Dr. Amit Kumar, MD

I went in to umass on Dec 12 for a covid test because I was exposed to someone positive at my work and I live with my extremely high risk grandmother (copd, on oxygen tanks, asthma etc.) And I just recently lost another family member. I went in to get tested so I can make sure I do not pass it to her, because she will surely be hospitalized or dead if she catches the virus. Waiting room staff was perfectly fine, nurse was very pleasant but my entire interaction with the Doctor was very condescending and rude. As I described my symptoms, his face gave off "so what? What else?", and generally seemed like he didn't care. He then continued to tell me that I couldve waited an hour or so and gone to a cvs or walgreens, and that since I came to a hospital, they don't have the room for people who have strokes or heart attacks. I then told him about me living with my high risk grandma and he said that she should be the one going to the hospital to get tested, not me. After about 4 minutes of… being talked down to and called irresponsible, me,(a recently turned 18 year old) teared up a little because I obviously thought I was doing the right thing by getting tested as soon as I thought I could be positive, I then apologized and went unacknowledged before he walked out. Unprofessional, and unconcerned with patients that apparently aren't important enough to be seen by him.

I met Dr. Kumar in the emergency room at UMass, where I was brought for a blood clot following surgery. While the nurses and most of the staff here were helpful, pleasant, and patient, I was disappointed by my interactions with Dr. Kumar himself. For lack of a better word, the doctor seemed unhelpful and condescending. In general, he rarely looked up at the patient and didn’t really engage—which isn’t an optimal way to deal with emergency-room patients, or any patients. Since I was on a number of medications already, I asked him if there were any contraindications for the blood thinner I was given. He responded in what seemed an almost flippant manner, and made it sound like a dumb question. (I’m realizing now it wasn’t a dumb question; indeed, UMass has not yet fully dealt with the possible medication interactions and will be discussing it with me later this week.) The other question I asked Dr. Kumar was about how to tell if the medication was working, to which he gave me… a blank look and said, “well, it’s to break up clots, so you have to assume it’s going to do what it’s supposed to, take it on faith.” I’m not sure that this was the most helpful answer he could give—at the least, it would be useful to explicitly warn a patient about the side effects, warning signs, etc. I understand that an emergency room is very unpredictable and grueling, but this experience left me frustrated and without much confidence in the care I was given, specifically by the doctor.

Dr. Amit Kumar was professional and excellent in the care he provided to my family member. He was patient in explaining the care to us and took the time to hear us out. Thank you!