Prospective Patients,
I am writing this to share my…read moreunfortunate situation that occurred with my scheduled operation (elbow). First, allow me to say that I have been a patient of DR J. Cantrell for probably over 15 years without issue. I have a situation with my left elbow that requires surgery, and because tendon repair is probable, a lengthy recovery. Over the past months, since October of 2014, we have been steady watching the situation and timing the surgery. I'm an airline pilot and timing is everything when dealing with a surgery that affects my ability to fly, and obviously make money. Additionally, the FAA's flight surgeons and company medical department must also be involved. A lot of logistics to be done to get things in line, long term leave, etc.
The surgery was scheduled for today 7 May 2015, insurance, company and FAA matters were all taken care of. On Tuesday morning 28 April, 8:30am, I called the clinic and ask about the date of my surgery. I had forgotten whether it was the 7th or 8th. The operator handed me off to the doctor's administrative assistant. It went to voicemail. I left a message with my name, date of birth, call back number, and my question. Two days goes by with no response. Now it's Thursday, I call back. Same thing happens, handed off to Denise's voicemail. I left a similar message but mentioned my message on Tuesday morning. Thursday afternoon comes, now I'm frustrated and call again. They hand me off to the administrator. She apologizes and goes directly to my records. Within a few minutes I had the information I needed. I ask "How hard was that" she says it wasn't. I said will you see that somebody gets counseled for this? She assured me they would.
Next day, the pre-op visit went well with the doctor and final notifications with my chief pilot and payroll were made. Everything was going as well as possible.
Two days before surgery I get a call with the details of the out-of-pocket expense, per their research. Professional and appreciated as always. That evening after normal work hours, 6:30 PM I get a call from a "Restricted" number. "Restricted" numbers are usually used by attorneys, police, DA's, coroners, etc., or someone trying to do something illegal. Note: the call was not "Private", nor "Unknown", but "Restricted". Thinking this better be good, and bracing for the worst, I answered the call. Now, I'm a retired Marine; I don't care much for solicitors' craziness, or disrespect. A female voice spoke "I need to speak to [name]". I responded, "Who the hell is this?" She says "Is this [name]?" To which I reply, "I'm going to ask you once more, who the hell is this?" The woman reluctantly said, "This is [administrative assistant] from the Orthopedic Associates, is this [name]?" I reply, "Wow, why are you calling from a restricted number? After hours?!" I went on to say, "My mother taught me to always introduce yourself THEN ask for whomever you want to speak to!" She said, "I don't need a lecture on phone etiquette from you." I said, "I'm thinking you do, and how hard would it have been to say "Hello, my name is Denise from Dr. J. Cantrell's office, my I speak to whoever....)?" She explained she was calling from her cell phone. I shared with her this only reinforces my lack of confidence in her work. A few business questions were asked and answered nothing that couldn't be handled during business hours the next day. The conversation went downhill from there and we hung up. I still have no idea what the call was about. Maybe upset that I complained about her the previous week to the administrator.
Next day at 2:30pm, about 18hrs before the surgery I get a call from the office Administrator Sherrill ... "Mr. [name] I have some bad news regarding your surgery. Because you were upset with Denise for calling you on a restricted line last night and shared your lack of trust and confidence in his administrative staff, the doctor refuses to do the surgery." I was baffled. I complained and they canceled my surgery. After all of the months spent planning the logistics, they cancel my surgery due to a complaint about one person on their team (an administrative assistant, no less). Inexplicable.