After reading the wonderful reviews on yelp about Dr. Wong, I was really looking forward to seeing her - I thought she may be "THE ONE". As the one star rating implied, this is going to be a negative review, but I want to be fair to Dr. Wong, I DO appreciate her frankness and I think she's been fair to me.
When the highly anticipated appointment day came, I was greeted by Dr. Wong's nurse who absolutely don't know how to smile. Fine with me, she's not my doctor anyway. Dr. Wong came in the room with a big smile, very nice. Then I got 4 surprises from her to say the least:
#1. Dr. Wong started our conversation by saying: "I see you have visited our medical center back in 2006. So since then you are doing well, in good health." I was completed puzzled how did she reach that conclusion before I even tell her anything about me.
#2. I told her I want to get an annual physical exam which includes a complete panel of blood tests, just like my previous primary doctors did in the past 20 years. Surprise, she said: "NO, that's not my style!...I don't think it's necessary... as matter of fact, I came from Britain, there's no such a thing as 'annual physical exam'...I can tell you, I have worked with cancer patients who have normal blood test results, I also worked with perfectly healthy patients who have abnormal test results." Basically she implied that those numbers on the test result are not so reliable in terms of diagnosis. Yet, she's 100% sure that I don't have liver issue, kidney issue etc. etc. by simply looking at my last year's blood test result. Again, she already drew the "you are healthy" conclusion without even asking me how I feel;
#3. After I told her my long list of symptoms and history of illnesses, she thought about it and said: "base on what you've said, I can not think of any diseases that matches those symptoms". I said: "I am not surprised, because ever since I was a kid, I got strange diseases that no doctor knew about". She responded: "and yet, you have grown to be an adult"(exact words). I was shocked and speechless...
#4. Here's the final shocker, she was about to start my physical exam then she paused and came back to the subject about annual blood tests. She stressed on the fact that she does not believe in these tests and she "certainly won't order the test just because I want her to"(her exact words). I told her I am not a person in good health so I closely monitor my vitamins and supplements' intake. I increased my fish oil dosage last year in the effort of increasing my HDL, similarly for my kidney etc. So I would appreciate it if she can give me the blood test even just for this once. She said, "if you insist on the test and yet I do not believe in giving it, then you and I may not be a good fit -- you better choose another doctor who's willing to give me the test..."
I never have seen a doctor in Britain, in the US however, annual physical exam and blood test is a common practice. No annual exam concept in Britain? hmmm... may be that's why they can afford the "national health plan" -- you don't need to pay to see a doctor, of course, that's if you can ever get to see a doctor -- 6 month waiting period is a common thing in there. No wonder.
The key point? nowadays, people can get tons of information online, we can train ourselves to be educated/smart patients. We know our body better than anybody else, we want to be actively involved in our health and well being. If a doctor cares about his/her own "style" more than his/her patients' health, then I would 100% agree that he/she does not fit to be my doctor!
Dr. Wong's "style"? -- don't think, don't speak just listen to me since I know what's best for you. If this the style you like, then by all means, go see her, she's great! read more
