In 2007 I had a liver transplant in South Carolina. When I relocated to Arizona in 2008 I was in need of a hepatic specialist and transplant center to follow my progress. At first I was referred to University of Arizona Medical Center's transplant program. Getting an appointment with them took months. When I finally got an appointment the doctor I saw was surly and dismissive, taking time out of his busy day to blame me for his staff's refusal to give me an earlier appointment. Later, when I needed help with medication approvals for my new insurance my requests sat for weeks in their office with no one bothering to respond. Long story short, after the phenomenal treatment I received at the Medical University of South Carolina, UAMC was scary and unprofessional.
Looking for a better group to work with, I learned that Banner Good Samaritan in Phoenix had a transplant program and that they visited Tucson (actually Oro Valley) monthly to see patients. I made an appointment (which I got within the month) and saw their doctors. I was very impressed, the doctors and staff were excellent. They took time to make sure everything was in order and to actually get to know me as a person and not just a medical chart.
I really like seeing the folks in this practice. My original doctor has moved away but my new doctor is just as wonderful and I enjoy seeing her on my now twice yearly visits. If there is one caveat, it would be the same as, unfortunately, most medical practices these days. The administrative staff can be a little lax at times. I find it is best to speak directly with someone on the medical staff or leave a message on the doctor's voicemail if I want to sure of getting a message through. I don't know if they use a pool with the hospital for administrative services or what, but those folks tend to be a little hit or miss sometimes. Other than that, though, I couldn't ask for better care. read more