★★★★★
I saw Dr Pautz first in the emergency room concerned about pressure on my chest. A thorough check found me needing to check into the hospital and scheduled for open heart surgery. After two surgeries I was back with Dr Pautz and he took great care to see that I healed. His concern for my well being impressed me and his good nurtured approach puts you at ease. He practices what he preaches by being very athletic ( loves to climb mountains ). If your in need of a a good cardiac physician I give him 5 stars.
★
Dr. Pautz was one of the worst physicians I have ever visited.
I called a cardiologist I had seen previously to make an appointment since I was having some chest pains and had just had an abnormal EKG. He was on a long vacation, so I was referred to Dr. Pautz if I wanted to see someone quickly.
Dr. Pautz took one look at me and pronounced my issue to be my gallbladder He refused to look at or answer questions about my abnormal EKG. This was before performing any tests, examining me, or asking me any questions. He then started asking me questions and performing an exam. I answered all his questions with a truthful no, and he got mad at me for contradicting him. After about 11 or 12 questions all answered with no, he very testily said, well, it's still your gall bladder. He referred me to get an ultrasound. He ended by saying the office would call me with the results. When talking to his staff, they also said they would call me with the results.
Besides his horrible bedside manner, bad attitude, jumping to conclusions and gruff demeanor, Dr. Pautz would not look me in the eye - it actually looked like he was staring at my breasts for most of the time.
While I was getting the ultrasound, the technician kept asking me with a puzzled expression and demeanor - "the doctor said it was your gallbladder?" They kept doing the test for a very long time, moving me to more convoluted positions in an attempt to get every possible angle.
After waiting quite a few days and not getting any call with the results, I called Dr. Pautz's office and they would not tell me anything about the test results. They insisted I needed to come in to see the doctor to get any information.
I
decided to call my original cardiologist since I really did not trust or like Dr. Pautz. The nurse from the original cardiologist's office called me back very promptly and gave me the results of my tests over the phone - absolutely nothing in the tests indicated any problem with my gallbladder. They expressed some surprise that the technician took 55 minutes performing the tests, saying it was much longer than they usually see a test taking. My only conclusion is that they kept trying to prove Dr. Pautz correct in his diagnosis, but there was no way to do that since his diagnosis was totally incorrect.
I then had an appointment with the original cardiologist, who thoroughly and happily went over the abnormal EKG (which Dr. Pautz had refused to do). The original cardiologist then listened carefully to my description of symptoms, asked pertinent questions, listened carefully to my answers and referred me to a gastroenterologist because the symptoms sounded like an esophageal problem.
I have since seen a gastroenterologist and had the appropriate tests and they determined the issue is definitely esophageal related, diagnosing a Schatzki Ring, a hiatal hernia, erosive gastritis, and GERD. I am now getting appropriate treatment for these actual issues.
No thanks to Dr. Pautz, though, who was thoroughly wrong in his hair-trigger assessment and did not listen to any facts. Dr. Pautz's hubris, rudeness and irresponsibility caused many more weeks of discomfort, not being able to eat and extreme fatigue. I would recommend that anyone needing medical attention avoid Dr. Pautz.
