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"Under no circumstances may physicians place their own financial interests above the welfare of their patients."
-- AMA Code of Medical Ethics
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Scorecard for... Dr. Steven B Israel Psychiatrist  Rockville, Maryland
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Overall Score as rated by Kosh |
Year of Treatment |
Overall score given by Kosh on 01/12/12
10 Kosh edited this scorecard on 01/12/12 |
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10
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monthly for 10+ years |
Excellent at diagnosis and treatment. Spot-on with my situation. Very friendly and personable. Works hard and has long hours. Has many ways to reach him, but doesn't always return calls or emails in a timely fashion (or at all - even when repeated and sent several different ways with emphasis that it's urgent). Asks the right questions. Offers good advice. Sometimes rushes appointments, but that's generally OK as sometimes he goes way over the time limit too. A bit conservative in terms of prescribing medication - not only starts with too low a dosage knowing the history of the patient (obviously appropriate with new ones, but not with ones he's seen for 10 years who have shown high tolerances and thus it can take months to reach a clinically significant level - and often he won't go far enough with that medication if it seems to be helping even though acceptable by PDR). At the moment, have correct medication, but can't get sufficient dosage to be as effective as it could be - so problems persist (though better) but a 'cure' of sorts is within reach and within PDR dosage guidelines, but as I started saying, he's a bit too conservative so while the treatment is right and helps, this personal approach can sometimes attentuate or prevent the full advantage of the treatment and leave adverse symptoms which could be remedied by a more liberal attitude. I'm not suggesting he should ignore medical training and insticts and experience and prescribe whatever a patient wants even if inappropriate, but I'm saying that what's appropriate seems based on a general overall opinion and doesn't properly consider the unique situations of individual patients. Limitations are made on the basis of his overall attitude and exceptions are not given adequate consideration or made when the situation appears to warrant them. Can sometimes be vindictive and retaliate for things like missed appointments by withholding medication and even allowing complete withdrawal to occur (for several weeks). Attempts to schedule early appointment are denied. Attempts to show up to pick up prescription are denied. This happened to me twice - with medications that have serious withdrawal symptoms (and I had to endure them). And I had a valid, unavoidable reason to miss the appointments each time - it wasn't a matter or placing a higher priority on something of lesser importance - but that didn't matter. This is odd given how conservative he is in terms of ramping up dosages, but apparently forgot his training that total withdrawal of certain medications can be even more harmful and most certainly isn't a conservative approach when done in that direction - but it is an effective as revenge and punishment. Later he apologized, but since then I do what it takes to get there no matter what. I actually drove a car with no brakes (using the shift to slow down but running many lights and going off the road several times when I knew I couldn't stop in time) for the 12 miles to get to the office despite the reckless danger to myself and others because that was better than going again through withdrawal. He now has a policy that 3 missed appointments without sufficient notice will result in him dropping you as a patient. No time limit stated. So I assume that even if the third one occurs 8 years after the first, it's the end with him. That merely is another example of a policy where he uses his power over patients to get potentially unwarranted revenge (as no exceptions to the policy are stated - no excuses are satisfactory and some are truly unavoidable and should not warrant such consequences). Despite some of these negatives, I'd still highly recommend him as his positive attributes far outweigh the negative ones. Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment is the real key with a doctor - and that's where he excels. How much I went through with no brakes to make sure I'd see him and be able to continue to see him shows how much I support him and how far I'll go to keep him as my doctor - so if I'd do that, that's a testimony to how much I think he's worth and should show how much I recommend him by my own example and not just by saying it. |
| Nursing Staff | Office Staff | |
| no score given |
8
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| Cost | Medical Equipment | |
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10
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9
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| Office Waiting Time | Appointment Availability | |
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7
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9
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