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| - I was sent here recently because the CORE office I normally go to was booked up. The waiting area is huge, although not as big as the one on Union Hills (thank God). The atmosphere is chaotic and loud, and hard to hear when your name is called. The receptionists seemed pretty friendly, albeit overwhelmed.
Inside, past the waiting room, is a myriad of halls, which can be confusing (I had to go give a urine sample and got lost).
The service is just the same. The techs seem awkward. It's very impersonal. Jocelyn, who called a day or two beforehand to notify me of my appointment, was completely lackluster and was obviously perturbed that she had to make the call.
I believe my doctor most certainly has a sense of disdain for AHCCCS (Medicaid) patients. He brings it up regularly, and has absolutely no regard or empathy for my pain. I told him I threw up for a day and a half because the pain was so bad, and he looked unimpressed, maybe even irritated. Then he asked me if I was sure my insurance approved Zofran ODT.
To quote Brian Regan, "I'm no DOCTOR, BUT--" it seems to me that the right reaction to the fact that I have regular bouts of nausea and vomiting due to pain would be a modicum of empathy. I understand that as a physician, it's important to maintain professionalism, but on the other hand, relating with the patient is vital, too. I don't understand why this level of pain is acceptable. I have been going to the CORE Institute for nearly a year, and my health has become grievously worse. It's very likely that it was going to decline, but the failsafes like pain management should be helping more than they are.
I keep hearing that I should change from the Core's McPain Management to somewhere else, but I'm wondering if they're all this impersonal, unfeeling, and slow going for relief. I'm going through all the pills, all the procedures, doing everything it takes, and I'm being offered more options to try alleviate my misery by my rheumatologist than I ever have here. I am going to stick with it for now and hope that I will get the help I need. We'll see.
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