MEDICAL PRACTICE AT ITS VERY BEST
My 19 year-old daughter was examined closely by Dr. Mark Jacobson on two occasions for a suspected elbow injury. After spending one and a half hours with us, he prescribed a MRI evaluation, after which he met with us several days later again to discuss his impressions and recommendations. It needs to be said that Patti went out of her way to ensure that my daughter could be seen almost immediately, due to mitigating circumstances. This practice is a consortium of physicians and the ladies in billing were equally gracious, flexible and patient.
The doctor was sensitive and meticulous as he attempted to quantify and isolate neurological and muscular dysfunctions in the elbow and arm. He questioned my daughter respectfully and explained what he was looking for and what he observed as he tested her range-of-motion, sensation and strength. He was, at all times, patient, gentle and insightful. His explanations were clear, concise and comprehensive.
Following the MRI, Dr. Jacobson re-examined his patient and tried to definitively establish whether there was sufficient justification for exploratory or reconstructive surgery. He concluded that he needed to establish a progression of the ailment over a period of at least six months and recommended, therefore, that my daughter respect the elbow's limitations and then follow up with him when she returned from study abroad.
The decision not to operate was both good and bad news but, in context, it seemed to be a prudent, conservative decision that would preclude the need to disfigure her arm on the presumption that surgery would necessarily facilitate improved function in the arm.
This physician exemplified the highest standards of medical and professional ethics, both in his manner and in his verbal representations of what he was and was not able to conclude from the exams and from the MRI. He was never arrogant, egocentric or absolute in his findings, because he admitted that it was difficult to understand at this juncture exactly what was causing the symptoms. He even acknowledged that he would have welcomed an opportunity, if it were possible, for his colleague to examine my daughter to corroborate his findings and/or to better understand the evident elbow instability, with a view toward ameliorating the symptoms in the most appropriate manner.
Dr. Jacobson certainly deserves high marks for his professional skill and personal manner with his patients. In my three decades working in the adjunct field of exercise physiology, I have seen no finer example of medical practice by a specialist, characterized by humility, thoroughness, sensitivity and respect for the patient. If you have a young person in the family who requires orthopedic evaluation, I would
urge you to consult with Dr. Mark Jacobson at the Alvarado Orthopedic
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