I am sharing this experience to encourage greater clinical accountability and operational attentiveness in pain management practice.
On 2/19/26, I attended a scheduled appointment Integrated Pain Solutions-Summit Spine, for chronic back pain with right-sided neuropathic symptoms, in addition to new pain involving the hip, groin, and left leg. I was not informed at scheduling that the visit would be conducted via telehealth. Upon arrival, I waited approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in the lobby and an additional 35 minutes for the provider, identified here as Ms. Shivers to sign onto the visit. The clinical interaction lasted roughly 15 minutes.
During the encounter, Ms. Shivers indicated that a request would be sent to another physician for medication management whom I had never been evaluated by for pain management. Delegating medication decisions to a physician who has not examined the patient, without explanation, raises concerns regarding clinical oversight, continuity of care, and accountability.
As of six days post-appointment, there was no documented follow-up regarding medication adjustments or submission of the MRI referral discussed for evaluation of new and potentially progressive symptoms. Office staff were reportedly unable to locate documentation of the visit when contacted today.
Pain management involving new radiating or neurological symptoms requires structured follow-up, timely diagnostic imaging, and clearly defined physician responsibility. Delayed imaging and medication oversight are not administrative inconveniences, they represent potential patient safety risks.
To patients: advocate for documentation, timelines, and clarity regarding who is directly responsible for your care.
To providers and administrators: timely communication, transparent physician involvement, and proper documentation are foundational standards, not optional enhancements. Operational inefficiency and fragmented oversight erode patient trust and may compromise safety. If the medical field is not a genuine concern regarding patients CARE, PLEASE FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO!!! read more
