Dr. Haley Rose Mertens

Dr Mertens has a lot to learn as a young doctor. She may be intelligent, but i never got a chance to see that because her bedside manner is terrible and her experience is not enough to be acting as arrogant and all-knowing as she does. Dr Mertens does not like to be challenged regarding her presumptive diagnosis (which turned out to be wrong btw) and cannot take feedback without significant defensiveness. I waited 9 months to get into an appt for chronic GI issues. Within 5 min she told me she thinks I “just have constipation” and told me to start an otc daily med for constipation and recheck in 6 mo. She hasn’t even done an exam at that point. I pushed hard against this presumptive diagnosis without any work up, especially since my stool history was consistent my entire life. She immediately became defensive, cold and short with me. She barely examined me but reluctantly ordered some additional tests. Even when the first test came back, clearly stating I had very little stool… in my colon, she continued to push the constipation in her short portal message with my results. After the tests were done lo and behold, I did not have constipation, but have Barrett’s esophagus, a stage 3 hiatal hernia and silent reflux. Even after these results in my portal, she just sends me a 2 line message telling me I was diagnosed with Barrett’s and to take a PPI and recheck the scan in 3-5 yrs. ZERO education on the seriousness of the disease, any lifestyle changes recommended, nothing about checking my magnesium, calcium and other levels which is recommended for long term us of omeprazole. Nothing. Dr Mertens— I hope you learn to listen to your patients and not become intimidated by other confident women that respectfully challenge your quick assessments and conclusions or any patient that tries to advocate for their health. News check-just because you have MD after your name doesn’t make you all knowing. Patients know their bodies and deserve to be heard and respected as well. I do not recommend this doctor. Thankfully I was strong enough to advocate for my health and push for further diagnostics and change to a competent GI doctor that is experienced, cares and listens . Otherwise this wouldn’t have been caught until I had esophageal cancer.