What could be more frustrating than feeling unheard or unsupported by your own doctor--especially…read morewhen you're trying to advocate for your health?
After my original primary care doctor opted out of the medical group associated with my insurance, I decided to find a new PCP. I chose Dr. Ho based on many positive reviews and was hopeful I'd receive attentive and thoughtful care. Unfortunately, that hasn't been my experience.
I scheduled my annual checkup, and the appointment was relatively easy to make--easier than with my previous doctor. During the visit, Dr. Ho took time to go over my family medical history and current concerns, spending nearly an hour explaining various medical terms. While thorough, it felt more like he was showcasing his medical knowledge rather than truly listening or showing empathy.
I mentioned a specific concern--a small lump near my uterus--and requested an ultrasound. Dr. Ho dismissed it at first, saying if there were a tumor or cyst, I would not be able to feel it clearly from my skin. Thankfully, he still agreed to send me for an ultrasound and gave me a referral to an OBGYN for further evaluation. However, things quickly went downhill from there.
The ultrasound referral had my last name spelled incorrectly. I'm still unsure whether that error came from Dr. Ho's office or the medical group. I also never received the referral letter to the OBGYN. When I called the office multiple times to follow up, the front desk staff was impatient and quick to blame the medical group for the name mix-up and the missing referral. I contacted the medical group myself--they corrected my name but told me Dr. Ho's office never submitted the OBGYN referral.
I decided to move forward with the ultrasound anyway. That's when things got even more frustrating. The ultrasound technician informed me the referral was only for an abdominal ultrasound, not a pelvic/uterine one. As a non-native English speaker, I had assumed the referral covered the area I was concerned about. Instead, I ended up with a scan of everything except what I asked for.
When I called Dr. Ho's office to clarify, the staff insisted that the abdominal ultrasound was "sufficient" and told me to speak to the OBGYN about uterine concerns--again, the referral I never got. After more back and forth, they said they'd resubmit the referral. Two weeks later, I still hadn't received anything, but I was able to get the referral number from the medical group.
When I finally tried to book an appointment with the OBGYN, their office told me the referral was only for a pap smear, not for evaluating my actual concerns.
On the same day, Dr. Ho's office called to discuss my ultrasound results. I asked again about the proper referral, and the front desk staff responded dismissively, saying it was the OBGYN's responsibility now--or that I should just come in to talk to Dr. Ho again.
At this point, I'd had enough. I shouldn't have to fight this hard for basic coordination of care. I don't feel heard, cared for, or respected--not by Dr. Ho, and certainly not by his staff. I've decided to switch primary doctors. No one should have to chase down referrals, correct clerical mistakes themselves, or beg for appropriate testing--especially when it comes to something as important as your reproductive health.
