I have been to see Dr. Ruben four times, he has seen my husband for several years. I credit Dr. Ruben with saving my husbands life and in helping him by prescribing a variety of medications to finally stabilize his depression and paranoia problems. Prior to Dr. Ruben, my husbands conditions were treated with meds that either did nothing or just knocked him out, now we are socializing and life is as close to normal as possible. I credit Dr. Rubens willingness to "try something else". Dr. Ruben is interested in what is working and what is not, his goal is to have you functioning in your life and community. He does not want you knocked out or high or a danger to yourself and community. So he may adjust your medications. He is responsible to help you make good decisions concerning your health. He must also comply with federal and DEA to maintain his licenses and insurances so that he can continue to practice medicine. He is not here to provide you with free medical care or give you… medicines that YOU think you need or deserve. You are paying him to be your doctor, for his advice and experience. Because medicine is not an exact science and new medications are being approved everyday, what works for one person may not for the next. I believe Dr. Ruben is doing his best, given the variables he faces daily. You may or may not agree with him. However, you can go elsewhere and can have another opinion. That is the best part about this great country, freedom to choose.
Next and when considering all of these horrible reviews, it is true Dr. Rubens office is not elegant. He serves a large number of people who are uninsured, some patients without checking accounts, some in pain, some with a variety of mental disorders. These are patients which many doctors just do not want to treat, they are too complex and take too much professional time. These patients are left with little or no treatment options because they are difficult. Dr. Ruben is expected to make medically accurate diagnosis and recommend treatment, then consider if the patient is able to afford the treatment. If a patient is not able to afford treatment, whether it is medicine or alternative, it is worthless. Unfortunately, he must also do his best to keep out the addicts and people faking pain issues for medications, These are the people who make it difficult for those who have actual pain. They take his time and yours and make it harder and more expensive for you to get the treatment and medications you need.
And so he must administer urine tests and may count your pills, to make sure your are compliant with your treatment plan, all of this takes time, but is necessary and is regulated by the state.
In providing these many levels of care and to stay compliant to ever changing state regulations, often his office and staff and his appointments back up, each patient is different.
As doctors close practices or begin to select patients because of pressure from the government or DEA, patients who will be without health care will be the poor, uninsured and mentally complex. These patients are our neighbors, family and friends.
Dr. Ruben and his staff show up everyday and try to wade thru the most difficult of cases, while keeping his license and his practice within state regulation. If you have insurance and need marble countertops, this is not your office. Dr. Rubens office is far from the "normal" doctor office, it often very crowded. There are people of all ages, some with mental disorders, some in pain, some insured, some not. He will take the time he needs with you to determine proper treatment, some appointments take over an hour, so bring a book. At times, Dr. Rubens office may seem chaotic, but in considering the alternative to not having a provider who will accept these patients and still willing to comply with charting and ever changing state regulations, this office provides for many, a vital community service.
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