I cannot even begin to express my level of distrust in this facility. I'm unsure if it's Veterans they have a problem with or if it's just their attitude in general.
I was here a year ago for a left knee issue and was seen by Nurse Practitioner D. Tibbets. His personality was impolite and coarse no matter how friendly I was. I sort of chalked it up to a bad day. I didn't have to come back because the knee issue sorted itself out. However, when I was referred to this facility again recently, I requested another Dr.'s office. Unfortunately, my insurance is not accepted by Southern Oregon Orthopedics and short of traveling to Grants Pass or Bend, I was left with only this facility.
My appt today was with PA Kiran Aulakh. I was there for a torn meniscus.
The first thing that occurred, when the staff set my appt 2 weeks ago, is that they said they would contact an imaging office for x-rays. I mentioned this was for a meniscal tear and didn't need x-rays and that I'd had an MRI done by my referring physician. The staff member said Dr. Metwally ( herein Dr. M) had specific requests for x-rays for all his patients. I mentioned that I'd also had x-rays taken before the MRI to which she replied that Dr. M had a specific stance he required for x-rays.
In my opinion, the demand for additional x-rays exposes the patient to unnecessary gamma rays and suggests he's milking the insurance companies to line his pockets.
The 2nd thing that occurred was that the imaging office never called me and when I called them to inquire, they reported not having been contacted by Dr. M's office. We got it all worked out and I was able to get into the imaging office an hour before my appt. with PA Aulakh (herein PA A.).
Thirdly, while I was waiting to be called to an exam room, one of the staff spoke to a man waiting. He had on a Veteran cap, so I speculate he was a Veteran as well. She said to him, loudly and without discretion, that they were cancelling his 2pm appt (it was 1:47 pm) because the lady who was going to see him had to pick up her child from daycare. (Again, speculating that "she" was PA A.). He calmly mentioned that this appt had been in the books for 2 weeks to which the staffer replied that there was nothing that could be done about it and she would reschedule him for next Friday. You can imagine his surprise to be rescheduled a week and a half out. I missed the outcome because I was called back to exam room 2 3/4. Because the # 3 would have been a problem?
Now, we get to the meat.... after bp taken, notes made by staff, PA A. comes in and introduces herself. Opens up with "after examining your x-rays, the usual process of care for this injury is IBUPROFEN, PT, cortisone shots, hyluronic acid shots, then total knee replacement surgery." This is where I stopped her and said I was in here about my meniscus. To which she rudely replied that a meniscus was cartilage and couldn't be seen in an x-ray. And so paraphrasing the rest... "Yes, I understand, that's why I don't understand why your office requested x-rays.".... "Well, I don't have an MRI to look at so we'll talk about the x-rays." .... "But I'm here about my meniscus and I had an MRI done in January.".... "Well, we're not going to look at that right now, we're going to talk about total knee replacement ."..... "I'd appreciate it if we'd talk about my meniscus.".... "No, we'll discuss your x-rays.".... "I think we need to get Dr. M in here."... "Yes, I agree."
She fiercely demanded I sit down in the exam room while I waited for her to get Dr. M. By this point I was done with being pushed around so I kindly and firmly told her I would stand in the doorway. When she pulled Dr. M out of his exam, he started to walk past me and I spoke to him that we needed to talk about this misunderstanding. His reply... "I do not know you and we have nothing to discuss." Me... "Hi, I'm so and so, and your PA is discussing total knee replacement surgery for my meniscal tear, we have plenty to discuss." Dr. M.... "I do not know you and we have nothing to discuss, get out of my office." Me... (thinking no problem), says "you have not heard the end of this." Me to patients in waiting room... "I would, under no circumstances, trust this Dr. or his PA." Exit stage right.
Sadly, Dr. M is the only orthopedic surgeon available to a lot of patients in the Medford area. I believe he thinks he can act this way because he's a doctor, and maybe even a good one, but he's the only available option and because so, line his pockets with unreasonable demands and unnecessary surgery and procedures. It's time to take a stand against this monopolizing cheat and put him out of business! read more