I chose Dr. Gaskill to become my new primary care physician as it was time for my annual physical and I was looking for a different perspective from my last doctor.
It turned out to be the absolutely the worst experience I have ever had with a physician, and I am not saying that lightly.
I actually had several warnings. Her office insisted on an initial visit prior to the visit for my physical. While there in the waiting room, a patient stormed out while loudly complaining about his visit being a waste of time. Never heard that in a professional's office before. Regardless, she had bibles in her waiting room and the Fish on the radio, so I continued to fill out the voluminous paperwork and eventually met with Dr. Gaskill.
Her demeanor, while not outright hostile, was far from pleasant. She never smiled once, and was simply detached. At this point my senses were on alert, but I pressed on. I answered her questions in preparation for my physical. I wasn't quite sure at the time why this "appointment" was necessary, suffice it to say that my insurance was billed. I will leave it at that.
A week later I returned for my actual physical. The lady at the front desk insisted I fill out the paperwork again, even after I pointed out that I had just done it the prior week and nothing had changed. Office policy she said. I filled out yet another set of voluminous paperwork.
Finally I go back to a room. This may be a common practice, even though I have never experienced it, but my exam was done entirely by a young lady who apparently was her assistant. Sure, blood pressure, temperature and blood drawing can be done by anyone, but I would think that attending medical school and years of residency would make one imminently more qualified to decipher the sounds of my heart, lungs and arteries, and to know whether or not my prostate is indeed in good shape. It is kind of like if you drive a beat up car, it doesn't matter who changes the oil. If you drive a McLaren, you might be a little more discerning. Personally, this is the only body and life that I have, and it's a McLaren to me.
I was told verbally and by various postings in the patient room that the labs would take 3 weeks to get back, which naturally is about 2 weeks overstated, but whatever.
Not surprisingly, I didn't receive a call letting me know my test results were back. After the prescribed 3 weeks I called her office to see, and yes, surprise surprise they had come back. Good thing I called. Having already invested 2 trips to the process, I scheduled yet another visit to go over the results.
Naturally another batch of paperwork was shoved my way, and this time I told them that nothing had changed, and reminded them I was simply in to go over my labs. I was then charged a $25 copay, even though I do not have to pay that with my insurance (to be fair, they claim that they are sending me a refund check).
I was sent back to a patient room to wait on the doctor. Her demeanor hadn't changed. She came in, unsmiling, barely glancing my way or acknowledging me, and proceeded to read my lab results. This looks good, this looks bad, you need a statin.
She then suggested I purchase a OTC supplement from her office for my seasonal pollen allergies. I declined. She asked where I bought my vitamins, and when I told her Amazon, she said that I needed to be careful as the packages are often tampered with. Hmm. OK. I am guessing that the ones they sell there are the untampered (and much more expensive) versions.
I mentioned that in the interim between my many visits I had had some additional testing done, well outside of the scope of what she had done and at no small expense, that might influence her view on said statin. I asked if it it would be helpful for her to see or to have it for my file. Nope, she didn't order it, she didn't care. When I dared question why knowing more about my situation wouldn't be helpful, she went on to complain about how insurance was sticking it to her and voicing her opinion that she could convert to a concierge model, she abruptly stood up and walked to the door, obviously finished with me.
And that, as they say, was that. Fair warning! read more
