When I read that the doctor is in no hurry to get the patient in and out I was surprised. I did patiently wait for one hour and 35 minutes, while I watched people who came in after me called to the back before me. My second appointment here staff were knocking at the door three times, one right after the other, each time saying sort of frantically, "We need you," to the Nurse Practitioner, until finally she had to leave the room. My actual time with the Nurse Practitioner was only five minutes--I timed it. When I arrived, I said "she," and the receptionist said, "he," indicating, I thought that I would see a doctor. Actually, at my first appointment, I was surprised that I was not told that I would not see the doctor. But the Nurse Practioner was very nice, although not knowledgeable enough to answer my questions. Still, she spent more time with me on the first visit, but, again, an interruption came with a knock on the door at the first visit too. The NP didn't say anything, so I said, "Someone was knocking at the door." They had knocked and left. She said, "They need me," and left. Since the first person couldn't draw the blood--bruised on the hand for days thereafter--a nurse came. I told her the same thing, that my veins are small and they move, so I was told a long time ago that a small butterfly has to be used, and please don't fish. She had the small buttefly I asked for before, and drew blood without a problem. The first girl that tried to draw the blood was nice, don't get me wrong. But, she recognized that she shouldn't try again, saying she was going to get someone else when I said again she needed to use a small butterfly. I do get referrals from the practice, but I wondered what was written on the referral to the podiatrist, since the podiatrist I saw was confused about why I was there. But I still don't have a podiatry consult because the NP said, "Physical Therapy," "Podiatrist," then "Orthopaedics, and they can send you to physical therapy." I said I needed Physical Medicine but that is for the spine, but I really need a podiatrist to evaluate the braces and my gait. Anyway, I don't have either. They did give me essential referrals for internal organs, and I guess that is what counts in the end. But I am thinking about leaving this practice and changing to another primary care doctor because I don't get any face time with a doctor, and my medical questions are not answered. I do have to say the NP is a very nice person. But there is a practice I know that has the doctor spend an hour for the first visit to not only get all your information, but get your medical evaluation and questions. I have to say that it is also hard to sit on my rollator that long--very painful--waiting, and the chairs are not tall enough to sit on the chairs. They just seem way too busy to actually help me with all my medical needs. Oh, and the door is so heavy, I keep trying to pull it--painful-knock and knock out there for awhile--finally a patient opens the door, but my spine hurts from pulling and pulling on that heavy door. Then there's the ramp--very far from the parking lot--to go up.
by KB
xxx.xxx.170.47
March 17, 2017