Are 2007 Duke Orthopedic Residency program doctors "bad"?
Posted Jun 06 2009 11:19pm
I have dealt with many doctors and surgeons at Duke University Hospital. As I have mentioned, beware of Hospitalists. I frankly have never encountered a Hospitalist at Duke University Hospital that would even communicate with (much less follow the recommendations of) my dad's current treating Duke Clinic doctors.
Duke University Hospital's hospitalists' apparent turf war has caused physical and medical damage to my dad.
Now apparently we need to be careful about the Duke Orthopedic Residency program "doctors." My and my mom's recent encounter with the (IMHO) unpleasant, arrogant and rude Dr. Brian Mata was traumatizing to my elderly mom. She was horrified that Dr. Brian Mata would not even clarify the orders with the responsible surgeon, Dr. Mark E. Easley. More than horrified, my elderly mom was frightened for her husband's safety and well-being at the hands of Dr. Brian Mata.
Then I recall the resident that cared for my dad during the 3-week DUH hospitalization. Dr. Mark Easley was again the responsible physician. Dr. Easley ordered a UA because dad was prone to infections after being cathed. Dr. Bret Peterson knew Dr. Easley's order. And Dr. Bret Peterson ignored Dr. Easley's order. What kind of resident does that?
Dr. Bret Peterson called me on the phone and told me that it did not matter what Dr. Easley ordered. What? You are the resident, Dr. Bret Peterson. Are you suggesting by your actions that you know more than Dr. Mark E. Easley?
Dr. Bret Peterson told me that he was a DUH hospitalist and his job was to save money. Therefore, explained Dr. Bret Peterson, there would be no UA but only a urine dip stick test (which was apparently negative).
I took dad to his non-Duke urologist immediately after he left DUH. Dad had a raging UTI that indeed showed negative on the urine dip stick test.
Older men with prostate problems often show a negative dip stick test. But (1) Dr. Bret Peterson should have complied with the attending doctor's order and (2) Dr. Bret Peterson apparently does not have a working knowledge of the dangers of complications of UTIs in elderly men. Or perhaps Dr. Bret Peterson just does not care.
If you are fortunate enough to have Dr. Nunley or Dr. Mark Easley perform orthopedic surgery on you at Duke, (1) Demand that the surgery be performed at the ambulatory surgery center
(2) Be wary if Nunley or Easley pass you off to Dr. Brian Mata or Dr. Bret Peterson. Maybe 2007 was just an off year for the Duke Orthopedic Residency Program.
I could care less how technically skilled a medical student is - the best indicator that a doctor will be "bad" is arrogance and an unwillingness to communicate with the patient's family. A big red light for Dr. Nunley and Dr. Easley is that two of their residents (Dr. Brian Mata and Dr. Bret Peterson) act without regards to Dr. Easley's direct orders.
If Dr. Brian Mata or Dr. Bret Peterson speak with the patient's family and there seems to be a discrepancy between what the family believes Dr. Easley wants and what the resident believes Dr. Easley wants . . . the resident should be concerned foremost with the patient and less with his ego. The resident should contact Dr. Easley and ask.
Doctors with egos are dangerous. Just plain dangerous. And if the ego is out of control at the residency level then God help any patients who get in Dr. Brian Mata or Dr. Bret Peterson's way.
(sorry, you may have to cut and paste the following)
Duke University Hospital's hospitalists' apparent turf war has caused physical and medical damage to my dad.
Now apparently we need to be careful about the Duke Orthopedic Residency program "doctors." My and my mom's recent encounter with the (IMHO) unpleasant, arrogant and rude Dr. Brian Mata was traumatizing to my elderly mom. She was horrified that Dr. Brian Mata would not even clarify the orders with the responsible surgeon, Dr. Mark E. Easley. More than horrified, my elderly mom was frightened for her husband's safety and well-being at the hands of Dr. Brian Mata.
Then I recall the resident that cared for my dad during the 3-week DUH hospitalization. Dr. Mark Easley was again the responsible physician. Dr. Easley ordered a UA because dad was prone to infections after being cathed. Dr. Bret Peterson knew Dr. Easley's order. And Dr. Bret Peterson ignored Dr. Easley's order. What kind of resident does that?
Dr. Bret Peterson called me on the phone and told me that it did not matter what Dr. Easley ordered. What? You are the resident, Dr. Bret Peterson. Are you suggesting by your actions that you know more than Dr. Mark E. Easley?
Dr. Bret Peterson told me that he was a DUH hospitalist and his job was to save money. Therefore, explained Dr. Bret Peterson, there would be no UA but only a urine dip stick test (which was apparently negative).
I took dad to his non-Duke urologist immediately after he left DUH. Dad had a raging UTI that indeed showed negative on the urine dip stick test.
Older men with prostate problems often show a negative dip stick test. But (1) Dr. Bret Peterson should have complied with the attending doctor's order and (2) Dr. Bret Peterson apparently does not have a working knowledge of the dangers of complications of UTIs in elderly men. Or perhaps Dr. Bret Peterson just does not care.
If you are fortunate enough to have Dr. Nunley or Dr. Mark Easley perform orthopedic surgery on you at Duke,
(1) Demand that the surgery be performed at the ambulatory surgery center
(2) Be wary if Nunley or Easley pass you off to Dr. Brian Mata or Dr. Bret Peterson. Maybe 2007 was just an off year for the Duke Orthopedic Residency Program.
I could care less how technically skilled a medical student is - the best indicator that a doctor will be "bad" is arrogance and an unwillingness to communicate with the patient's family. A big red light for Dr. Nunley and Dr. Easley is that two of their residents (Dr. Brian Mata and Dr. Bret Peterson) act without regards to Dr. Easley's direct orders.
If Dr. Brian Mata or Dr. Bret Peterson speak with the patient's family and there seems to be a discrepancy between what the family believes Dr. Easley wants and what the resident believes Dr. Easley wants . . . the resident should be concerned foremost with the patient and less with his ego. The resident should contact Dr. Easley and ask.
Doctors with egos are dangerous. Just plain dangerous. And if the ego is out of control at the residency level then God help any patients who get in Dr. Brian Mata or Dr. Bret Peterson's way.
(sorry, you may have to cut and paste the following)
http://orthoresidency.surgery.duke.edu/modules/surgorthores_rsdts/index.php?id=1