Dr. Gardner gets a very large portion of his business because he is recommended by a local union…read morefor workers comp injuries. That is how I was referred to him.
My experience with Dr. Gardner was never pleasant, it was acceptable. He always came across as pompous and arrogant, but it was not impacting my care so it was just something I dealt with.
However, that changed when he gave me wrong medical advice that if I had followed, I would have been severely negatively impacted.
I was being seen by him for a work-related knee injury. After weeks of "required" physical therapy, I got an MRI on my knee which indicated a meniscus tear. When my worker's comp insurance company received notice of the tear and required surgery, they issued a partial denial of my claim, stating that my knee sprain was work related, but the tear was not.
Upon receipt of this partial denial, I retained an attorney.
During my next visit with Dr. Gardner, I informed him of the partial denial and that I gotten an attorney. At this point he became angry and began to belittle, berate, and bully me.
Dr. Gardner: "Who told you to get an attorney, did I tell you to do that!". "You have just messed everything up".
He was talking to me like I was a child.
Dr. Gardner: "I can close your case right now and you can get the surgery under your medical insurance. Do you want me to do that?"
I said no.
Dr. Gardner: More bullying which I do not recall, then "I will text Dr. XXXX right now to see if he will do the surgery under your medical insurance". He then texted Dr. XXX. More bulling and ranting, then Dr. XXX replied.
Dr. Gardner: "Dr. XXX says he will do the surgery under your medical insurance; I can close your case right now so he can do so""
I said no. More ranting and bullying including repeating some of the above statements. I continued to say no and eventually the appointment was concluded.
The 1st issue is everything that Dr. Gardner said was wrong and if I had succumbed to his belittling and bullying, I would have been screwed. As an editorial comment, if you are going to belittle and bully someone, you should at a minimum be correct in what are belittling and bullying them about!
After the appointment, I immediately contacted my medical insurance company. During the conversation they informed me that since it was a partial denial of my worker's comp claim, they would NOT cover the surgery on my knee and added that "no medical insurance company will pay a claim on your knee for the next five years". This was done through an assistant and can be independently verified.
With the help of my attorney and my surgeon, I was able to reverse the partial denial and get the surgery approved by my workers comp insurance company.
The 2nd issue is Dr. Gardner's refusal to take responsibility and accountability for the misinformation giving to me and the potential severe consequences of doing so.
During my next appointment with Dr. Gardner; which I was not seen until an hour and fifteen minutes after my scheduled time, Dr. Gardner opened my file and saw that the surgery had now been approved. He did a brief examination, and then began to lecture me regarding me inquiring with the front desk staff regarding the delay in being seen. I stated "You were over an hour late and I simply asked why and said that my time is just as valuable as yours".
I then said "however, since you want to lecture me, if you are going to belittle someone, talk to them like they are a child and bully them, you should know what you are talking about. You were trying to get me to close my case stating that I could get the surgery through my medical insurance. I checked with my insurance company and because it was a partial denial the surgery on my knee would not be covered under my medical insurance. If I had done what you were trying to bully me into doing, I would have been screwed."
Dr. Gardner: "That is not correct, others had done it", said in a belligerent tone walking towards me in an aggressive manner, now standing in my face.
I said "I am not going to debate with you about this, I am telling you what my medical insurance company told me. You owe me an apology."
Dr. Gardner, then begins yelling and then says "Sounds like you want to find another Dr."
I said, "No what I want is an apology."
At this point Dr. Gardner walks out the office to the front desk and says "Mr. XXX has decided he no longer wants to be treated here."
I said "I did not say that, if you are going to report something, state that you are no longer willing to treat me."
Dr. Gardner, walked away.
A few weeks later I received a letter stating that he was no longer willing to treat me.
Everybody makes mistakes. It is how we respond when we do that speaks to who we are as a person and as a professional. Dr. Gardner, emboldened by his union recommendation obviously feels that he is getting so many patients, that he can treat them anyway he wants to.