My patience with Associated internists has finally been stretched too far. Dr Mouakel is an excellent doctor with a warm and caring manner and never rushes me. He is very careful to listen to complaints and extremely thorough in ensuring he fully understands what has brought me in to see him. The problem for me being Dr. Mouakel's patient is getting a follow up appointment as this generally takes 3 to 4 weeks advance planning. When you receive lab results clearly you want to see the Doctor sooner than three or four weeks after the results especially if there are several abnormal results. it's not acceptable to have to worry and wait for nearly a month before seeing the doctor again. I would be quite happy to receive a phone call from Dr. Mouakel to discuss my results but that does not seem to be an option. I don't think that is a lot to ask. Clearly an excellent doctor has a lot of patients that want to make appointments to see him. I am sure like me many other patients are concerned when they have to wait so long for a follow up appointment. Instead of a prompt follow up visit with Dr Mouakel. Most recently in my case I have to have continuous repeat tests with no explanation of the results. When you are feeling unwell and have to make repeated visits to the office for lab tests it is very inconvenient. One quick phone call from the doctor would put my mind at rest especially when I look at a print out with seven abnormal results on the page.
Dr Moaikel's medical assistant keeps repeating to me that I must continue to have labs. She is like a broken record keep having your labs ask no questions. As the mother of the Pediatric Cardiologist I know that this is simply unacceptable medical treatment.
You cannot keep testing and testing a patient and getting give out abnormal results without giving reasonable explanation of the results and seeing a patient promptly to put their mind at rest.
In this particular example I had 3 abnormal results for a blood test taken on Monday last week. The test was repeated on Friday and looking at the print out now shows 7 abnormal results. I am due for another test today Wednesday and will probably have to wait around in the office feeling dreadful as I am so I am going prepared. Today is June 1 st and despite the abnormalities in my labs the first available appointment I have been offered with Dr Mouakel is June 22. I kid you not!
My daughter is Pediatric Cardiologist working in a top London hospital and is concerned because this condition has been ongoing for at least a week and possibly much longer I've been feeling unwell for several months.
Dr. Mouakel's very rude new M/A is indicating that despite the latest result showing 7 abnormal readings I should just continue to come on in and continue getting my blood tested . My daughter tells me that in England no patient would be left at home alone with such results and even where though UK national health service it is so strapped for funding I would've been hospitalized and certainly not left to deal with such a condition alone with no proper advice other than drink less fluid!
As I mentioned previously my complaint is not with Dr Moaikel he's an excellent doctor I would be quite happy to have a phone conversation with him discussing the abnormal results I'm getting. This is not the first time this is happened but it's the first time I've chosen to review it and warn people about this practice and sort of treatment they will be likely to receive.
I have gritted my teeth and kept silent for 7 years.
The reception stuff are rude ,sarcastic and spend most of their time chatting amongst themselves NOT answering the phones as many other reviewers have pointed out. If you phone the office you can expect to be on hold for a minimum of 10 minutes and frequently I am on hold for 30 to 40 minutes before I get through to a person.
The new phone system repeatedly plays a loop saying ' your expected hold time will be 3 minutes or 5 minutes 'over and over and over again but it is always about 25 to 40minutes and saying 2 to 5 is very annoying to hear repeatedly as it sets a false expectation. Once you finally get through to the receptionist if you tell them you do not want the MAs voicemail and you want to speak to her in person you then get put on hold put on hold again for possibly another 30 minutes and eventually seething with frustration you just give up and hang up and drive to the office whether it's the Gilbert or Ahwatukee.
All of this frustration means by the time you get to the office you will no doubt have elevated blood pressure when the M/A takes your blood pressure, I can almost, guarantee it.
If you do chose to leave voice mail through the phone system and request a medical assistant you always go through to voicemail and even after leaving 3 to 4 messages you will almost never received a return follow up call from that medical assistant. There is extremely rapid turnover of medical assista