Dr. Shirley Ann Roy, MD

Dr. Roy is a pleasant lady. I have had her as my primary physician for nearly two years. I went her office recently for one acute, excruciatingly painful situation and two chronic situations both of which are very uncomfortable and for which I had been seeing her for well over a year. She was not sure about the acute situation and suggested I see a specific orthopedic surgeon to address the problem. When I mentioned this suggestion to her secretary her response was in essence "good luck" that it was very difficult to get an appontment with him. Why would I be referred to a reluctant collegue for an acute situation? Dr. Roy also gave me an order for a referral with a vascular specialist for one of the chronic situations and gave me a prescription that was supposed to mitigate the discomfort ot the other chronic problem. So I went home still in great pain in the accute situation and very uncomfortable with the chronic situations and no immediatate relief in sight. I have other… problems with Dr. Roy. I got there in time for my last appointment. I was told that the doctor was almost finished with the patient in the next exam room and she would be with me momentairly. I heard her in the hall, the outer door open and closed and then I waited for 45 minutes. For a small practice with no one ahead of me I found that wait unacceptable as it indicates that there is no value is placed on the patient's time. The next problem I had was a discussion with Dr. Roy about having surgery done for a huge abdominal hernia. She advised me not to let anyone do that type of surgery using mesh as she is a wound specialist and had seen terrible infections with the use of mesh. I wasted severral months as the situation become more serious trying to find a surgeon who would tackle my situation without the use of mesh. I am now working with a surgeon who is going to do repairitive surgery and when I mentioned the mesh. He said, "What kind of patients did the doctor, who warned you against mesh, work?" He said, " Patients who go to a wound specialist have problems. The thousands of people every year who have mesh used with no ill outcomes was not addressed." He said that mesh reduces the possible reoccurance to less than 10% while doing it without mesh leaves a patient with the possibility of 50+ chance of reoccurance. Dr. Roy is also wedded to her computer so she spends most of an appointment doing data enrty. She also had me fill out a multi-page questionnaire that was totally irrevelant to my particular circumstances and pretty much absorbed one entire appointment going over it. When I qustioned her about this she told me that it was "required." I have used Medicare for years and never had to complete a lengthy questionnaire. I felt that I was somehouw doing her a favor. She also does not use email for communications with her office which can be an inconvenience. While at my alast appointment she asked if I had had my flu shot and I told her I'd had the first shot at Walgreens but they were out of the second and I would have to go back there to get it. Because of my physical problems I have to travel by cab and it is expensive. She said nothing. I tend to be proactive about my health but that doesn't work if the physician I am working with no longer seems to see herself as a healing professional but rather as a referral service. Still feeling terrible I went to a different doctor. He diagnosed my acute problem instantly and called in a prescription for a medication to reduce the inflammation. He asked about the medication that had been presceibed for one of the chronic situations. I told him it was for pain. He said it was more for depression than pain (I am not given to depression). He gave me samples of a strong specific pain medication. With this combinatioin of meds In two days the acute pain was gone and the chronic discomfort was much improved. In fact they seem to eliminate the insomonia that has plagued me because of pain and discomfort. They also arranged for me to get 6 xrays that day on the acute situation to be sure that it would be handled completely. The last chronic situation was addressed by their setting up an appointment with a vascular surgeon and a Doppler Scan within a couple of days. When I arrived at this new office I filled out the paperwork and and was immediately called into an examination room. The whole visit took no more than a half an hour. He also offered the second flu shot right then and there. The computer enteries are made between patients, that allows the doctor to pay full attention to the patient. Ten minutes is given for that activity and they schedule appointments accordingly. By using email to set appointments with the other doctor and for the Doppler scan they were confirmed by the end of the day. Within 2 weeks one chronic situation had been totally addressed and the second chronic situation had an ongoing treatment plan in place. Now that is how a patient can come away actually feeling well taken care of.

I have been seeing Dr. Roy since I was around 23 years old. I am now almost 60. She is simply the best doctor in the world. She cares, she never gives up, and she is always there when needed. I live quite a distance from her office now but will not change until she stops practicing. You just can't get her hands on approach in a lot of the big practices in the suburbs these days. I know I am not her only long term patient. When you have found the best doctor there is, there is no reason to change. Her office staff is as professional as she is and the care is simply outstanding.

I felt that this doctor was very committed to helping me with my medical issues. I felt like I was in the presence of someone who was willing to listen and had the knowledge and experience to make a difference. I'm very glad I was referred to Dr Roy

Dr. Roy practices medicine becasue she cares about people.