Would You As A Professional Use This Clinic?

[jammygrammie]

Hello to all here. I am not a nurse, but I have lurked here for a while now. While I am not looking for medical advice, I do have a question about the professionalism or lack there of I encountered yesterday, and would like your opinion on whether to let them continue treatment or to find me a new MD.

I am in a new city (major metropolitan area). When we relocated here, none of my providers at home had any contacts here they could recommend, so it has been healthcare crap shoot, and I have not have very good luck in finding any provider that has been satisfactory. I do have horror stories trying to find providers, but that is not my issue.

Anyway, I was referred to a clinic by an acquaintance. The office's credentials look good, as does the MD that I was set up with. She has won several awards for teaching as well as surgical excellence, so I felt like finally I had found a doctor I could trust.

I went in yesterday, and left feeling like I had been rushed through the appointment, she did not have all the instruments she needed, had to leave the exam room a few times and left me hanging. When she returned, she did bring me a drape (I had been half naked till that point!). While she was doing the procedure she made some disparaging remarks about male OB-GYNs, and the superiority of females.

I saw her for a Bartholin cyst, which I have had before. She catheterized me, and we discussed follow up in a week, with a scheduled excision later. When I scheduled the follow up for 1 week out, found out she would be out of town till the middle of June. Some one else would check it.

To top all this off, when I got home and used the bathroom, I noticed the cath was sticking out farther than I remembered the first one. I called the office, was told the triage nurse would call, but come 5:30 pm, still no call. I called the after hours, and did get a call back from the on call that told me that was normal.

A few hours later I used the bathroom again, and found the cath in the commode. I called the on call again, was advised don't worry.

My gut tells me find someone else, but I have no idea how to find someone. We are new in town, no friends, and I am a stay at home grammy mom. I'm not sure I want this MD touching me again, and have half a mind to see my old GYN 450 miles away.

Should I 'Run, Forrest, Run', or stick it out? What is your opinion on this office's professionalism? Thanks to you all in advance.

[fultzymom]

First of all, I really hate it when a physician makes me feel rushed through an appointment. I know that Dr's are busy but I waited to see you et I think that you should take the time to address my concerns. Then you were told not to worry when your catheter was in the toilet?!?! Does not sound like sound advise to me. If I were you I would RUN, fast. I do feel your pain about finding a new doc. I hate having to find someone new when you know nothing about the area. Could your insurance send you a list of approved providers in the area to start with? I am sure there is some way to research doctors in your area. Sorry I am not sure how but maybe someone else on here could give you advise on how to research doc's. Good luck!

[miss arron]

never, never, never stay with a doctor who you don't feel comfortable with... you're paying for a service and if it's not up to par you should take your money elsewhere...

[jammygrammie]

fultzymom, thanks for your reply. It has confirmed my gut instinct.

I got this referal from my twins kindergarten teacher who is also a former pediatric nurse, and who has lived here all her life. This clinic and MD is on our insurance, and the Doc does have impressive creds (on paper, anyway).

I will call her office this AM, but I sure as heck don't want her to marsupialize me, and no way will I use her for excision.

Geez, this is the Twin Cities! The way the natives talk about here, this is the best place to be!! I come from the Good Life State, and have been spoiled by the quality of healthcare there.

[jammygrammie]

Miss Arron, thanks. I have 'fired' several medical professionals already (not that I am a problem patient, I just expect professionalisim in billing, demeanor and treatment. I am a former medical office HR manager).

I need to find someone fast. I worry about infection with an open incision.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

To answer your question, "what would you do?" : Yes, I would complete treatment for the acute problem w/the physician who has initiated the treatment then shop around for a different GYN if needed.

While it's important to have a rapport w/your provider, this doesn't always develop instantaneously. Your unfortunate situation means that you're starting off with this provider w/an acute, uncomfortable problem. It's possible you might perceive the GYN and the rest of the staff differently if you were a new patient scheduled for a "new patient exam" and if you were not currently experiencing an uncomfortable condition requiring uncomfortable treatment. Only you can answer that.

Good luck to you.

[jammygrammie]

i did go back to the clinic this am and saw a different md. the nurse asked why i didn't call the office asap when i felt the cath out, and was surprised to hear that i did call, never got a call back and called on call md. i told her i actually had to call twice, the second time being after it fell out.

this nurse seemed more organized than the one yesterday; i got a drape as soon as i entered the ex room, and she had a tray of supplies all ready. the md said the original one wasn't inserted into the cyst, but just under the skin :angryfire . he tried to reinsert a new cath, but couldn't because i have already begun to epithiliasize. \snark ~ i could have gotten the same results with a bottle of jack and a dremel ~ end snark\ if this doesn't heal properly, i will be marsupialized.

mlos, your advice is rational, point taken and noted. had i been there for a new pt ex, i may well have viewed things differently. however in view of the sloppy job by the first md (who specializes in surgery!!!!), i'm thinking i won't be back to see her. the fact that she had an anti-male attitude plus the fact that my dear husband was with me may have contributed to her haste and/or carelessness.

many are the times that a nurse has stood in between disaster and me. thanks again to all you professionals!:balloons: