foxxynhounds
Member
Dear Shah Associates,
The lack of professionalism and compassion displayed by your "associates" never ceases to amaze me.
Let me start by saying that NONE of this criticism is aimed at our family's pediatrician - Dr. K - whom we LOVE. She is caring, attentive and proactive. She is, perhaps, the only reason why we continue to use ANY of your "associates."
However, another one of your pediatricians - Dr. S - is at quite the opposite end of the spectrum, and her behavior is more in line with what I have come to expect from Shah Associates. Her manner of talking down to parents, lying to children to coerce them into cooperating (instead of calmly explaining a procedure to them), and, last, but not least, announcing "I'm never having kids!" to her nurse as a family leaves the building illustrates just how unfit some of your "associates" are to fill their positions.
Perhaps, though, the final straw was when we arrived at the Breton Med Urgent Care facility on Friday, 31 December, with 4yo twin daughters who had both developed double ear infections overnight. I called prior to leaving the house at 7:45, and received the answering machine message stating that the hours are 8-8 M-F, and 9-6 S & S. Nothing about holiday closures, and since the service is offered 7 days/week, it made sense to me that, if it were to be closed on a holiday, it would be closed on New Year's Day, not on New Year's Eve. So, I bundled up my miserable little girls and headed to San Souci - only to find the office closed - yet, the sign on the door stated the hours very clearly, and did not specify any holiday closures. Given that it was only 8:15 at this point, I figured that *maybe* everyone was just running late - that would be right on par for Shah Associates. However, within 20 minutes, it was apparent that no one was coming.
I left to head to St. Mary's Hospital's FastTrack ahead of the crowd that was gathering in the parking lot at Breton Med Urgent Care, and we were thrilled to get in and out in less than an hour. As we were leaving, our fellow patients from the San Souci parking lot were filing in, filling the waiting area of the Emergency Room. I apologized to the receptionist for taking up precious time with something as relatively simple as ear infections, and told her that we DID try Urgent Care first - but, despite no statement of holiday hours, they were apparently closed. She did not seem surprised - apparently the office had done the same thing on Christmas Eve.
I realize that, from the vantage point of your group of "associates," it may seem as though we are a mindless group of rednecks who are invariably benefitted by the "quality care" you provide. The very fact that the group holds a monopoly on health care in this county does not help this perception. As I have personally witnessed the varying qualities of care provided, AND experienced a startling lack of compassion - a simple inability to notify patients that an office is closed (how difficult is it to print out a sign stating "Closed for New Year's Eve AND New Year's Day and tape it to the door?) - I cannot help but wonder if we are truly better off with your services - or not. I would hope that such a large group of doctors would collaborate to truly benefit the people they serve...but, as with all groups, when they grow large enough, even the most basic customer (patient) services are often overlooked. I'm sorry to say that your group of associates has long since passed that point.
May the new year bring you a new perspective on what it means to be doctors...
Sincerely,
foxxynhounds
The lack of professionalism and compassion displayed by your "associates" never ceases to amaze me.
Let me start by saying that NONE of this criticism is aimed at our family's pediatrician - Dr. K - whom we LOVE. She is caring, attentive and proactive. She is, perhaps, the only reason why we continue to use ANY of your "associates."
However, another one of your pediatricians - Dr. S - is at quite the opposite end of the spectrum, and her behavior is more in line with what I have come to expect from Shah Associates. Her manner of talking down to parents, lying to children to coerce them into cooperating (instead of calmly explaining a procedure to them), and, last, but not least, announcing "I'm never having kids!" to her nurse as a family leaves the building illustrates just how unfit some of your "associates" are to fill their positions.
Perhaps, though, the final straw was when we arrived at the Breton Med Urgent Care facility on Friday, 31 December, with 4yo twin daughters who had both developed double ear infections overnight. I called prior to leaving the house at 7:45, and received the answering machine message stating that the hours are 8-8 M-F, and 9-6 S & S. Nothing about holiday closures, and since the service is offered 7 days/week, it made sense to me that, if it were to be closed on a holiday, it would be closed on New Year's Day, not on New Year's Eve. So, I bundled up my miserable little girls and headed to San Souci - only to find the office closed - yet, the sign on the door stated the hours very clearly, and did not specify any holiday closures. Given that it was only 8:15 at this point, I figured that *maybe* everyone was just running late - that would be right on par for Shah Associates. However, within 20 minutes, it was apparent that no one was coming.
I left to head to St. Mary's Hospital's FastTrack ahead of the crowd that was gathering in the parking lot at Breton Med Urgent Care, and we were thrilled to get in and out in less than an hour. As we were leaving, our fellow patients from the San Souci parking lot were filing in, filling the waiting area of the Emergency Room. I apologized to the receptionist for taking up precious time with something as relatively simple as ear infections, and told her that we DID try Urgent Care first - but, despite no statement of holiday hours, they were apparently closed. She did not seem surprised - apparently the office had done the same thing on Christmas Eve.
I realize that, from the vantage point of your group of "associates," it may seem as though we are a mindless group of rednecks who are invariably benefitted by the "quality care" you provide. The very fact that the group holds a monopoly on health care in this county does not help this perception. As I have personally witnessed the varying qualities of care provided, AND experienced a startling lack of compassion - a simple inability to notify patients that an office is closed (how difficult is it to print out a sign stating "Closed for New Year's Eve AND New Year's Day and tape it to the door?) - I cannot help but wonder if we are truly better off with your services - or not. I would hope that such a large group of doctors would collaborate to truly benefit the people they serve...but, as with all groups, when they grow large enough, even the most basic customer (patient) services are often overlooked. I'm sorry to say that your group of associates has long since passed that point.
May the new year bring you a new perspective on what it means to be doctors...
Sincerely,
foxxynhounds