Quote:
Originally Posted by dddave
To fill in the facts that “golfing eagle” wants so that his “million” comments can be reduced to one – “dddave is right”:
First, Dr Gillikin did say an MRI was necessary, and yes, she said it was needed for her to diagnosis my situation. However, she never gave me a reason for it. Second, she never told me where to get it or when. Fourth, she never told me how to treat it in the interim, Fifth, she never told me physical restrictions, if any, that would be needed in the interim. Sixth, these questions were popping around in my mind, and she never gave me a chance to ask them. Finally, and most important – if, as you say, Osteomyelitis or Cellulitis are so very dangerous, why did she think it was okay to wait two weeks to see her again?
As for Ocala Infectious Diseases, Dr Schwartz arranged an appointment for me the next morning. Dr Haris Lambe was my treating doctor. He spent over half an hour questioning me on in the chronology and symptom changes. He concluded as you had said – cellulitis or osteomyelitis, with differentiation come as a result of an MRI. He immediately arranged for one that afternoon. When I arrived the next morning, the radiologist had already read the results, informed Dr Lambe, of a diagnose of cellulitis, and the10 day regiment was started.
By any standards, I challenge anyone to say that Dr Gillikin’s competence was anywhere near that of OID.
PS:” Staff attitude and bedside manner aside…?” Unfortunately, that is the mantra of too many physicians today, of which I assume, “golfing eagles” is one. I would remind everyone who has taken the Hippocratic Oath of the following sentence within that oath:
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
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Well, first the good news: Dr. Lambe obtained the correct imaging procedure, started the correct treatment, and your leg will be getting better. I can tell from the tone of your post that you are already getting better. When I saw the abbreviated original post, my main concern was that Ocala ID may have just "shotgunned" your infection without excluding osteomyelitis, which would be a big mistake. When I referred to "staff attitude and bedside manner aside", I certainly was not condoning your encounter at Dr. Gillikin's office, IF that was what actually occurred, but simply putting your immediate medical problem at the top of the list.
Now, the bad news: dddave is neither right nor wrong, dddave is angry. Your 7 point rebuttal (which was actually 6 points since you skipped from second to fourth) acknowledges Dr. Gillikin's correct decision to get an MRI, then give 4 examples of poor communication. Your last point, however, is extremely valid. I'm sure Dr. Scwartz had the same question I did when I read the OP----why would anyone continue a treatment failure for another 2 weeks? It is likely she would have changed treatment when she got the MRI report, but that is speculation. I would have arranged for the second opinion as well. I probably would have called Dr. Gillikin and stated something like: Mr. Dddave is here and his leg looks pretty bad--do you think it warrants a change in treatment to IV while waiting for the MRI?" I'm pretty sure that would have occurred. Since you seemed to have an extraordinary zeal to go to anyone else "south of the north pole", Dr. Schwartz may have felt that phone call would be a waste of time. By the way, as far as where and when for the MRI, they arrange imaging procedures in TV differently than I did up north---they call the imaging center who in turn call you later that day to arrange a time and location---which you would have known had you seen through your anger to ask.
Next, don't EVER throw the Hippocratic Oath in my face. Even though I'm retired, it is hanging on the wall not 4 feet from this computer. It is right between my diploma from "Voo-doo Univ." and my state license to practice "voo-doo"
Finally, there's you statement regarding "incompetence", both concerning Dr. Gillikin and apparently many more local physicians. I really should invite you to our monthly meeting of "Voo-doo Univ." alumni. We discuss how to practice incompetent medicine, how to be rude to patients, and how to run a lousy office. But not for all patients, JUST for you. Read Inexes post. Looks like your opinion isn't shared by hundreds of her other patients. If you really want to know the truth about a doctor, ask the nurses---they know. As far as other local physicians go, the are two that are actively practicing in TV that I've worked with for 30 years. They are MY doctors--yes, I went out of my way to seek incompetent doctors for my own health care. Frankly, and pardon my bluntness, you do not have the education or experience to judge whether a physician is "incompetent" I know you THINK you do, but you don't.
Sorry for the harsh post, but when someone throws the word "incompetent" around, the need to be reeled back into reality.