Duke Neurological Disorders Clinic 1L

The doctor that I saw was dismissive of my symptoms (in a kind way) can’t really say he was rude. But he basically told me everything was in my head and asked if I had any hobbies. I was there because my PCP suspected I had MS, this provider said my exam was normal. (Which it’s not I’m weak on my right side and have multiple other doctors visits from different Drs documenting this.) and that my MRIs were all normal. Said it’s not MS, is probably some other autoimmune disease- which I had already been worked up for (if he would have bothered to look). Anyway 2 weeks later I’m hospitalized for 5 days at my local hospital for optic neuritis, and the neurology team there finds something on my MRI (that this Dr said was normal) so they repeat it and wouldn’t you know there is some sort of lesion. And yeah so I do have MS. Duke is supposedly the best in the world for neurology but I have never ever been treated so poorly as a patient by a doctor. Thank God I was put in the hands of Drs who actually listen to their patients and look at their history and idk care.

My experiences at this clinic have only been disappointing. Not only do appointments regularly start late, the appointments themselves are generally extremely unhelpful in understanding my disease and getting help. Every appointment consists of the doctor asking me what questions I have and then scoffing at my questions. The doctor does not try to explain my symptoms or my MRIs. There are zero bedside manners or respect for the patients’ time or emotional well-being. Additionally, my doctor has had me take numerous tests with no follow-up. Every time I have taken a blood test with negative outcomes, there is no response from the doctor or guidance on how to interpret my results. Finally, the staff are extremely unorganized and unhelpful in answering questions about billing and scheduling. The number of mixups I have experienced as well as those I hear while sitting in the waiting room for over an hour is alarming.

I had a visit with Dr. Richardson at Duke spine and his Carly. They were so knowledgeable of what I really needed. Also, the nurse was so sweet and kind to me. I recommend this office to anyone that they are in need of a spine surgery.

Being a patient of Duke has been pretty bad over the past few year but Duke Neurology makes it a particularly terrible experience. Not only do you have to wait months for an appointment, but when you finally get one, you will be scheduled with a brand new resident who doesn't have any experience with your condition. There is such much back and forth as they run back and forth to the attending, leaving you in the room alone for 15-40 mins at a time. The coordination fo care is horrible - waiting weeks for prescriptions and prior authorizations. The doctor is nice, and I think eventually she will be able to help me - but I have to take a majority of the care into my own hands and keeping reminding them to submit referrals and prior authorizations because there is no follow through on anything they are supposed to do. It's taken 6 months to get to something that could have taken days, all the while I am still suffering and in pain. :(

I had an appointment at the neurology department. About an hour out I called to let them know i was running late. I was told to come on. About 10 minutes out i xalled again and let them know that iI was almost there. When i got therr, they woildnt see me. They offered to make an appointment to do a vidio appointment or to come back. I tried to explain that I had previously had 4 strokes and needed to be seen in person, but I wasnt willing to drive 8 hrs again round trip. I will find a Neurologist closer to where I live in New Bern NC. I won't go back to Duke or recommend that anyone else go there.