I debated whether or not I'd had a sufficient enough contact to warrant a review, but in reviewing…read moreYelp's Terms it's apparent that attempts to pursue service are actually sufficient if you actually encountered the business. Because I did, in fact, encounter the administrative support staff at Franciscan Physician Network - Beech Grove Family Medicine I've opted to go ahead and document what will be a shorter than usual review for me.
This particular family medicine clinic is located in Beech Grove and includes two physicians, Victoria Katona, DO, and Patrick Enright, MD. They also have a nurse practitioner who is available to see patients.
After the recent closure of the clinic housing my primary care provider, I've been pursuing a new place to receive primary care. I've long been intrigued by the Franciscan Health Network and several of my friends have been happy with their care through Franciscan. Unfortunately, I'm not really in the best neighborhood to access Franciscan. My options are pretty much limited to Irvington or Carmel - I'm sort of in between the two.
However, I do work downtown and spend a fair amount of time close to Beech Grove. While it's definitely out of the way, after some considerable thought I expanded my search to include areas a bit south of Indy. This search led me to find Victoria Katona's listing. She's relatively new to the Franciscan Network, but she's located in the Beech Grove area and that seemed reasonable.
As the website doesn't offer a way to request via web or e-mail, I contacted the office by telephone shortly before a few days off of work. While I'd hoped to schedule an appointment during my time off, I realized that was unlikely.
I called and left a voice mail. Later in the afternoon, I received a returned call. I explained that I was seeking a primary care provider and inquired as to whether or not Dr. Katona was accepting new patients. After being assured she was, quite literally the next words out of the employee's mouth were "I just have to tell you that Dr. Katona doesn't prescribe pain medications." She said something else in addition to that, but I was so surprised by the statement and what felt like an accusatory tone that I blocked it out.
I hadn't mentioned pain. In fact, I'd given zero indicators of my health issues. What it felt like to me was "You must be a drug seeker. You won't get them here."
As someone who seldom takes more than anything but ibuprofen despite having had over 50 surgeries and being born with spina bifida, I found this abrupt introduction stunningly offensive. It was short, abrupt, and groundless. While it may be important to share that a physician doesn't prescribe pain medications, to make that part of the opening statement is inappropriate, unprofessional, and inexcusable.
There are ways it could have been addressed with basic interviewing skills. "What kind of issue are you seeking to have treated?" or, even more benignly, "Can you tell me a little bit about you so that I can make sure you're a good fit with Dr. Katona?" This would have opened the door to honest conversation and, if needed, revelation regarding pain meds. Instead, the office staff sounded rude and insensitive to someone who is merely seeking primary care and who, in fact, specifically inquired with Dr. Katona because of her knowledge in plant-based nutrition.
I tried to continue, but was then informed that there were no openings until September - while this is understandable for specialists and not unheard of, I'm always a bit baffled when someone says "accepting new patients" but gives you time to die first.
In the end, I opted to not schedule the appointment as I had hoped. My hope was that after a few minutes of thought that my feelings about the administrative support staff would subside and I would feel better about it. Alas, I don't. Because I dealt with staff rather than the actual physician, I am writing the review for the practice rather than the individual physician. Dr. Katona may be a wonderful physician, but if this is the kind of people supporting her you can count me out.
