I was evaluated for ongoing, debilitating knee pain that has significantly affected my mobility and daily functioning. Despite MRI findings that documented clinically significant relevant abnormalities, Dr. Hartman repeatedly described the imaging as "normal" and dismissed my concerns without providing a medically supported rationale. The consultation did not include adequate discussion or review of the imaging or imaging results, potential diagnoses, or an evidence-based treatment plan.
When I expressed that I was experiencing 10/10 pain and asked how I was expected to function, Dr. Hartman responded, "Well, I come to work with 10/10. I guess it depends on the person." This comment felt extremely condescending and clinically inappropriate. At no point did he assess how the pain was affecting my ability to walk, work, sleep, or perform basic daily tasks. Instead, he referenced anecdotal stories about his brother and a prior patient, which were neither relevant nor helpful.
Dr. Hartman attributed the pain solely to fibromyalgia despite the following issues:
* The pain is highly localized to my knees rather than widespread.
* It does not resemble my typical fibromyalgia pain.
* The MRI report included findings that reasonably correlate with mechanical or structural knee pain.
His refusal to acknowledge or meaningfully address these findings resulted in inadequate assessment and left me without a clear diagnosis or appropriate follow-up plan. The care provided did not meet clinical expectations and left me feeling dismissed, invalidated, and unsupported.
I have filed a formal grievance with Blue Shield and Ventura Orthopedics. read more
