This review is for Dr. Zachariah Patrick…read more
I brought my daughter to this stand-alone ER for respiratory distress, and our experience with Dr. Patrick was very concerning.
She was showing clear signs of increased work of breathing, including belly breathing, visible retractions, and complaints of chest and back pain with breathing. Her heart rate was 151, her respiratory rate was elevated, and her oxygen saturation was around 93%. As her parent, my biggest concern was how quickly her condition could worsen, and the possibility of her progressing into respiratory arrest. A paramedic had previously noted wheezing, yet Dr. Patrick stated her lung sounds were clear and did not appear concerned by how hard she was visibly working to breathe.
I suggested that albuterol might help open her airway, but he told me it is only used for people with asthma, and no breathing treatment was offered.
During the visit, he asked if she was up to date on her vaccines, and I answered no. After that, his tone noticeably changed, and the interaction no longer felt objective or supportive.
When I explained that I would prefer for her to be seen by my clinical professor, who specializes in pediatrics as a nurse practitioner, he responded by saying there was "no such thing" as a nurse practitioner specializing in anything." At that point, I made the decision to leave.
As I was walking out with my daughter, he made a comment in the hallway, in front of staff, saying "maybe you should vaccinate your kids." That was unprofessional, inappropriate, and completely unnecessary.
As a nursing student, I have been taught that medical professionals should leave personal biases outside of the patient's room and remain aware of their own biases when providing care. In this situation, that standard was not met. Instead, it felt like my child's care was influenced by judgment, and the comment about vaccines was thrown in my face rather than handled professionally.
I spend a significant amount of time in clinical settings shadowing nurses and have seen a range of bedside manners. Unfortunately, this was the worst bedside manner I have personally experienced.
Parents bring their children to the ER expecting professionalism, compassion, and objective care. I left feeling that my daughter's respiratory distress was minimized and that the overall interaction lacked the level of care any patient deserves.
I would not recommend this provider based on my experience with him. That said, this review does not reflect the practice as a whole. The nurse, paramedics, and Debbie who helped me were all amazing, and I truly appreciated the kindness and professionalism they showed during a very stressful situation.