JSpe
The POOR PATIENT FOLLOW UP and Interdepartmental COMMUNICATION on the part of NYPBM’s NEUROLOGY team could be dangerous, even life threatening, for outpatients. My most recent experience: I had an office visit with my neurologist on May 8th during which time my symptoms were serious enough for the doctor to send me to the hospital’s ER immediately afterwards. He also placed an order for me to subsequently follow up with an MRI and extensive lab work. The following day when I called the hospital’s Imaging Department to schedule the MRI, I was informed that they would need further information from me (which I provided) and from the doctor. Over the past month, I have repeatedly called the Imaging Department to check on the status. Each time they tell me that they will get back to me, but do not. After the first two weeks of attempting to schedule the MRI, I called the Neurology Department and left a message requesting to speak to my doctor—no response. During week three, I sent a message directly to the doctor via the online patient portal explaining the situation —no response. I called and left several voice messages (over the next 2 weeks) for the doctor’s assistant to call me—no response. Finally, I called the Neurology Department’s front desk seeking advice on how to proceed. I encountered an individual who spoke over me with a raised voice and impatient, disrespectful tone. She would not allow me to fully explain my situation so nothing came of the “conversation”. My appointment was on May 8th and as of today June 21st (over one month later) I’m still awaiting word about the MRI…and the doctor has yet to communicate with me or enter clinical notes for the office visit. That alone raises a red flag as to the adequacy of communication. This is both frustrating and frightening.