A family friend of mine, an older gentleman has had Lazer Eye Surgery. I have been assisting him with his care by administering his drops, and taking him to his appointments. On the 6th of Nov. he had his surgery. A post appt. the day after, and appointment for Nov. 19, today in which the forms we received after surgery stated it was beside the surgery center, which was wrong (mistakes happen), but if we would have been notified by call, or text days prior from Dr. Atkinson's Office we would have known exactly where his appointment was going to be, after all my number is on file to call, but again mistakes happen. We called the office after we found out the correct information, mind you we were early to the wrong appointment, so we are on our way there just in case he can be seen still. The office continuously put us on hold. I'm guessing consulting with Dr. Atkinson. Eventually the office tells us if we can get here in 6 to 7mins at a 2 o'clock appt they'll reschedule, and see him. I called at 1:36. Mind you they where consistent about tomorrow, but my child has an appt tomorrow, and the receptionist kept expressing I don't think y'all will make it at 2 O'clock. Why tell us there's availability at two if your booked up? The locations are 10 to 15 minutes apart. Can be 15 depending on traffic. (Traffic was not bad). I express we could make it to the two o'clock appt. It was 1:36 at the time I called. We made it in 7mins. Even though a short time was placed on us at 1:36 for 2 o'clock. The importance of the appt is because we need to know how his eye is doing, and the continuation of the drops are not. We have had instructions only for two weeks, and we where at the mark for 2 weeks, and at this time we needed the appointment to know how his eye is doing, and if we continue drops or not. My family friend asked me to come in because he's older and he doesn't understand some of the medical terms, and he feels they rush through giving him information.
Dr. Atkinson comes in reading through the post surgery documents, and asks him if he wants him to set him another appointment for surgery for his other eye? 😲 His right eye we are still taking care of, and his left is not that bad in which he expressed through the documents from his prior appts, but we had already known this prior from his examinations through his surgery team appointments before surgery. Dr. Atkinson doesn't even look in his eye to check to see how he's healing, or doing. He instantly tells us how long he needs to continue using the drops! Only because I brought it to his attention as well. He gives me the form of how long he wants him to use them, and as I'm looking I ask don't we need to check his eyes first? He snatches the paper out of my hand! I expressed to him not to snatch anything out of my hand anymore. He continues on to tell me why he needs the drops! I already know why he needs them. I let him continue without interruption, as he ends his comments. I proceed to ask again wouldn't you want to look in his eye to see how it's doing? As I'm speaking he cuts me off, so I express to him I am someone who is helping him, and I want the best for him, can't we converse? I have listened to you can you listen to me about our concerns? Instead of doing so he proceeds to over talk instead of listening with integrity, compassion, and concern, for his patient, and someone who is helping him. I feel like his interpersonal skills went out the window solely because I asked wouldn't we need to check his eye first to see how they're doing? That's part of the procedure that he did not execute before he proceeded to extend the medication. The surgeon, and his staff did not mind questions, to make sure I took care of him properly, nor did his post surgery doctor, but then again I didn't have to ask them should they check his eyes first either. Why did he mind questions?🤔 After all Dr. Atkinson's supposed to be part of his care team. I wasn't acting as a physician, but merely a concerned friend when he overlooked one of the most important parts of this appointment.
