Why, please tell me why, did I keep going back to his office????

I know I'm venting, but I believe that this needs to be said!!!  Choose your surgeon wisely!!!  If you have any apprehension about them or even their office/staff keep that in mind for you will be with this person for the rest of your life (if you don't find another surgeon later on.) Hell, I'll even be good and not state names who JUST may be using said surgeon!!!

Here is why I say this:
 
I have been dealing with Dr. P's office staff for so long now trying to have surgery.  Every time I went in they would tell me that my insurance had a new requirement (I couldn't find this on their website nor when I called them did they know anything about more new requirements) that I had to complete etc.  Crazy me kept going back.  Well, the moment I inform them (office staff) that I was "shopping elsewhere" they get pissy with me.  Then the final straw was when i went in this past Monday for a "weigh in" and the Nut was like if you'd answer your phone when we call - um hello I always call right back...my phone isn't attached to my hip and then she had the nerve to tell me "Yet you still keep coming back"  Yes that witch had the nerve to say that to me.  Needless to say I got my fat azz up and kept the manners that my momma brought me up with and politely walked the **** out of that office!!!

Now, from what I saw, yes Dr. P seems like a great doctor and surgeon, but hell his office staff leaves little to desire.  One would think that with all of the office personnel changes he's been through since I started seeing him years ago to have my surgery it would have gotten better.  Shiot, it's gone to a hell in a hen basket now.  I'm so glad that I've left knowing that if he did do my surgery and I'd have to put up with that kind of shiot post-op I would've been crazy and believe me those idiots would have been like please, not her again.  Generally I'm a well  mannered person (like my momma brought me up to be) but hell **** me off and then those generations of my relatives of  the past start to come out and believe me that no one wants to meet them in a pissed off mood. 

Good news is that of the new surgeon shopping around that I'd been doing paid off!!!!   I've found me one that I like and LIKE HIS OFFICE STAFF TOO!!!!  I was on Dr. D's waiting list and my name had finally reached the top.  Well, I got a call from Dr. D's office today and was told, Get this, "ALL, yes ALL of my insurance requirements are complete.  I just need to re do my psych eval and then HIS offices pre-op testing" - hopefully, I'll have surgery within 2 months -  if it's GODS will!!!  Looks as if this was God's plan after all for me NOT TO GO WITH DR. P. 

Again, I have nothing against Dr. P himself, but his office staff leaves a client wishing for them to have a better attitude, (hell, I'm paying their salary and they want to treat me like crap - I think NOT) needs a complete overhaul.  Think about it, a surgeon can be the best in his field/business, but have a crappy staff and their ability goes down fast!!!  They are only as good as their office staff, these are the people you'll be doing the majority of your follow-up and post op appointments with. 

So, my advice, when choosing a surgeon, take a close look at their office staff, find out the turnover rate and things like that.

BETTER YET CHOOSE WISELY - IF THEY ARE A GOOD SURGEON WITH A GOOD PRACTICE,  YOU'LL BE WITH THEM FOR LIFE AND WON'T BE LOOKING AROUND LATER FOR ANOTHER SURGEON TO DO YOUR FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. 

Yes, I did inform Dr. P @ his office personnel and of my reason for going elsewhere.  I know that this won't matter to him, (one patient won't make or break him) but at least it's now on his mind and if anyone else feels the same way and informs him about their experience he'll know that he has office issues that just may be starting to mess with his livelihood of the $$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, I'm through with my venting.  Wonder what kind of replies I'm gonna get to this????????????????

I don't blame you for changing doctors if you aren't happy with the office staff. I did the same thing two weeks before my surgery was scheduled. My original surgeon's office manager was rude and nasty, and refused to return phone calls. When I vented about it on OH, my surgeon screamed at me in his office for complaining. At that point I decided that I did NOT want that  man cutting on me! I went home and went through the list of approved surgeons, and just by luck, picked the wonderful Garth Davis (this was pre-Big Medicine and I had never heard of him.) I thank my lucky stars that I was brought to him purely by accident.

Go with your feelings! Good luck.

Good for you.  I cannot imagine the surgeon confronting you for sharing your feeling.  Dr. Davis was my second choice after Dr. Sherman.  I feel we are so fortunate to have such great surgeons and multiple options because of our great Med Center.

Good for you!
Never, never put up with rude people.
For something this serious you need to feel comfortable and secure about ALL the staff, and doctor.
I would suggest getting the name of the office manager and writing a letter about your treatment. Name names.
Too often we don't want to make waves.
I used to get walked on like a rug, and then I had enough and learned to stand up for myself.
And be a ***** if need be. It works.
If they call you a ***** just say, "That's Ms ***** to you!"
You're not going to see them ever again anyway.
I'm writing to help the newbies too.

honey, ***** is also an anagram for babe in total control of herself!!!
Meggie

What you wrote is sooooooo true! 

I attended multiple seminars when I was researching surgeons.  At one seminar those who wanted could have an immediate consult, and i met with this surgeon.  While waiting to attend my next seminar I ruled out the firs surgeon I had consulted with.  I had a lot of red flags. 

Two months after attending that particular seminar and meeting the surgeon I receive a letter from my insurance company telling me I had been denied for surgery.  WHAT???  That incompetent office actually submitted a request to my insurance company asking for approval.  Mind you all I had was a consult.  There was no psych eval, no NUT consults, no pre-testing, no six month supervised diet and nothing that my insurance plan required as a condition to approval. 

I was livid and very concerned I would be denied once I chose my surgeon and actually completed my pre-op requirements...which did not occur until 7 months later.  When I received the denial letter I immediately called my insurance company and informed them  them that doctor's office submitted that request for approval w/o my consent.  Fortunately when the time came for my  "actual" approval I did not have any problems.

I have often wondered about the after care from that surgeon.  He is probably okay, but I don't know about his staff.   I am so glad I listened to my heart and chose the surgeon I finally chose.  Do not ignore red flags or gut feelings.  It may spare you from difficult moments down the road.

I wish I could name this doctor on here w/o causing problems... is Dr. P (Dr, Pa*** in San Antonio/Austin/Corpus Christi)

Because I'll tell you this, I had scheduled w/ him and my problems started. When I consulted w/ him, I had another procedure done for acid reflux back in 2002 he all but told my husband and I that because of that other surgery it could be deadly. I mean hey way to not sugar coat it - but at the time it was something I wanted so badly, I just went along.

We scheduled the surgery but only after having to CONSTANTLY fight w/ his staff. SanJ****** was the man lady who was the MOST uneducated person I'd ever dealt with. I'd put calls in never get calls back, I would email wouldn't get emails back or get emails back w/ mispelled words. When I did talk to her she was rude, curt and practically hung up on me.

The DAY BEFORE my surgery after I had finished my magnesium citrate she called me and CANCELED my surgery. ONE I had already did that nasty drink, TWO I'm from Corpus Christi and was in SAN ANTONIO, THREE I'm originally from NEW ORLEANS and my parents had bought tickets to come out to Texas a few days later. This put a MAJOR strain on things. TO make a long story a little shorter, this didn't just happen ONCE - it happened THREE TIMES.

Each time I called they started knowing me by a first name basis and would lie to me to get me off the phone. When I did call they told me the sob story that they needed another surgeon to assist w/ Dr Pa*** and the other surgeon was sick and the other one they called declined didn't want to touch me because I was too much of a risk.

I tell you what I had never reached an all time low as that time. 

I ended up calling around to Dr's and found Dr Gonzalez (who by the way was the one the office said I was too much of a risk from) and he immediately saw me. He laughed when I told him all the problems I was having, seems it's a common thing for Dr Pa*** to have patients screwed over.

I just can't believe how RUDE these people were. After meeting w/ Dr Gonzalez I drove over to Dr Pa***'s office and DEMANDED my $$$ back because these retards took money from me about 6 weeks in ADVANCE. WTF? They gave me the run around, I insisted. And I demanded my charts from them. This doctor did NOTHING for me.

Within I'd say 3 weeks of this I had my surgery w/ Dr Gonzalez and can't recommend a better surgeon then him. He's AMAZING.

From what I found out later Dr Pa*** has caused WAY many problems and complications then I care to go into on here. But from what I can see, God does answer prayers just not the way you want them. He kept me safe from harm w/ that Doctor.

If we are talking about the same doc I congradulate you on your move... and TOTALLY understand! If you need to vent more I'm here!