Kelli Kerr

Review of Pikeville Medical Center

My father had a complicated open-heart procedure p...

My father had a complicated open-heart procedure performed at Cleveland Clinic in mid-December and had to come home with a catheter. When we called to make an appointment with Dr. Swofford at PMC, the nurse and/or office attendant (extremely rude and condescending) said both of their urologists were out until the beginning of the year and no one was there to see patients, although we later found there was an additional doctor seeing patients in the absence of Dr. Swofford and his associate. My dad was not made a priority even though he was a week out from major surgery, which resulted in him wearing a catheter for over four weeks as advised by the nurse we spoke with in Urology.

When we were finally able to book an appointment with Dr. Swofford, he gave him a quick check up and said everything looked fine and to come back in a few months. A few days later my dad had a 103-degree temperature and is now back in the hospital with e. Coli found in his kidney and the infection has become septic (spread to his blood). Dr. Swofford's incompetence and blatant neglect has largely risked my dad's health. He is headed back to Cleveland Clinic to meet with doctors who actually have his best interest in mind. It's upsetting that many people don't have the option to travel seven hours to Cleveland for decent healthcare. These people should do better for the Appalachian region and hold themselves to the standards they broadcast on their many TV commercials.

I am in touch with the regulatory agency for PMC and will be sure this situation is dealt with legally.