Shocked they have a good reputation across the state. My care was borderline negligent and expensive and unpleasant. I'm 39 and a white woman in case that contextualizes any of this. I started at OrthoCarolina's urgent care for back pain such that I could barely walk -they didn't do any imaging and gave me an oral steroid. My copay for urgent care is high. Mid April. 2 weeks later I went to the Spine clinic because urgent care is only after hours and I was still in severe pain. I had to lay down in the waiting room. Dr did an X-ray and had to get approval for an MRI from insurance. 3 days later and I'm getting the MRI in the parking lot at a mobile unit. I then have to wait 10 days to meet with the doctor for the results-I drive there in rush hour traffic which is extremely painful. She then says she'll order the cortisone shotsuu. Not clear why they couldn't be ordered before this appointment given the time. I'm supposed to get a call for scheduling. Days later I call and leave 2 messages before I get a call to schedule the shots. The shots happened 5/29. The doctor administering the shots microaggressed me WHILE shoving the needle in my back (surprised I had a degree, that I taught above an undergraduate level, asked if I had anxiety because I reacted to the pain of the needle, told me to breathe to 'calm down' because I was lightly groaning and breathing deeply but quickly). All the while the 2 men and woman in the room are wearing black lead apron outfits that look like riot gear (like the photo-they come in so many other colors) which is slightly triggering. I walked out and cried from the emotion of it (and also because of the physical response). The clinical practice manager has failed to return my messages. They send patient satisfaction surveys but don't return my request in them to speak to someone about my experience. I didn't experience worsened health necessarily because of their delays. I just would've recovered faster. I'm a parent - laying down in pain for 6 weeks is really hard to do with a 7 year old. I had numerous expensive specialist copays that should have been condensed IF they were patient focused.
May 2023
This is true of Orthocarolina as a whole. I came in today with pain and left feeling like my pain was unworthy of attention. Dr S asked why I was seeing him when his assistant Mr L had seen me. I chose to tell him that Mr L had blown me off, not giving me any info --- after a hip specialist had told me to consult a spine doc. I talked about the effect of the pain on my sleep. He next impassioned moment: asking me why I sleep on my right when it causes pain? ( with a tone suggesting "how dumb can you be?"). Of course I just roll over while asleep and awaken in oain. This marks the end of my 8-10 year journey with orthocarolina marked by doctors throwing each other under the bus, minimizing my discomfort.
Apr 2022
Ah good old OrthoCaronina, aka the only game in town. Here we are again. What to do about my hip issue and the lower back? Sign up for more shots, some concoction of steroids and lidocaine, that didn't work the first time? Without a clear diagnosis, evidently, nor a clear explanation of whether these magic shots are supposed to hit the muscle, nerves or joints. I will say that the junior MD who I talked to, on the phone, after the initial shot gave me excruciating headaches, was a lovely fellow. He is the only reason for two stars as opposed to one being given in response to yet another disappointing experience with OrthoCarolina. The latest recommendation is another MRI on my hips (they didn't get those with an MRI for the whole area?) "Our MRI people will call within 48 hours! Don't call them!!!!" It's been almost 3 weeks. Not exactly focused on service or medical needs, these folks, Now on hold AGAIN, 30+ minutes, trying to sort this out. While on hold, I'll waste my time filling out more reviews of OrthoCarolina, how about? Lastly, if the OrthoCarolina doctors don't know what a biological woman is anymore, insisting that we fill out our gender information on their MyChart, it's impossible to have much faith in them. Do they imagine themselves a mental health facility now? I hope not. That's not why people go to orthopedic doctors and medical professions, as far as I know.
Shocked they have a good reputation across the state. My care was borderline negligent and expensive and unpleasant. I'm 39 and a white woman in case that contextualizes any of this. I started at OrthoCarolina's urgent care for back pain such that I could barely walk -they didn't do any imaging and gave me an oral steroid. My copay for urgent care is high. Mid April. 2 weeks later I went to the Spine clinic because urgent care is only after hours and I was still in severe pain. I had to lay down in the waiting room. Dr did an X-ray and had to get approval for an MRI from insurance. 3 days later and I'm getting the MRI in the parking lot at a mobile unit. I then have to wait 10 days to meet with the doctor for the results-I drive there in rush hour traffic which is extremely painful. She then says she'll order the cortisone shotsuu. Not clear why they couldn't be ordered before this appointment given the time. I'm supposed to get a call for scheduling. Days later I call and leave 2 messages before I get a call to schedule the shots. The shots happened 5/29. The doctor administering the shots microaggressed me WHILE shoving the needle in my back (surprised I had a degree, that I taught above an undergraduate level, asked if I had anxiety because I reacted to the pain of the needle, told me to breathe to 'calm down' because I was lightly groaning and breathing deeply but quickly). All the while the 2 men and woman in the room are wearing black lead apron outfits that look like riot gear (like the photo-they come in so many other colors) which is slightly triggering. I walked out and cried from the emotion of it (and also because of the physical response). The clinical practice manager has failed to return my messages. They send patient satisfaction surveys but don't return my request in them to speak to someone about my experience. I didn't experience worsened health necessarily because of their delays. I just would've recovered faster. I'm a parent - laying down in pain for 6 weeks is really hard to do with a 7 year old. I had numerous expensive specialist copays that should have been condensed IF they were patient focused.
This is true of Orthocarolina as a whole. I came in today with pain and left feeling like my pain was unworthy of attention. Dr S asked why I was seeing him when his assistant Mr L had seen me. I chose to tell him that Mr L had blown me off, not giving me any info --- after a hip specialist had told me to consult a spine doc. I talked about the effect of the pain on my sleep. He next impassioned moment: asking me why I sleep on my right when it causes pain? ( with a tone suggesting "how dumb can you be?"). Of course I just roll over while asleep and awaken in oain. This marks the end of my 8-10 year journey with orthocarolina marked by doctors throwing each other under the bus, minimizing my discomfort.
Ah good old OrthoCaronina, aka the only game in town. Here we are again. What to do about my hip issue and the lower back? Sign up for more shots, some concoction of steroids and lidocaine, that didn't work the first time? Without a clear diagnosis, evidently, nor a clear explanation of whether these magic shots are supposed to hit the muscle, nerves or joints. I will say that the junior MD who I talked to, on the phone, after the initial shot gave me excruciating headaches, was a lovely fellow. He is the only reason for two stars as opposed to one being given in response to yet another disappointing experience with OrthoCarolina. The latest recommendation is another MRI on my hips (they didn't get those with an MRI for the whole area?) "Our MRI people will call within 48 hours! Don't call them!!!!" It's been almost 3 weeks. Not exactly focused on service or medical needs, these folks, Now on hold AGAIN, 30+ minutes, trying to sort this out. While on hold, I'll waste my time filling out more reviews of OrthoCarolina, how about? Lastly, if the OrthoCarolina doctors don't know what a biological woman is anymore, insisting that we fill out our gender information on their MyChart, it's impossible to have much faith in them. Do they imagine themselves a mental health facility now? I hope not. That's not why people go to orthopedic doctors and medical professions, as far as I know.