So I began to explain how today's visit into Boston was a real fuster cluck. Here's the thing. The Saga continued. You see, at the beginning, upon learning I wasn't going to find the medical attention I needed on Cape Cod, my mother spoke with a trusted physician. Thus we received the name Tony Tannoury, an Orthopedic Specialist of The Boston Medical Center, Shapiro Building.
Obviously its been a lot of confusion, as mentioned, about whether its my neck or shoulder damaged and how. Which is why we should see a specialist. I had to give Doctor Tannoury's information to the primary Doctor on my case, and as I'm leaving the state in 5 days, was thrilled when three days ago Tannoury's office called me back to arrange an appointment.
Today, my mother with me every step of the way, I spent 60 dollars to get on a shuttle to the hospital in Boston. As mentioned, its a bit of a trek, easily an hour and a half, usually more. We knew for a single appointment for sed specialist it would cost us the day.
I walk in. I check in way early.
"You'll be seeing Dr. Nicoletta."
Doctor Nicoletta? My mother jumped to my defense, which is why I have an adultier adult along. I was just shocked and stunned, and clarified I had arranged the referral and appointment with Tannoury. I was told because Tannoury was a neck specialist, and my paperwork seemed to discuss my shoulder, so they made the appointment with Nicoletta instead.
While this is all sound thinking, they missed a very important step: discussing it with me, the patient. During the initial wait to talk to a higher up, I looked up Dr. Robert Nicoletta. His Health Grade was a whopping one out of five. If it had been higher, perhaps a three stars out of five, I might have said the hell with it.
However, obviously, it was not the case. Through assorted phone calls to patient advocacy, we had several conferences with people in the office. Eventually they said yes, I could probably see Dr. Tannoury. After about an hour they revealed actually no, the paperwork from my Workman's Comp insurance only covered a neck specialist. An hour and three or four conferences later.
I'm going to reiterated. I particularly requested Doctor Tannoury. I sent his information for the referral. I left a message saying that was who I wanted to see. I came here today, working out a way into the city, and suddenly I was told my appointment with Nicoletta instead. That was the big problem. That someone saw my file, decided I needed to see someone about my shoulder, not my neck, and neglected to tell me until I arrived. If it had been sooner, I could have called my workman's comp. If I had been notified I could have told them no, that's not who I wanted. I could have been spared time and sixty dollars. Instead, I had to come into the city, which for the record, is painful. In general I spend a lot of time on my side or laying on my back. Sitting up for too long, as I am now, is sending spasms through my back, spine, and shoulders. After I'm done typing this up, I shall of course, take one of the pain pills I hate so much.
By the time we left, learning nothing could be done for us, we had a single request. We asked they call the main doctor on my case and tell him the reason they couldn't help me was because the Workman's Comp Insurance didn't authorize a neck specialist, believing the source of the pain was my shoulder.
Thus we slipped into the hall and chilled, because we would be trapped in the city for another few hours. My mother called back Patient Advocacy after a while. And then it went from poor professionalism and customer service to horrid.
My mother was told she was inappropriate in her reactions, and had frightened the staff, so they had refused the request. Irritated, we were. Upset? Certainly. Unhappy? Definitely. Thats what happens when an unwanted surprise puts you out sixty dollars and traps you in the center of the city, away from anything and everything we could check out. Also putting me, the patient they'd neglected to notify of the change, in back spasms and pains.
All in all, the offices were completely unprofessional, lied or exaggerated about our reactions, and the service was down right rude.
So. Friends. Family. Anyone who might pass through Boston and need medical attention. I cannot say this enough. Boston has many fine medical institutions. The Shapiro Medical Center on Albany Street is not one of them. My experience has been one of neglect, deceit, and a total lack of professionalism. This isn't even beginning to delve into their lack or organization and tendency to shrug off your words as uniformed. I told them I didn't want to see Dr Nicoletta because unlike Tannoury he had not been recommended to us. The only thing I could know about him was that his patients didn't reccomend him. I told them this at least half a dozen times and they kept trying to foist him on me.
Say No to Boston Medical Center. Avoid the Shapiro Building. Or at the very least, avoid the unprofessional jerks in suite 4B in the Shapiro Building of Boston Medical Center.
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