Dr Tridico was recommended by a child behavioral therapist my husband & I had consulted with for one of our children. After further consultation with our Pediatrician, a written referral was sent over by our Pediatrician to Dr Tridico's office, expressing a rather pressing issue as we were having to take our child off of medication and facing quite a tumultuous time.
After the referral was sent, we didn't hear anything. My husband & I both called numerous times, leaving messages under their "new patient" menu option's voicemail. The referral coordinator at our Pediatrician's office left NUMEROUS messages following up on the referral - no response. After six messages, plus several additional calls where she was left on hold with no return to the line, she sent a fax asking for a status on the referral they had sent weeks prior. Nothing.
Today, I called again, selecting the regular appointment menu option (as if an established patient), and reached a live person. They couldn't assist, but transferred me to "Julie" who handles new patient appointments. In explaining the back-story to Julie, she told me that our child was "not accepted" as a patient. I asked her if she could help me understand why that would be, are they not accepting new patients? She said they were, and that despite saying she doesn't know why a Dr refuses a particular patient, she asked me a series of background questions about my child. In the end, she surmised that it was because my child is under the age of 11 and since they're only doing tele-heatlh visits currently (due to COVID), they won't see a child under age 11 as a new patient. Really? This is the reason that my child, who very much needs managed care from a Psychiatrist in conjunction with her Pediatrician, wouldn't take her on as a patient?
But OK, I'll try to give the benefit of the doubt. Thought perhaps it is because they want a child to be able to talk to them freely without the aid of a parent, and most young children wouldn't be able to navigate a tele-health visit unassisted. OK, BOD given even though I think it's preposterous that they would DENY care to a patient in need. Especially for reasons as shallow and unethical as believing that apparently NO care is better than the care they could get having a parent help them connect to a tele-health visit?
Whatever - back to square 1-minus-1000 (as every day without proper care, our child's health deteriorates). So I simply passed along feedback to "Julie" saying that it would really be a good practice for them to proactively share this information. They could put it on their website, in the recorded voicemail greetings (which we reached NUMEROUS times), or even as a quick response back to the referring doctor's office as soon as they see it's a young child that doesn't meet their "standards" for who they want to be their golden-patients. Whatever method, it is unprofessional and inconsiderate for families to be left waiting WEEKS AND WEEKS thinking a referral / appointment is materializing, when in reality, absolutely NO progress is being made. Julie told me "we do not reply to patients whom are not accepted". So, then they're intentionally leaving these people "hanging", waiting for a return call that never happens?!? I told her I'd be sure to let folks know that in the review I'd be posting so folks could at least be fore-warned. To which she scoffed and hung up the phone on me. So - as promised, here's their glowing review.
In closing, I know it's a bad season right now for mental health - believe me, I know. But in difficult times most ethical professionals whom are committed to their chosen line of work, would be doing everything within their power to bridge the gap and help their "customers". It's what I do as a professional in my industry, and it's what I see other professionals doing time and time again. Believe me, I take absolutely NO pleasure in leaving this review - but there are TWO psychiatry practices in the Upstate I suggest you steer clear of, and THIS IS ONE OF THEM! read more
