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I would not qualify this as bedside manners, as that is usually during the recuperation phase. What you are describing is the Office practice on scheduling and accessing in a timely manner.
I would suggest seeking a practice that meets you at each phase in this healing process. From attentive service, remedies, and testings.
Ditto.
Bad bedside manner is gruffness, rudeness, nonresponsive to chit chat, etc.
What you are describing is the office practice.
I don't care about bedside manner too much (gruffness, etc.). I care about correct diagnosis and treatment, and receiving complete and thorough information, as well as reasonable or standard cost.
I've been to orthos. Your experience has not been mine. I got in quickly, they diagnosed quickly (though usually were wrong...once you are a certain age and are female, orthos will typically relate anything you have to being age or gender related...if I were a 30 yr old male with the same symptom, they would relate it to injury).
So I try not to go to orthos, anymore. I can get a tendon issue in a wrist, or a mild shoulder injury. But I don't go to orthos any more for that. I treat it myself. Because I know what the ortho will say. "Well, at your age, and with arthritis, it's your arthritis flaring up" or "It's frozen shoulder" (what older women can get). The answer is....no, it's not my arthritis, no it's not frozen shoulder. I popped something in my shoulder while hammering to muscle giveout, and I did something to my wrist related to breaking my fighting dogs apart or related to using my laptop for 10 hrs a day for several months.
So no more orthos for me. But while I like personable doctors, it's not necessary. I care about good diagnosis and treatment.
If I were you, I'd change orthos. He's not the only game in town. If what you have is a standard issue, many orthos can treat it.
You have to keep in mind, many of these very intelligent/skilled people are also terrible at other things, like managing their practice. Personally, I think this, "he/she is the best" stuff is overrated. Sometimes the perception is just a matter of everyone saying and repeating the same thing without any actual expertise. Groupthink. If there are others that can do the surgery, use them, IMHO. How good a result you have often depends more on how good you do the therapy after. I have a friend that smashed his hand in an accident and it was pretty mangled, lost a finger etc. They told him he was done as a mechanic. But he worked and worked that hand and it functions pretty well today.
Consider that before we had these miracle working doctors, people got many of the same injuries we do today, but with therapy, got back to functioning to some degree.
Personally, I'd find another doctor that can do the surgery.
This has not happened to me. I've had multiple serious surgeries and all have had the bedside manner expected as you meet multiple times with these doctors...you choose them. I have had to cut 2 of these specialist lose due to rudeness upon meeting. That means, I don't get the attitude when preparing to go into the surgery suite.
I'm not allowing any egotistical big head to work on me thinking he's the best and can make no mistakes. It all comes around.
There are many docs out there; you have a choice. If you keep the rude ones; that's on you.
My husband just had surgery earlier this year by a doctor with HORRIBLE bedside manner, I almost got in an argument with him for his rudeness.
I know the feeling. During my final visit with the ortho that screwed up my knee, I already hated him with the sort of lasting loathing normally reserved for the arrogance of authority. Then, in the middle of the consult (which was tense but civil), his cell phone rang. He said he had to take it, and did so. It was one of his buddies with whom he was going skiing, calling to advise of his progress.
A part of me wishes that I'd just belted him in the face and taken the consequences.
I know the feeling. During my final visit with the ortho that screwed up my knee, I already hated him with the sort of lasting loathing normally reserved for the arrogance of authority. Then, in the middle of the consult (which was tense but civil), his cell phone rang. He said he had to take it, and did so. It was one of his buddies with whom he was going skiing, calling to advise of his progress.
A part of me wishes that I'd just belted him in the face and taken the consequences.
Gee, someone who admits a screwed up knee, I'm guessing a surgery.
I ended up with a botched/screwed up hip replacement and a surgeon from "H**L" with the so called bedside manner. But he does good work, but does MESS UP...I can attest to that one.
As you are aware, Shoulder is extremely complicated and very specialized. You don't want a General Orthopedic surgeon doing it if you can avoid it (and you can). There are dozens of shoulder and elbow specialists in Houston. The two biggest (and arguably, best) Ortho groups in Houston are those affiliated with Methodist or Fondren Orthopedic Group. Maybe Texas Orthopedic Hospital as well. If your provider is not at one of those, check them out. If he is at one, go see someone at the other.
Most Ortho practices are sub specialists now. It is not at all unusual to see one surgeon first, who then refers you to another surgeon. My husband does Ortho Foot and Ankle in Houston. If he was on call, and someone came into the ER with a really complicated shoulder (or Hand, or whatever) issue, he will refer it to one of his partners. Sometimes that means multiple visits, but the goal is to get the patient the best possible care with the most qualified surgeons.
As far as the timeframe you are dealing with, I'm not sure you'll see much improvement by changing providers. The surgery you need is considered elective and appointment times for scheduling cases, or even imaging, is usually in the "weeks" range, not days, not to mention that since most providers work in large groups and share space and staff, they only do clinic or cases on certain days and times. I do agree with coschristi's suggestion about bringing it to the doctor's attention in the event that there are some office management issues.
you probably know more than most of us about Ortho groups, but I will differ with what you are saying slightly: my experience and that of my friend and family: when we have needed to see an orthopedic doctor who is part of a large practice we have been screened ahead of time to make sure we see the doctor that can best serve us. We have never been given the run around.
you probably know more than most of us about Ortho groups, but I will differ with what you are saying slightly: my experience and that of my friend and family: when we have needed to see an orthopedic doctor who is part of a large practice we have been screened ahead of time to make sure we see the doctor that can best serve us. We have never been given the run around.
You raise good points and I agree. If you call a practice and describe the problem adequately, you should absolutely be referred to the correct specialist. If not, there are some practice management issues that probably need to be addressed. I guess I was describing a scenario where someone comes in through the ER, or if someone calls up and asks specifically to see Dr. X, and isn't screened properly. Or, perhaps if physicians are routinely cherry picking patients from their partners and not referring them when they should (which is a whole other can of worms).
You raise good points and I agree. If you call a practice and describe the problem adequately, you should absolutely be referred to the correct specialist. If not, there are some practice management issues that probably need to be addressed. I guess I was describing a scenario where someone comes in through the ER, or if someone calls up and asks specifically to see Dr. X, and isn't screened properly. Or, perhaps if physicians are routinely cherry picking patients from their partners and not referring them when they should (which is a whole other can of worms).
It is a whole different story and I can see how someone may end up with a specialist that can not help them other than make another referral.
Don't do it, surgery always makes it worse. Look into body work and movement, put the body in the right place to heal itself.
I know the surgeon told you that you needed it, and if you go to a psychiatrist you should have your head examined.
Sometimes surgery is the only thing that works. When I broke my leg, it was never going to heal without surgery. It was painful for years after the surgery and sometimes it still hurts, but I can walk, and without surgery I would not have walked again.
Some times "they" opt to do no surgery. A friend who is 89 and lives with a mess from hip replacement too, fell in her apt and broke her shoulder. Considering her age etc she is a strong woman. But the doctors opted to do no surgery, she just called me the yesterday and finally home after 3 MONTHS in rehab homes. This poor woman has had more falls since hip surgery and more setbacks as a result.
Yes, a surgery is often needed and I"m working as hard as I can to keep my knee intact.
Humpty Dumpty
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