep apnea/acid reflux on my medical history. He gave me an RX for Nexium. There is no generic yet, and 30 days of Nexium costs well over $100, even on my insurance. I can get 6 weeks of Prilosec for less than $20, even cheaper if I get the generic in bulk or find it on sale or have a coupon. At this point, I fully believe that he might be getting some kind of bonus or kickback for prescribing Nexium.

Today, he wanted to order a sleep study for me, even though I already had one less than a year ago. He seemed VERY disappointed that he wasn't going to be able to bill me for that nice big chunk of change.

He also didn't seem to believe me when I told him I had a CPAP machine and used it every day. He kept saying, "Really? EVERY day?"

I asked him about how I was feeling the first 2-3 days after I left the ER. I asked him about why my blood test results were weird and why my heart was pounding. He was very dismissive and said, "Yeah, it's just a side effect of the steroids, don't worry about it."

He was very pushy in trying to get me to sign up for his weight loss therapy, which of course is not covered by insurance and is very expensive. It involves all kinds of drugs and supplements and vitamin B shots. I doubt the efficacy of the method. AND when I told him I was unemployed, he immediately ended his time with me, scribbled an RX and left.

Normally, when doctors find out I am a pre-med student, they stop dumbing it down, and some have even been really good about using it as a teaching moment and mentoring me a bit. This guy continued to be arrogant and patronizing.

All in all, I really feel like his whole method of running his practice is just a huge money grab. And when he found out that I am unemployed, therefore broke, I was no longer of use to him, and he couldn't get out of the room fast enough.

He wants to see me again in two weeks. When I call to cancel, should I say why or just write him off?

[E.J.]

Of course what do I know.....but usually an ER doc tells you to follow up with your physician.... The whole reason to go to the ER is due to it being an emergency....

Regularly scheduled visits are for your PCP.... An ER physician may ask you to follow up with your PCP or a specialist.....

If an ER doc gave me his card I'd look at him like he was crazy....and then I'd think he was trying to sell me something.....

Anyway, that was a long way of telling you I think it was ODD.......

[CBI_2]

Sorry to hear that Christian. I say take the high road unless they press the issue then go Simon Cowell on them.

Was in the hospital in Dec. 2007 for Diverticulitius twice. Natually, I was seen by every GI doc in the hospital since they can bill the insurance company $2000 for a 30 second consultaion, which usualy ends up getting them $375 from the isurance.

Anyway, one doc asked me who my GI was so I told him the name of the guy that did the tests the first time. He said, "Oh, well come and see me. There are much better qualified doctors." Unfortunatly for him, he didn't know that my PCP recommended him because he's one of the top GI docs in the state. Neither was my GI pleased when I told him of the experience but told him not to worry, I know his reputation and my PCP has never given me a bad referral yet. I didn't give the Doc the other doc's name because I don't want to run into him in the hospital should I have to go again.

My theory: if you have to resort to trashing your competition it speaks volumes about the quality (or lack there of) of your own product or service.

Sorry to hear about this Christian. Honestly, I wouldn't go back to him. I'd go back to your regular doc. He/she should be able to get the information he/she needs to help you from your file, and what you can explain to him/her.

[shilala]

Sorry to hear about your experience, Christian, and I sure hope you're doing better soon.
I would definately cancel and talk to the doctor. I have fired more than one doctor in the past couple years and I always give bad doctors the courtesy of a good dose of shilala charm. Be nice to the receptionist though. It's not their fault the doc is a dick.

[wayner123]

Sorry to hear about that Christain, I hope you get feeling better soon.

As to my experiences with bad doctors, I have had 2 bad ones now. I wouldn't give them another penny of my money. In central FL, there are too many good doctors out there to fool with the bad ones.

If you choose so, there is a couple review sites out there on doctor's. You can post your experience there or read others. When I had my first ever bad doctor, I thought it may have been just me. Then I found this site which reviewed them, and realized it wasn't just me.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by wayner123

Sorry to hear about that Christain, I hope you get feeling better soon.

As to my experiences with bad doctors, I have had 2 bad ones now. I wouldn't give them another penny of my money. In central FL, there are too many good doctors out there to fool with the bad ones.

If you choose so, there is a couple review sites out there on doctor's. You can post your experience there or read others. When I had my first ever bad doctor, I thought it may have been just me. Then I found this site which reviewed them, and realized it wasn't just me.

Wayne, are those review sites state specific?
I'd love to see an example. It'd be a HUGE help. It'd probably save me lots of appointments, too.

[Razorhog]

I wouldn't go back, and send an anonymous letter detailing your experience.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by shilala

Wayne, are those review sites state specific?
I'd love to see an example. It'd be a HUGE help. It'd probably save me lots of appointments, too.

www.ratemds.com

www.vitals.com

These 2 are a good place to start. Also searching through google maps, you can see reviews as well.

[Subvet642]

I work in Security in a "Famous Harvard Teaching Hospital" in Boston. Let me tell you, if you don't like this physician, find another one. Simply tell him that you've found another physician who is a better fit. Beyond that, you don't owe him anything. A physician is a service provider, not unlike a mechanic, nothing more.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by wayner123

www.ratemds.com

www.vitals.com

These 2 are a good place to start. Also searching through google maps, you can see reviews as well.

Simply awesome, Wayne. Thank You!!!

[BigFrank]

If you feel uncomfortable find another one. I would keep it professional and write a letter and mail it to his business. People read letters, they delete emails...

[Lucky_Hippo]

These days most doctors are no better than politicians in my book. A quick smash and grab to make off with the loot is all they're looking for. Not all Doctors are this way of course, however, I stopped looking up to them when I became friends with one and saw the way his other doctor cohorts looked and talked about patients off the clock.

Find someone who makes you feel comfortable and realizes you're important.

[jkim05]

Sorry for your bad doctor experience. I agree that if you don't feel comfortable with your physician it's not going to work out. That being said, I work in a doctor's office (I manage an outpatient mental health clinic) and sometimes stuff happens. We get behind, just like most doctors offices, but generally that's a result of a patient requiring a bit more time than anticipated. Also as to the prescription, I can't speak for that doctor, but legislation has cut back significantly on what pharmaceutical companies can give to doctors and there is definitely no direct cash incentive for any prescriptions. Did you ask the doctor why he prescribed the Nexium? I know that at my office we try to take in consideration the costs of medication and we will go the cheapest route as often as possible unless there are considerations such as drug interactions, side effects, efficacy, etc. Hope you have a better experience next time, and know that there are good doctors out there too.

[aich75013]

I would find another doctor or go back to your regular doctor.
It sounds like he was selling you rather than helping you.

This happened to my wife once and she never realized it. I sent her to the doctor, and she came home with $400 worth of vitamins and pills that the doc just happened to sell in her office. I immediately changed doctors.

My current doc is great. Last time, I pulled up a list of the meds on my iPhone that were covered under my insurance. He picked one that was on the list because they all basically work the same. He normally did this himself, but my insurance company has 3 plans in Texas, and he was initially looking at the wrong plan and didn't know what they covered and didn't. He also will give me samples if I only need a few days of something and he happens to have it on hand.

[G G]

Originally Posted by Subvet642

I work in Security in a "Famous Harvard Teaching Hospital" in Boston. Let me tell you, if you don't like this physician, find another one. Simply tell him that you've found another physician who is a better fit. Beyond that, you don't owe him anything. A physician is a service provider, not unlike a mechanic, nothing more.

Have to agree with Darren on this Christian.

[Subvet642]

Originally Posted by ggainey

Have to agree with Darren on this Christian.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Greg. It's easy for people to forget that "Medicine" is a business and patients are customers; and the patient (or their proxy) is always in control.