snippets of my letter to my orthopedic surgeon

Names are removed.

~~~~~~~~

Dear Dr. SuperDoc,

I want you to know that I'm seeing a different doctor this Monday, a Dr. XX XX in Washington.

I can no longer put up with the horrible way The Sorry Practice You Work In treats its patients.

Please don't misunderstand me. I have no problems whatsoever with your treatment of me over the last four years. . . .

The entire problem is with the way both the Waldorf and DC offices are run. Is it The Sorry Practice's policy to double-, triple-, even quadruple-book every 15-minute segment of time? . . . More often it's closer to an hour before my name is called. . . . I'm sure from what you've heard from other patients that I'm not exaggerating.

Moreover, attempts to reach you by telephone message or fax have never once resulted in my hearing back from you. I cannot believe that this is because you ignore your messages. And twice I sent you a message through www.mdhub.com -- which, I remember you telling me, was a service you were not even aware your practice used. . . .

Further, I have been having a devil of a time getting my most recent ankle films for this appointment w/ XX. . . .

Finally, I must tell you something that surprises me. In looking over The Sorry Practice's web site today, I see that you are the only person of color who practices there. I have long known you are the only woman in the practice, and that's disturbed me. It is very hard to find a female orthopedic surgeon, and you, Dr. SuperDoc, are golden. I was thrilled when I found you, but I can't abide The Sorry Practice's office practices anymore. I hate leaving your care. I will follow you anywhere; if you leave The Sorry Practice, please let me know.

~snip~

And my insurance is not an HMO, it's a PPO. God help the poor souls who have to use HMOs, let alone those with no insurance. It is a luxury that I can write this letter of complaint and go to a new doc at will.

I hope she appreciates the way that it was meant.

The snippets are very good, btw.

I will be shocked if I get any response at all from anyone but SuperDoc.