Dr. Dewey Young Mcwhirter, MD

Tranquility Sleep is an absolute parody of what is wrong with medicine these days. I visited their office to discuss the possibility of a sleep study and spent 20 minutes talking to a therapist, not an actual doctor. No treatment was performed. No tests conducted. No tangible services rendered. I did not even see a doctor. I received a bill for $745. 1/3 of it was for the doctor's office, which I understood, but over $400 of it was from the hospital for "outpatient services." In my 46 years, I have NEVER seen a $745 charge for a 20 minute conversation even with a specialist doctor! I have had complete rounds of testing for less than this 20 minute conversation cost. I will never do business with Tennova again. This is just one more reason the health system is broken when they think a sleep therapist is worth $2,200 per hour, not even counting costs for tests or therapies or any type of helpful guidance. I had an entire sleep study done for less than this office visit.

I saw a different sleep doctor before and he was not able to help me with the issues I had using CPAP. Dr. McWhirter figured out I had something called complex sleep apnea and that was why the CPAP did not work. I got a special machine that did work and I had a lot more energy. He and his nurser practitioner, Melissa, got me to work on weight loss and eventually I lost 50 pounds. We did another sleep study and my sleep apnea was gone. I am really greatful for their help. I actually saw him in Knoxville. I had some confusion with a bill once, but it turned out that it was a bill from the hospital and not the doctor. His office got someone from the hospital to contact me and help me. Overall, it has been a great experience. I would recommend him to anybody.

This guy really helped me with my sleep apnea and insomnia. He is very knowledgeable. He helped me get off sleeping pills. My only complaint is that he can't be my primary doctor.

I've seen him and his nurse practitioner. They listen and give good advice for things that help with my CPAP. I love my machine. The staff there is nice too.

I never actually saw McWhirter. Instead I saw Ashley Estes. From what I've been told she's a nurse practitioner working under the doctor. However, McWhirter's name is what comes up on my insurance. I arrived at the office in the Tennova South Bldg. and was greeted by a woman with the most cartoon-like southern accent you've ever heard. Not all of us around here want to sound like hicks. Each word was drawn out multiple syllables and the pitch would make a dog howl. (The man working at the desk, however, was more than tolerable. He was downright helpful. Too bad the woman wouldn't let him get a word in edgewise!) Anyway, that's not my chief complaint. When I actually saw Ashley, she didn't do anything but speak to me. There were no tests run, no machines used, etc. In fact, a blood pressure check and neck measurement from that aforementioned male tech was the only time I was even touched by anyone at the office. Ashley talked to me long enough (10 min. or less) to suggest I do a take… home sleep study. However, she said, it might not be accurate and if I get a "negative" then I'll have to come in and do an overnight in-office test. Great... So I went to the from desk and asked if my insurance would cover this. Suffice it to say the lady had no idea. She said she'd check into it and I'd hear from them soon. So I left. The next week I got a call from the same woman (which was painful, I assure you) telling me my insurance would only kick in once my deductible was met. I decided to check with my ins. company to see if this was true. (Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN) It was. So I told the lady I was not interested at this time. I figured I'd get a copay bill soon for the office visit and that would be the end of it. No such luck... I was charged $356.92 for the use of the Medical Center but it was covered. Then, as I looked at my EOB, I was floored to see that I was charged a whopping $323 for "Dewey Y. McWhirter III". My part was going to be $182.41...for 10 minutes with a nurse practitioner who didn't do anything but ask me a couple questions! I naturally assumed this was a mistake as I'd never even heard that name before. Unfortunately, after making numerous calls it became clear that my visit had been coded as an Outpatient Procedure. I thought this was wrong but after speaking extensively with Amy Harris Smith I was assured it was not. She did inform me, though, that I could file a Financial Hardship claim. I did so right away and received a message from Ms. Smith saying it had been reviewed and I'd be receiving a newly discounted bill from the vendor. Then I waited...and waited... Finally, I got a bill for the EXACT SAME AMOUNT of $182.41. Of course I emailed Ms. Smith asking what the problem was. She responded by merely saying I should call the number on the statement. Then I got yet another email from a different lady saying there would be a 40% discount. Great... So finally I received a bill for $109.44. Let me remind you that this was for nothing more than my blood pressure and neck measurement. I never set up a sleep study. I was not informed I would be charged more than the regular cost of a copay visit. I feel this is a very shameful way to run a business and I will not ever recommend anyone use Tranquility Sleep Specialists PLC. (Just save yourself the time, money, and hassle and go to a reputable doctor's office instead.)

He does a big evaluation with lots of questions about your sleep. I was a little upset at first that he did not give me a sleeping pill but I looked it up and he was right about how I should really treat my trouble falling asleep with therapy instead. I did the therapy and I am sleeping great now.

He fought to get me treated after another doctor would not do the extra work. Now my sleep apnea is treated and I feel better.

This doctor helped me get my sleep studies done fast so I could get my CDL renewed and get back on the road safely. I had a few problems with the CPAP but he helped me with them and I am doing good with it now. Now that I have gotten the CPAP I realize how much I needed it before.

He did a great job taking care of my sleep apnea. I had gone to another place that had me do some sleep studies and when I had trouble using the CPAP they were no help. Dr Mcwhirter helped me get comfortable with it. I am nice and refreshed in the mornings now.

I saw another sleep doctor who did not give me many options to treat my sleep apnea. Cpap didn't work for me so Dr McWhirter got me set up with an oral appliance and a weight loss program. I lost 50 lbs and I just had another study that showed I do not have sleep apnea anymore. Very happy.