1 /5 Katrina Swanson: My primary doctor set up an appointment for me to see this “pain doctor that was new in town”. When I arrived, I realized that this pain group had been in town for a while. Regardless, I went in. My appointment was to see Jamie Duncan, PA-C. A male doctor followed us and stood in the doorway, which I thought was a little strange. Because he didn’t come in and close the door behind him, everything he said could be heard by most, if not all, the people in the office. I had to call the office twice to find out his name because he never introduced himself. I was told his name is DR.PIRES. Jamie was very quiet even though my appointment was supposed to be with her. DR. PIRES stood in the doorway and he never asked me why I was there or what my diagnosis was. He told me that he knew ALL the pain doctors in Fresno (I had recently moved from Fresno) and then he asked me who I had seen. I told him the names of two doctors I had seen in Fresno and he didn’t know either of them. Then he told me that “I WAS DOING NOTHING BUT WASTING HIS TIME!”. Then he turned to leave continuing to talk as he walked down the hallway. I told him he was rude so he turned and came back - I was so upset by then I can’t remember what he said. In all, he only spoke for a few minutes but everything he said and how he said it was rude, showing no concern for me, the patient. I believe what he did was a HIPPA VIOLATION. I still don’t know why he stood in the doorway when my appointment was NOT with him. I left the office in tears. I thought pain specialists were supposed to see patients with chronic pain and figure out a plan that would improve our quality of life. I had heard about several patients who moved to the San Luis Obispo area because the weather is mild year round. However, they had to move back to where they came from because they could not find a pain doctor here that would continue their treatment as it had been where they lived. 1) we can’t afford to move again and 2) I can’t tolerate the Central Valley heat so I’m stuck here. They actually billed my insurance $270 for that 5 minute appointment. Very disappointed!!
