Listen, I do not want anyone to say that I am a nitpicker (although last spring I actually was one). When one adds up all the variously-sized negativity, it can sometimes be difficult to arrive at a conclusion that is communicated in a shape. True value only exists in an ideal world; darn it- I can only try my best. Darn it.
Here it is: Noticed something on my kid's person. Contacted my pediatrician via email. I asked if we should go with the last dermatology practice that we were referred to, or if I could go with Current, as it is local to us and because my husband is currently (had to) a patient at Current. A referral was faxed to Current three days later (not sure why they waited three days). In the meantime, I had gone to Current's website to contact them to see what had happened. The website did not list a phone number for the Clyde location. It only has the Sylva location's phone number. The Sylva office is the main hub of Current's action. I called the Sylva number and asked if my kid's referral had come through. A woman said it had not. Neither one of us thought about the fact that the small Clyde office is a separate entity in all this. I called the referral department at the pediatrician's, and found out it had been faxed two days ago. An employee at the pediatrician's called Current for me, and Current finally called to set up an appointment with me.
We were late because my daughter did not feel well. We waited a long time before we were called to the back. In the meantime, I experienced some things. There was some sort of medical trash from a lazy patient on a couch that we chose to sit on. We quickly moved. We sat in loungish chairs that rocked when a couple sat down in the back-to-back adjoining ones. I had trouble writing. My kid moved. I was too embarrassed to. When my daughter used the facilities, she said that there was no toilet paper nor soap present. When I went to get sanitizer on the waiting room wall, the dispenser was empty.
When we got called to the back, I noticed that there was a Q-tip on the ground. This did not bother me until my shoe touched it. The trash can was full, and the biohazard trash bag was not fully snug around the rim of that trashcan (one portion was tucked under the lid). There was dust on the computer. I could not stop looking at it. All this stuff surprised me. My place is a mess, but I am not receiving patients at my house.
The physician assistant was not able to say if my daughter would have to have a biopsy or not. I was told to come back. The next appointment to see the doctor was set for three weeks later. When I called two days later to change the appointment due to a previously made appointment on the same day, the new appointment date was set for early April (2017).
Nevermind the little stuff- how could I sleep at night knowing that my kid's appointment was so far in the future?! I contacted my pediatrician and requested a different dermatologist.
Physician assistants seem fine in general medical practice, but so far the two that I have experienced in the dermatology field both could not fully answer what was going on during the appointment. Both had to rely upon a doctor for answers. I understand that if a kid is involved that they want to be certain...but why waste everyone's time by making an appointment for a kid with a PA if you cannot move forward and then have to move too forward? Then you're almost moving backward!
Anyway, everyone was very nice. My husband is a patient at both locations. He said that he has seen a lot of PAs. He was finally diagnosed when an assistant's assistant recommended an allergy patch test. The Sylva location is very busy. The Clyde location almost feels like an afterthought. A few changes would change everything. read more