A Shocking Lack of Respect for a Cardiology Patient with Baptish Medical Center Beaches…read more
I had an appointment scheduled with my cardiologist, Dr. Cox, at Baptist Beaches Cardiology Center in Jacksonville Beach for 8:15 a.m. on September 17, 2026. I arrived approximately 10 minutes early, only to be told that I was not on the schedule.
I made this appointment last February, more than seven months ago. At some point, Dr. Cox's schedule changed, and my appointment was canceled. However, no one bothered to make certain I knew about the cancellation or arrange another timely appointment. I drove to the office expecting to receive an important cardiology checkup and review the results of my CT scan. Instead, I was casually informed that I had no appointment.
Then came the truly unbelievable part. I was told that Dr. Cox's next available appointment would not be until sometime in April 2027. That would mean waiting approximately 14 months from the time I originally scheduled this appointment just to see my own cardiologist.
When I expressed how unacceptable that was, the response was that they are very busy this time of year. Apparently, "this time of year" now lasts until next April.
The only alternative they offered was an appointment with a physician assistant approximately seven weeks from now to review my CT scan. Therefore, after already waiting more than seven months for today's appointment, I must now wait another seven weeks to discuss the results with a PA because my actual cardiologist cannot see me until next spring.
This is cardiology, not a routine haircut or restaurant reservation. Patients are dealing with heart conditions, medical tests, serious concerns, and genuine anxiety. Canceling a long-scheduled appointment without ensuring the patient is properly notified is irresponsible. Making that patient wait another seven weeks to review a CT scan, while offering no appointment with the cardiologist until April, demonstrates a stunning lack of respect and concern.
Baptist Beaches Cardiology Center appears to have forgotten that patients are human beings, not numbers to be moved around on a schedule. If a physician's schedule changes, the responsibility belongs to the practice to contact affected patients promptly and provide reasonable alternatives. It should never be the patient's responsibility to arrive for an appointment and discover at the front desk that it disappeared.
I find the way I was treated disrespectful, dismissive, and completely unacceptable. Being "busy" is not an excuse for poor communication, inadequate scheduling, or leaving a cardiology patient waiting months to review important test results.
Baptist Health should be embarrassed by this level of patient service. Patients deserve communication, accountability, timely care, and basic respect. I received none of those things today.
