Patient
As a new resident of Las Vegas with a long history of cardiac issues, I was happy when I met Dr. Jiji at my first appointment in mid September. Her concern was genuine as I presented her with many pages of cardiologists' notes and information on my HOCM experience, and all the data on my pacemakers and each of their implantation histories. She arranged for me to see Dr. Koide, the electrophysiologist, in late October. At that time I did not realize I was going to be out of town at a wedding and it would be difficult for me to make that October appointment. But trying to get in touch with the office to reschedule Dr. Kiode in October was impossible. I left messages at the appropriate extensions but didn't hear anything back until a few days before the appointment I was trying to change. I was then told that if I didn't make it to that October appointment I would most likely be waiting until December, and that wasn't going to work for me, so I made sure I could keep the October appointment, which was arranged to discuss the pacemaker issues my cardiologist at UPenn noticed at my June appointment that were distressing to me. When I met with Dr. Koide I was surprised and disappointed that he hadn't been provided with any of the documentation I had provided to Dr. Jiji two months prior, and had hoped he was ready to suggest options based on what he read. After talking with him for several minutes he appeared comfortable waiting until December 17, at which time I would be seeing both him and Dr. Jiji. Another communication snafu involved my difficulty arranging for the Echocardiogram. Each time I called to schedule it the radiology place said they hadn't gotten any information on me yet, so I was calling back and forth to see what the hold up was until ultimately I had to drive over to Dr. Jiji's office to pick up the order for the Echo, but when I went to the 4th floor to schedule the test I was sent over to Red Rock because they are the ones who are supposed to schedule the test, and until I walked in there with the order in my hand, they said they had never seen the order. Fortunately they were able to fill a cancellation the following day (today), so the Echo has been done. I appreciated the manager's phone call yesterday while I was driving home, and the apologies she expressed for all of the stress experienced over the past several weeks trying to make appointments to have my pacemaker issues addressed. I am hopeful that I can put all of this behind me, and that I made the right choice to remain with this practice.