I am a 58-year-old really mild-mannered retiree who rarely complains and even more rarely writes a…read morenegative review. But I want to provide a public service here so what happened to me does not happen to you.
I had an ear infection and made an appointment with Dr. Ariel Grobman. I was seen 40 minutes late but I'm a happy guy, and retired, so no big deal.
The doc was in a rush as I tried to ask a questions and bolted out really quick after turning back and saying "don't ever use Q-tips!" - I could hear him say "goodbye" as soon as he stepped out - but I gathered I was his last patient and it was now about an hour over so I understood even if the feeling of being rushed and questions unanswered is not ideal.
He diagnosed a fungal ear infection and told me he was prescribing drops, told his assistant to fill it, and rushed out. So, I then go to the pharmacy and they tell me Blue Cross won't fill the prescription as the doctor accidentally prescribed the lotion form of the antibiotic and not the ear drops version (the difference is they have different long latin suffixes). I call Blue Cross and they explain that there are two forms of the antibiotic, drops and lotion, and repeat that the doctor accidentally prescribed the lotion, it's not covered, and the doctor should be able to correct it. I called the doc's office and leave a message for his assistant.
I go on the interwebs and they confirmed there are two forms, drops and lotions, drops are for ear infections, lotions are for jock itch (external infections). I called back the assistant seven hours later with a detailed message.
All this time the infection was getting worse. Excruciating pain has now extended to my head, jaw, and all the teeth on the left side of my head. I call on Wednesday (again, the appointment was Monday) and leave yet another voicemail. Finally, later Wednesday, I call again but direct myself to "appointments" and explain all this. I was put on hold and then disconnected. I called back and was ultimately directed to the assistant.
I explain this to him and he says there is no such thing as ear drops for this medicine (the ear drops are "Clotrimzaole" and the lotion is "Clotrimazole - Betamethasone" in case you want to check - the doc prescribed the latter though the directions are for the former ("insert drops ..."). I explain that Blue Cross and the phrarmacist and the doctor's prescription directions and the list of drugs and uses on WebMD say otherwise. I also ask how I am to get a lotion into my inner ear. He then asked me whether it was powder and how thick it was so that maybe I can get it in a dropper (I am neither kidding nor lying). I ask to speak to the doctor and he says the doctor is busy and repeats that maybe I should try a dropper. I, increasingly frustrated, point out that he claimed it doesn't exist, he doesn't know if it is powder nor lotion, that that insurance and the pharmacist said it was a mistake, that it's not liquid, that I don't have it because the mistaken medicine is not covered, and I am simply trying to get the mistake corrected. He then said "maybe you should try a Q-tip."
I admit I raised my voice in asking to talk to the doctor. But I did not swear, nor insult him. I am not that type.
Doctor Grobman then did in fact come to the phone - it was too quick for him to be given any of these facts - and simply said "you don't ever talk to my assistant with disrespect." I got through "I don't know how to get the medicine in my ear ..." before he cut me off with a "use a dropper! Good day!" and hung up.
Mistakes happen. I get that. That's why it's important to return calls, to train assistants not to cover their errors by making up facts about the existence of medicines, and not to blather about using fingers and q-tips to administer alleged eat medicine, and for the doctor to make sure he understands the problems first hand instead of listening to his employee's self-serving summary of any conflict.
Each word is the truth. I could have embellished. I did not.
Stay far, far, away.