I have a doctor who has cancelled last minute on me 9 times in the last year. Problem is for the most part he is really good, and it took me years of going through about a dozen doctors to find someone who could finally help me with my spinal canal stenosis and intercostal neuralgia.
I’ve been seeing him for a year now and most of these cancellations have been in the past few months. There was a time when he cancelled 3 weeks in a row. It’s always day of or day before. He cancelled last week morning of and then yesterday 50 minutes before our scheduled appointment by text while I was driving there.
The excuses range from being sick, kinking his neck and having a headache, it being too hot outside which makes it too hot in the office/gym because the ventilation sucks, family emergency (which I later learned was his dog being sick), forgetting that he had to give a speech later that day at a college (that was a morning of cancellation that happened last week)
I commute over 1.5 hours roundtrip out of my way each Wednesday to see this guy and he charges a fortune. Doesn’t use insurance and I have to pay in full for a 12, 16 or 20 session package, which comes out to about $300/hour, but he gets results when no one else seems to be able to.
Yesterday I got pushed over the edge as I was driving up to my appointment. I was about halfway there and happened to pick up my phone to change the music and noticed a text he had sent about 10 minutes after I left (it was now about 30 minutes into my trip). It read “hope you haven’t left yet, my wife slipped and fell at work and hurt herself. I just got the call.”
I was furious, as this last minute cancellation thing had just been compiling and I feel my injury is just getting prolonged without treatment. I responded “What? You’re kidding me. I’m almost there I’m not going to see a text message while I’m driving”. In my mind if something like that happens and he knows there’s a good chance I’m on my way already, in the time it takes to type out that text, he could just as easily give me a 10 second phone call cancelling. He responded “I get your frustration. We’re also talking about my wife…”
If this was an isolated incident I would think nothing of it. But this is mixed with the fact that last week when he cancelled the morning of, he told me that he would send some exercises that I can do on my own to help. But I knew he wouldn’t, and he never did. He’s made promises like this in the past, and when several days go by with nothing sent, I’ve tried asking for them again and his typical response is something like “yes I will when I get a free second”.
Is this common because I’ve never been treated like this before by a doctor? Did I get irrationally upset? My first thought was there’s a good chance he’s just making this excuse up, but even if he isn’t, why the hell not just call? I want to drop this guy and go somewhere else but I’m worried it could take years to find someone else who is able to help.
NTA
Drop him like a hot potato.
It might be awhile before you find another doctor to help you, but this one already isn’t helping, so why waste your time with him when you could be looking for an alternative?
Nta.
“Yes, this time was your wife. Last time was your dog. Then it was a speech, and it was too hot, and you had a headache and a belly ache. “
NTA
There should be some compensation to you for your trouble. Not getting the treatment you need is the problem.
Instead of waiting til your next scheduled visit, which may or may not happen, I would send an email outlining your frustration. Not just the short notice cancellation or your travel time, but the unprofessionalism and lack of necessary care. I would do this as a preface to ask for a referral to another qualified doctor in the same field. One who’s dependable and hopefully takes your insurance.
Is this doctor close to retirement? It sounds like he just doesn’t want to work.
NTA. Thats wildly unprofessional in any industry. I wouldn’t drop him yet though, since the sessions he Doesn’t cancel are helping. I would just start looking for and trying out other options and when you find one thats not useless Then I would drop him.
NTA Seems like he gets your up front payment for the course of treatment then can’t be bothered seeing you as he’s already been paid.
How far do you want to push it?
You can always complain to your state’s medical board.
NTA. I’d honestly be concerned that something bigger is going on with him, health wise, mental health wise, or something else. Do you want your spine in the literal hands of someone you can’t trust?
I believe your doctor has something serious going on in his life. Any chance he could be a druggie? A drunk?
He seems really really flaky anyway you look at it, and I simply would not put up with that behavior at all from a professional.
NTA as someone who works as an office scheduler for a spinal orthopedic surgeons office, this is common. Now our drs are rescheduling due to emergency surgeries, or they are sick, or have to cover hospital rounds. But I have had to reschedule patients 3 and 4 times for the same appt and they are understandably pissed. One of our drs is an asshole and will see spots open in the afternoon and just say he’s done for the day and to reschedule everyone else. And he is also one to have us reschedule patients he doesnt like. Your frustration is valid regardless of if his excuse is legitimate or not.
I’ve worked with doctors for decades and I’ve never experienced anything close to this.
He does not like to come into work.
Where do you live where the Dr just texts you himself like this?
This does not sound normal at all
Is this man a medical dr or some kind of holistic healer?
It sounds more like a chiropractor to me instead of a medical doctor. The two conditions op listed clued me in. If he’s representing himself as a medical doctor that’s a whole other problem because they are not the same and operate differently.
that was my read as well
No medical doctor has ever texted me in his life
I’ve never gotten a direct call from a doctor ever. Even the times I spoke to one on the phone someone else connected us first
Sounds to me like OP just needs to find a new chiro because the one he likes is a flake
Not taking insurance says quack to me. Even chiropractors (quacks) take insurance. Probably holistic, functional, or integrative. (Quack quack quack!)