Dr. Komada has been her cardiologist for more than six years and knows both her and my father, who…read moreis also his patient, well. My mom was discharged from the ICU yesterday and required home oxygen, which was set up by the hospital. The medical supply company sent a large, heavy plug in unit which doesn't reach the bathroom, making it necessary for her to unplug the unit, which turns off when unplugged, and drag it to the bathroom. Without the benefit of oxygen, that exertion causes her extreme shortness of breath and chest pain. Furthermore, without supplemental oxygen her oxygen saturation drops into the low 80s, which I attempted to explain to Dr. Komada. I called to request that he change the order to a portable unit, which entails filling out a simple form and faxing it to the medical supply company. Apparently Dr. Komada can't be bothered to help his patient despite being on call for the group. He danced around the issue and passed the buck back to the ICU doctor explaining that he didn't write the order so he it isn't his responsibility and he wasn't going to change it. Any physician too lazy or too self-important to do the bare minimum to help a well-established patient, is essentially worthless and I would warn you to consider this review when seeking care from Dr. Komada. My only option now to ask the ICU doctor working today- who has no knowledge of my mother as he has never met her- to help get the oxygen she needs. Furthermore, Duke Triangle Heart Associates supposedly cleared my mother for the thoracic surgery during which she suffered a cardiac emergency requiring emergent cardioversion (they had to shock her twice) on the operating room table. Knowing she is elderly, has obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, COPD and ischemic heart disease- all risk factors for atrial fibrillation- in the presence of worsening shortness of breath that cannot be explained by her pulmonologist, failed to conduct due diligence to assess her for atrial fibrillation prior to clearing her for cardiothoracic surgery, putting her in peril as she underwent anesthesia. Dr. Komada was impatient with me on the phone, cutting me off as I explained the need for a portable oxygen tank, essentially implying that it wasn't his problem and trying to pass the buck to 1. her family doctor (with whom I had already spoken), 2. the medical supply company (whom I had already spoken with to facilitate the process) and 3. the ICU. He even tried to suggest that the medical supply company wouldn't deliver on a Saturday which I had already confirmed would, in fact, make the delivery as soon as the order is changed, and could have it here within hours. My mom's oxygen levels drop to the low 80's each time she has to walk to the bathroom without her oxygen, placing her in grave cardiac peril, which he had no concern about despite her having severe ischemic heart disease. Frankly I'm disgusted by his laissez faire attitude, rudeness and complete lack of concern for his patients. Think twice before using Duke Triangle Heart Associates for your cardiology needs. Thank you for taking the time to read my review.

Came in for a stress test. Was treated with respect and courtesy. This would not be my favorite…read moreplace to visit, but considering the circumstances, this is where I would want to be. I felt as though I would be in good professional care in the event I might need immediate medical attention.

Care is wonderful! Very sympathetic staff. Quality experts and worth the trip. Need to use valet…read moreparking or you will be walking a mile. Flat price of $16 but worth it.

I had an appointment scheduled for more than six months with Dr. Karen Jones in Duke Neurosurgery…read more I traveled from Hawaii at very significant financial, physical, and emotional cost for this consultation. Prior to the visit, Duke had access to over 40 pages of medical records, imaging summaries, neurological evaluations, and supporting documentation regarding my medically complex condition, including genetically confirmed CMT2A2, prior cervical and lumbar fusion surgeries, severe chronic pain, and progressive neurological decline. Despite this extensive preparation and the length of time the appointment had been scheduled, I never actually saw Dr. Jones. I was seen only by a nurse practitioner, who informed me that based primarily on the most recent MRI imaging I brought with me, there was "no surgical target" and nothing Neurosurgery could offer. At no point during the six months leading up to this visit was it clearly communicated to me that the entire consultation outcome would depend almost exclusively on direct review of one recent MRI disc rather than the extensive records already submitted. I repeatedly expressed concern before traveling that I did not want to come all the way from Hawaii if my case was not considered appropriate for the department. I was never told that the consultation might effectively be ruled out based on the interpretation of a single MRI study. I was later told that this had supposedly been communicated through MyChart, but I never received such a message. The interaction itself was deeply distressing and lacking in compassion. I was already emotionally overwhelmed due to repeated referral difficulties within the Duke system and the extreme burden of navigating complex medical care while in severe pain. Rather than receiving guidance, continuity, or referral assistance, I felt abruptly dismissed. No meaningful next-step referrals were offered during the visit despite my medically complex history and the fact that multiple physicians in Hawaii, including my neurologist and primary care physician, believed further neurosurgical evaluation was appropriate. I was particularly distressed that nerve conduction studies and neurological findings from my treating physicians appeared to be brushed aside without serious discussion. My understanding from my neurologist was that chronic nerve compression below my lumbar fusion remained a significant concern, especially given the limitations of imaging interpretation in the presence of spinal hardware. I also found it upsetting that my BMI was highlighted prominently in the chart despite being only slightly above the "normal" range. In the context of a patient presenting with severe chronic pain, neurological disease, prior fusion surgeries, and significant functional decline, this felt unnecessary and shaming. By the end of the encounter, I was emotionally devastated. I had already requested a social worker before the appointment because I feared how emotionally fragile I had become during this process. The social worker who later met with me witnessed the severity of my distress. My concern is not simply that surgery was declined. I understand specialists may disagree on treatment options. My concern is the way this process was handled: the lack of transparency before travel, the absence of direct physician consultation after such an extensive wait and preparation process, the dismissive tone of the interaction, and the complete lack of coordinated transition planning or compassionate referral guidance for a medically vulnerable out-of-state patient.