Cliffton Bong, MD

"This doctor initially refused to treat my husband because "he's not on intravenous antibiotics and the referral came from the primary care doctor, not the specialist." When my husband was in the hospital for the third bout of sepsis in two and a half months, this doctor was called in to consult. He was unable to give any accurate scientific data to support his treatment plan. He walked away, turning his back, while I was still asking questions about the likelihood of his treatment plan succeeding. He refused to acknowledge that he required my permission, as my husband's power of attorney, to implement his treatment plan. I had to threaten to call our attorney. He was rude, condescending, and arrogant. He charted that he would not follow up with my husband because he does not like me. He charted that he found me demanding. He charted that I yelled at his office staff (completely untrue) and that for this reason he "fired" my husband as a patient. You cannot "fire" a patient you never… took on in the first place. This man's negligence in my husband's case has been life threatening. I believe that the only reason he is still in practice is because there is a dire shortage of infectious disease specialists. It is my sincere hope never to see or interact with this man again. My husband's treatment will be moved from the initial hospital and to a different one because of him. We refuse to place my husband's life anywhere near his grossly uncaring and probably incompetent "care" ever again."

I had diarrhea back in May when Salem water problem came about. DrBong tested for C diff and results came back Negative. But I still have on going Diarrhea . Then he had the nerve to look at me and tell me I must’ve gotten it from somebody else. I look at him and told him I have not had sex in the last two years , the only sex partner I do have is my left hand and my right hand. Of course his mouth dropped open when I said that to him. After that he went to the extent to tell me he did not want me to drive to Portland where he will be working at Emmanuel hospital . Tell me to call the HIV alliance services to give me a new doctor, of course they told me to go to Portland. This tells me that Dr. Bong is in it for the easy money and passing out the prescription. Good HIV Doctors are supposed be checking are viral load, for cholesterol, diabetes,for the possibility of heart disease caused by the HIV medication. The majority of HIV doctors will tell you it is not… their job to keep track of cholesterol diabetes and the possibility of heart disease it is responsibility of your primary care . What I was told by another doctor is that all doctors are primary care first before they get their license in infectious disease and that they are to make sure that we are very well protected from the outcome of that disease treatment.

Was treated with minimum understanding of DOT THERAPY. Was only checked up on with two phone calls after 2 missed appointments a over 2 months. Options that would've changed the outcome completely were not offered or even mentioned as ways to make treatment more convienent and manageable.