I worked hard to craft this review fairly, and here's my headline: I wouldn't return to this…read more"medical" practice if my life depended on it.
I was brand new to the Littleton area, and I needed to find a doctor. I picked Dr Szabo because the practice was quite close to my home. From the minute I set foot in the office, things were "off" for me.
I specifically made an appointment for the female Dr Szabo, but when I arrived the following week for my physical I was told she was on sabbatical and that I'd be seeing her husband. Why didn't they tell me five days earlier the doctor I wanted to see wasn't there for foreseeable future?
Because I was so new to the area, Dr Szabo knew I didn't yet have an Ob-Gyn. He let me know that he could perform my Pap smear exam. I said No, thanks. He then asked me/told me twice more that he could perform this service for me. That was a bit creepy.
I needed a prescription filled. He put my diagnosis on the prescription--a complete HIPAA violation and huge no-no in the medical field.
At that point, I was done with him, but I'd already set up a physical for another relative, who was also new to the area. This relative is more conventionally religious than I am, so they were okay with the Christian focus in the office. I told Dr Szabo that this relative of mine had an undiagnosed anxiety disorder, and could he probe that a bit and perhaps prescribe something to help decrease anxiety and improve quality of life. Instead of discussing medication, the two of them prayed about resolving the anxiety. How, exactly, did he bill Medicare that time? Because they prayed for quite awhile.
My major problem with the Christian theme in the office is that when I or a loved one goes to a medical doctor, I expect the professional to practice medicine, not to spend their time praying. I also found it arrogant in the extreme that Dr Szabo felt his prayers would work better than my relative's prayers alone, because I assure you, my relative prays every day.
Regardless, my relative was happy with Dr Szabo and refused to consider another doctor. Then they had a fall. Refused to go to the doctor for a week, hoping (and praying!) that the pain would get better. When it didn't, they went in and Dr Szabo did a physical examination and some manual testing and pronounced the diagnosis as sciatica. Sent my relative off for an x-ray, the results of which we still haven't heard (at the time of this writing, 10 days later). Prescribed two medications, one for mild to moderate pain, the other a steroidal anti-inflamatory. Pain got worse, to the point I had to call 911 a few days after the doctor's appointment. Within 45 minutes of arriving at the emergency room, we had our diagnosis, confirmed by x-ray and CT scan--broken sacrum in 3 places and broken pelvis in two places. They're looking at a multi-day stay in the hospital, followed by (probably) months of rehab in a facility.
Ummmm, that's five fractures. That's a pretty big diagnosis to miss.
Believe me, even my stubborn relative is now in agreement that we never return to Dr Szabo's practice.
Wait time can be extremely long, as in over an hour. However, when you finally do get to see him, he'll spend time with you. You don't ever feel rushed--quite the opposite, you feel very "listened to".
I want to be clear that I have no problem with him being a Christian. I do, however, have huge concerns about focusing on Christianity instead of medicine when patients go to see him.
I urge anyone reading this review to consider another doctor, one whose focus is on providing medical care, not spiritual care...particularly when it's your medical insurance that's footing the bill.
