Patients fly to Cleveland Clinic from all over the world-bypassing many centers of excellence. Why is that? MD Magazine visited the renowned Ohio hospital and got some answers.
WELL, Currently let me just talk about one of the worse ordeals I am experiencing at Cleveland Clinic Weston. Example. Cardiology. I had to ask to change from one doctor to another because the first doctor I was with, neglected to have me perform a very much needed blood test, months later I remind him of it and he just simply said " Oh yeah, but thats no problem, let me send the order for you to go ahead to the lab"! as if nothing, knowing I have a history of high cholesterol. Turns out, my cholesterol has high. I ask him to please explain to me the results and he neglects to explain the clogged arteries. Moving forward I start with another cardiologist who by the way, starts out a bit hasteful. I figured it was a bit of retaliation but, I was too concerned with my health to bother. This doctor prescribes atorvestatin, gives me migraines, I communicate this, after explaining I suffer from migraines ( although not sure why, I see the neurologist for migraines at Cleveland and it is in the system!) he changes my medication to pravastatin. I tried really hard to make this work so despite the headaches, I continue to take this medication until I tolerate it a bit better. I start to have chest pain about a month later, I communicate this to this cardiologist. I asked if I can have a blood test to check my cholesterarol, I am worried. He said no, lets wait a while longer. a month later I ask again ( not that he would remember and call me to give me the order NO!!!! I called and asked again.) He said ok, I do the blood test and the cholesterol is double high. The nurse calls me, gives me the terrible news, tells me he is prescribing repatha but I MUST pick it up at the pharmacy at Cleveland. I drive all the way there and I am told, NO, I need to pick this up at Walgreens. so at this point, the nurse needs to resend to Walgreens. I call Walgreens. they say, this medication needs prior authorisation. I call Cleveland, takes me two weeks to get through because no one picks up the phone or puts me on hold and never do they pick up again. Just the worse customer service I have ever had to deal with!!!!! Finally, the assistant. I explain, she says she will send for authorisation. YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD KNOW THIS AND NOT MAKE ME GO THROUGH ALL THIS AGGRAVATION. TWO WKS LATER, I HAD TO CALL CLEVELAND TO ASK AND FOLLOW UP BECAUSE YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD CALL ME, NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Insurance denied it So then, she tells me. The doctor is out sick, I dont know when he will be returning. If you would like I can make an appointment for you with the nurse practitioner. I tell her no, I dont want to see a nurse practitioner. I have high cholesterol, a block artery that the doctor is having trouble resolving, why would I want to see a nurse!!! So she finds a doctor to refer me to, I call to make an appointment, they do not accept my insurance. NICE!!!!!!!!!!! its been days and I am still trying to get her back on the phone to let her know. I mean, the point of this all IS, IS CLEVELAND CLINIC WESTON JUST GOING TO LET ME SIT HERE, WITH HIGH CHOLESTEROL, A BLOCKED ARTERY, CHEST PAIN, SHORTNESS OF BREATH ( i suffer from sleep apnea) ALL THE MAKINGS FOR A HEART ATTACK specially at my age AND THIS CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS SIMPLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME???????????????????? WHAT HAPPENED TO PATIENT ADVOCACY, CLEVELAND CLINIC BEING THE BEST!!!!! ITS ALL BULL SHIT !!!! AND WORSE, I PLACED THE WELL-BEING OF MY HEALTH IN YOUR HANDS AND THIS IS HOW I AM TREATED!!!!! TRULY DISGUSTING.
