We moved here to Meridian last year. About 3 years ago I had my first knee replacement and that was very successful. I had been thinking that I would have to go back to our last home state so that I could have the same surgeon eventually replace my other knee. He last checked it just over a year ago and I am not quite bone on bone yet, but close. I decided to get established here instead, in our new home state for the convenience and I got several recommendations for Dr. Poole. One of those was from Dr. Lynch, my shoulder dr and another was from my shoulder PT. Dr. Poole's reviews on health grades are mostly wonderful so I was comfortable trying to get an appt with him. I was referred to his office by my PCP. I got a phone call from Amanda saying that they need to see my records before putting me on his schedule. It took a couple of months to get those to them due to the ball being dropped at the hospital my med records were at. Fast forward to TODAY, I received a phone call in the morning from the same Amanda, telling me that they received my records with clear images and that Dr. Poole declined me as a patient. I have never heard this, so I thought I'd heard wrong. I said what? She then repeated it and when I asked why she said that he'd recently received 40 new referrals and he only accepted 8. I then asked her if I could be put on a waiting list since I am not in dire straits and she said that Dr. Poole said NO. So, I don't think I am being too sensitive to feel that I was treated very poorly. I get that he's got a very good surgical reputation and he's a busy man. I get that there is a shortage of all doctors here in the Treasure Valley since the population has blown up. What I don't get is why I wasn't given a reason for being dismissed pretty rudely. I was kind of shocked to be treated this way. Amanda was very short and maybe she is told not to give reasons, that's my guess. However, I am a person, not a number. I have ongoing knee pain. Maybe a recommendation would be nice to another surgeon? Honestly, I am left feeling like garbage, someone who doesn't matter and isn't worthy of an explanation. I am left to my own thoughts, like maybe he doesn't want older patients nearing medicare? I'm not there yet, but will be soon. Or maybe he is only taking new patients that need immediate joint replacement. Haven't met Dr. Poole and I guess I won't be meeting him and that's ok. I will find a more caring place to go. Thanks Amanda for being short and not so sweet. I am a retired RN, I would never, ever treat potential patients like this. read more