This is a letter I wrote to the Canadian Chiro Association:
To whom in may concern.
I’m am writing this email in response to what I can only see as utter disregard for a patient’s well being and schedule. That patient being me.
This morning I made an appointment with the office of Dr. Jabeen Jussa, Chiropractor in North Vancouver at 1124 Lonsdale Ave., suite 300.
The appointment was scheduled for 2:15.
At the time, I was at my partner’s home in False creek, a considerable distance, 30 min drive at this time of day. I had asked my partner, who was caring for me for the last 9 days due to my extreme back/neck pain and immobility, to take time out of her teaching schedule to drive me to North Vancouver so I could see Dr. Jussa. This took over an hour of time out of her day. I’m not able to drive my own vehicles at the moment due to the pain and discomfort resulting from my back and neck condition.
I arrived at the at 2:24. Nine minutes late. The receptionist explained to me that they were unable to see me due to the fact that I was now 10 minutes late. I explained politely that I could barely walk and that I had made considerable effort to change my day’s schedule as well as my partner’s ultra busy schedule to get there. I also explained that I was in dire need of some help as I was in pain and I had no alternative appointment to seek help.
The receptionist refused, explaining that there were several appointments after me. At the time, there was only one other person in the waiting room who arrived during the conversation. I asked if they were actually going to turn me away in the condition I was in. She again refused and said there was no way to get me in.
Honestly, I can’t really believe that anyone could be turned down for any form of health care, especially the condition I was in - for being 9-10 minutes late. Turning someone down in that condition is not ‘care.’ It seems to me, brutally unprofessional and the opposite of health care.
After a couple of minutes of conversation, I left the office in shock and frustration for being turned away, hobbling in pain, back to the vehicle that got me there.
Please know that in no way was I rude, aggressive, nor did I raise my voice or make any uncomfortable scene. I kept calm and explained my situation.
Upon exiting the building, I called the office to again explain my condition and how difficult/inconvenient it was to make the appointment. Again, I was refused treatment and turned away.
I can’t think of a time when I’ve been in a health care office when having to wait 10 minutes for an appointment was a noticeable inconvenience. Who doesn’t expect waits of 5 - 30 minutes when seeing a health professional? It’s completely normal and expected. My point being, anyone who had an appointment after me would not likely have noticed if they had to wait a mere 10 minutes.
That said, I would hate to inconvenience another patient. But I most certainly would understand that if someone in my condition needed care which resulted in an extra wait of 10 minutes, I would put up no argument or protest.
I will add that I haven’t seen a chiropractor in several years because I grew somewhat skeptical due some medical papers I’ve read about the validity of the practice and whether it was effective. Today was my attempt to give it another chance to see if it would help, as I’m rather desperate to find a solution to this back issue that seems to reoccur. And today I remain in pain and with no alternate appointment or solution.
So, I would like to submit this as a formal complaint about the lack of care/consideration I received in Dr. Jabeen Jussa’s office today. Monday, August 8, 2016.