SHOULD HAVE HIS MEDICAL LICENSE REMOVED…read more
IThe absolute worst experience I've ever had at a doctors office in my life.
After going to the ER twice for a serious cough that spread to an ear infection, I was referred to Dr. Vankooten's office. I made an appointment but was in such pain, I called that morning to beg to come into the office early. The receptionist told me that "other people are waiting for their scheduled appointments, and I would have to wait" even though I was crying over the phone to her.
I tried to wait, but couldn't and I went over about 2 hours early... There was barely anyone in the office, and the ONLY person on the staff that was interested in helping me with my pain was the person answering the phones who brought me out cold towels because I was sweating and crying.
They did, in fact, make me wait. Let me sit there, while people went to their normal non-emergency appointments. Just let me sit there in pain.... crying hysterically...
Finally the nurse called me in and barely held the door for me... could see that I was struggling to even walk because my ear was so bad, I couldn't hear anything. She brought me into the room and made me get up and stand up on the scale to take my height, as if that was the most important thing for her to do, I explained I couldn't even stand straight but she said "I have to take your height" again. I asked why she couldn't just believe I knew how tall I was!??!!?
This was getting to be ridiculous, did they think I was kidding with the pain???? I had already been to the ER TWICE! The ER told me I MUST see an ear specialist they couldn't do anything.
So the doctor comes in, not Dr. Vankooten, who I wanted to see, but his associate. Examines me briefly and says there's nothing they can do but give me antibiotics and send me home.
I'm really unsure at this point how I was going to live with the pain until the meds kicked in, but I'm alone here in CO, no advocate to help me, so there was nothing more I could do. They didn't offer me any pain medication at all. Nothing. Instead said "call in a few days, if the meds aren't working we'll change them."
How a doctor lets a patient walk out of their office in such pain without any other advice or help, is beyond me.
I get the prescription filled, and I sit in pain for two days. Now it's Thursday, green and bloody discharge is coming out of my ear. I am still in pain. I call Dr. Vankootens office and leave a message with the services to please get in touch with me Friday morning, I'm in pain, the meds aren't working and I need for someone to call me or call in a new prescription.
NO CALL BACK ALL DAY.
I call again this evening and they tell me I have to call the doctor on call who is Dr. Barron.
Finally DOCTOR BARRON calls me back. This man should have his medical license taken away. Not only was he rude from the moment I picked up the phone... but he talked over me saying "he didn't see me, and he couldn't help me, why was I asking for his help" I told him I had already been to the ER, and what was I suppose to do? He said "go back to the ER, there's nothing I can do for you" I was in shock, I asked why he was on call if he couldn't help at all, and HE HUNG UP ON ME!!!!!!
SO NOW I SIT HERE, still in pain, out of work a week, going to the ER when that's not what I should be going to the ER for, nor should "specialist" doctors be advising people to go to the ER when the ER is telling me I should be seeing the ear specialist.
This is the worst experience ever. The doctors of our country are spoiled rotten and don't know what it's like to actually CARE for patients anymore.