OrthoCarolina Hickory — Local services in Hickory

My SI joints have been extremely inflamed for about a month now. I’m not able to do the things I love to do—heck, I’m having difficulty doing routine things like getting dressed or bending over to tie my shoes. And sleeping for more than 45 minutes or so at a time is out of the question. I’m exhausted. I’m in tears quite a bit. But the good news is I know that an injection to my SI joints will help. I’ve had them in the past, and they gave me a couple months of relief. So when after seeing Dr. McGehee on May 21 and relaying the problem, I was looking forward with longing for my injection date--today, June 7. Two weeks seems like an eternity to wait when you’re in pain, but it was the first available appointment, so two weeks wait it was.

I showed up for my appointment today, ecstatic, knowing that in a few days I might be able to sleep most of the night. Knowing that the mornings of waking up exhausted, in pain, and feeling so much older than I should, would be coming to an end. So I can’t express to you the disappointment I felt when upon checking in, they told me due to a computer problem, they had cancelled my appointment. Tears came to my eyes. No relief for me today.

But I’m a business owner and I understand, sometimes, things just happen beyond your control. But here’s where me and OrthoCarolina differ when it comes to handling those problems. As a business owner, I’m going to go out of my way to take care of my customer when that does happen. I’m going to make them a priority…let them know I’m sorry; I care; I’m going to make it right—that now, because of the situation, they come first. OrthoCarolina, not so much. They did offer me an appointment a week from today, which due to a previous engagement—a very important one related to my business—I simply couldn’t take. Other than that, their posture on the matter was simply not to care. It doesn’t matter to them I can’t sleep. Or walk. Or stand. Or sit. Their next earliest available appointment is June 28 and they are not willing to try to work me in sooner. It doesn’t matter what my condition is or that they were the ones who cancelled my appointment…I go to the back of the line, unless of course, I rearrange my business schedule to accommodate them.

There must be a way to accommodate patients when a provider cancels their appointment without starting them all over. Certainly, there is a good argument for not asking them to go to the back of the line. Is it really that hard? Is there really no other way? I simply can’t believe that the answer to that question is no. It may be the easiest way for the providers…it’s certainly not what’s best for the patients.

Needless to say I’m frustrated and disappointed. I hope OrthoCarolina implements a more patient-friendly solution. Their website says their patients’ health is their priority. It also says that “When things look bad, choose better.” As much as I like Dr. McGehee (and I truly do), I’m starting to question if I made the...

I've been here both as a patient and as an interpreter. The front desk and checkout and appt schedulers are ALWAYS so nice! Overall, I've come to the conclusion that that place just works the doctors too hard and they get burnt out. Here's what I've experienced

Dr Krenzel - years ago, this man saved me. I was uninsured, paid out of pocket, and after he saw how bad things were (congenital hip displacement) this man REFUNDED the appt charge to my credit card I needed a total right hip replacement at 35. I will never forget the day he did this for me. He got me taken care of and is a true example of a doctor that cares. Guys like him are hard to find.

Dr Katz - As all other reviews state, he must be good because he surely isn't NICE. He has flat out said he didn't believe a patient was in pain, shrugged his shoulders, rolled his eyes, looked at me to agree with him over it. Never in my life have I ever come across someone as terrible as him before. If you can drive an hour to go somewhere else, DO IT. He likely is only like this because there must be nowhere else for people to go and knows he's not going to get fired because they need him.

Dr Kyle Fox - absolutely amazing doctor that always takes the time to listen! I've seen him a few times and wish I could have stuck with him for everything!

Dr Gilchrest - so far, I'm not impressed. He's got no time to explain anything, no time to go into detail over anything, and while he's helping, I'm left feeling clueless regarding the entire process. He did manage to repeat "no back surgery" to me, 4 times in a row when I wasn't asking for back surgery - so I guess that's something.

Dr Geideman is also a nice guy.

That's all I've got for you. I'm planning to switch to Lori Golden at Frycare Ortho soon because after having seen how good she is to her patients and how she explains everything to them - I've learned she's exactly what I want in...

I’ve been to Ortho Carolina for carpal tunnel surgery and knee surgery. My carpal tunnel surgery with Dr. McGinnis was a great and successful experience. He’s a great surgeon and he has great bedside manners. He’s caring and respectful to his patient’s needs. I hated to see him leave during Covid. My last 2 operations on my knee with Dr. Jeremy Johnson and Robert Keller have been awful. Both knee surgeries still have me in pain and my last surgery with Dr. Keller wasn’t successful. My recovery instructions were always compared to other patients. I was told most patients this most patients that. I’m very active so exercising the knee properly everyday wasn’t a problem plus I have a very physical job. I was sent back to work with no restrictions and in the results of that, my knee has gotten worse. I came back a month and half later to revisit the doctor because of complications with my knee at work and I was treated so rude. I know I’m not the doctor but I will advocate for my body. He left the room while I was still talking and left the door open to say as if I’m done and now you can leave. His PA was in there with him and basically done the same thing. In my chart she wrote a note saying what my weight was and that may be the issue of my pain. She stated my weight( I wasn’t weighed that day) off being 215 which I’m not ashamed of. I carry my weight very well and it’s never been a problem to my overall health. That’s just their way of overlooking their mistakes. I’m the patient so what do I know right? This is how arrogant doctors treat patients who aren’t supposedly on their level of medical intelligence. I don’t have to be a doctor to know something is wrong with my knee, leg or whatever. They didn’t say have a good day, I hope things get better or offer any therapy or anything. I hate this is a reflection on Ortho Carolina because all their doctors...