As we embark on a new year and make resolutions and renew commitments I want to share a negative experience I had that further fueled my commitment to every patient and family member.
Part of my job as the CEO of Ketamine Wellness Centers is to educate the medical community about our ground-breaking treatment. What I experienced truly upset me. I had an appointment at 12:00 with a nurse practitioner in Scottsdale, who is part of a larger psychiatric group, to see if we could provide a treatment alternative for their patients dealing with treatment resistant depression, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD. My GPS took me to a number of large buildings all in a small area. I don’t have depression or anxiety but this process alone was overwhelming. However, I found my destination and entered the office.
In the office, a receptionist asked if I was a new patient. I informed her I had a meeting with the NP at 12:00 and I was asked to take a seat. The office was very stark. White walls with grey or brown accents. The coffee table contained primarily medical journals or literature from various pharmaceutical companies about their medications. There were a few patients and/or family members in the waiting area reading quietly. It didn’t take long to figure out who the patients were by the blank stares and blunted emotions. It was sad to see people so zombified.
About 15 minutes passed and a young man in a suit with a pharmaceutical badge on his lapel came into to the office with bags of food. He was escorted to the back room by who I assumed to be the office manager. The office manager noticed me sitting in the lobby and asked if I had been helped. I informed her of my meeting which she then stating, “I thought we cancelled you.” I informed her that I had not received any notification of cancellation and I was there to provide their office with some additional treatment options for their patients who are struggling. She asked me to wait while she checked.
As I sat and waited 2 – 3 more patients exited rooms all of them just as flat and catatonic as the others in the waiting room. They stopped at the front desk where the receptionist stated, “The doctor wants to see you in 30 days. I will put you on Thursday at 10:00.” The patients all agreed with the prescribed dates and times then left as quietly as they came.
Five minutes later the office manager returned stating they must have mixed up the dates and since the pharmaceutical rep brought food I would have to reschedule another time. Food is more important than learning about an alternative treatment? FOOD over lives? I left brochures with the office and I leave my sympathies for all of you who have experienced this and probably much much worse.
My commitment to you as CEO of Ketamine Wellness Centers is to always treat you as a unique individual person recognizing we may not always be successful in our treatment but you will have a passionate and compassionate team in your corner.
