I was referred to Dr Gillespie by my PCP for treatment of a double inguinal hernia caused by blunt-force trauma to my abdomen. Scheduling my appointments was very easy. Allowances were made for the distance that we had to travel from home, and the scheduling staff offered to keep me updated by phone and text in the event of cancellations prior to my scheduled surgery.
There were no delays at any stage of the procedure. We were asked to arrive 20 minutes early, which we did, and I was called within 5 minutes of my arrival.
Everyone with whom I had any interactions, from the receptionist to the intake nurse to Dr Gillespie and his assistant and their intern, treated me as if I were the Most Important Patient of the Day. At no time did I feel rushed or ignored.
In my first consultation with Dr Gillespie, he determined very quickly that I was not ready for surgery. I was still in considerable pain from the initial trauma suffered about two weeks prior, so he prescribed a six-week waiting period and an inflammation reduction regimen. Although I was initially disappointed, he quickly assured me that he was interested only in delivering the best outcome for my specific condition, all things considered, and my desire to "hurry up and get this over with" was not one of his priorities. I left convinced and enthusiastically determined to follow his guidance.
Everyone with whom I had any interactions throughout the procedure presented themselves in a thoroughly professional manner, as one would expect in a hospital setting. They were all dressed appropriately, identified themselves or each other to me, and showed respect for my privacy, especially during some of the more embarrassing moments of the pre- and post-op examinations.
While I've been exceptionally lucky, not having had that much experience with hospitals and surgeries, I found it very interesting that Dr Gillespie had meaningful, real-time discussions between himself, his PA and the accompanying intern while we were all together there in the examination room. I felt a bit like a back-row auditor at med school as they discussed between themselves my case, his diagnosis, and the actual surgical procedures that he was recommending. Way better than Chicago Med!
The procedure itself - robotic-assisted laparoscopic hernia repair - went perfectly, I'm told, and I've just completed Week Four of recovery. While I remain grudgingly committed to "doing nothing" for six weeks, I am virtually pain-free and haven't taken any opioids or analgesics at all, not even Tylenol, for the last five days. I am forever grateful that Dr Gillespie delayed surgery for six weeks, allowing the pain and inflammation from the initial trauma that caused the hernia to subside, otherwise I would have been recovering from both the injury and the surgery at the same time. read more
