The Frist Clinic at TriStar Centennial - Suite 400 — Local services in Nashville-Davidson

James Barber Executive Director The Frist Clinic 2400 Patterson St. Nashville TN 37203

Dear Mr. Barber,

I am in receipt of your letter dated July 11, 2018, stating that the Frist Clinic will no longer provide me with medical services. That is unfortunate. Until recently I had enjoyed what I felt was a great relationship with Dr. Regina Bowe, my primary care provider.

Very recently I had to undergo hip replacement surgery. That made it necessary for me to have to use pain medicine for a brief period of time.

I saw Dr. Bowe one week prior to having the surgery. She had prescribed Tramadol and Meloxicam 2 days prior to my appointment as I had fallen and literally could not tolerate the pain I was in. The visit was very cordial and Dr. Bowe was very helpful as I have always found her to be.

Immediately after surgery, my surgeon prescribed Hydrocodone. When I left Skyline Medical center the day after surgery, the nurse instructed me to contact my primary care provider for any pain medicine needed beyond the prescription of Hydrocodone. I used this for pain one week. Then, having enough Tramadol for 3 days remaining, I tried it to see whether I could tolerate the pain. I found that I could. Therefore I called Dr. Bowes office (as instructed) to request one more prescription of Tramadol. I left a detailed message stating that I did not want to take anymore high opiod pain medicine. I do not like pain medicine like Hydrocodone. Oxycodone, etc., and did not intend to use it any longer than absolutely necessary.

The day after I requested the refill of Tramadol, I received a call from Latrice, who evidently works in Dr. Bowes practice. She rudely proceeded to inform me that since I was trying to get pain medicine from 2 different doctors that there would be no prescription for Tramadol. She also informed me that I had been flagged in “the system,” whatever that means. When I tried to explain my reason for requesting the Tramadol, she interrupted me at every opportunity until I told her to stop doing so.

I placed a bad review concerning Dr. Bowes office on Google. Then I posted my story on Facebook. The following week I called Dr. Bowes office and left a message requesting her email address to contact her directly. I did not receive a return call. The next day, I called again. Latrice answered the phone. I suggested that she have Dr. Bowe check her Google rating and social media regarding my post. I told Latrice that I wanted an apology and to be “unflagged,” from whatever system I was flagged in. If those things didn't happen I would continue posting on social media for the rest of the week, then I would begin to approach the news media. She responded by telling me that no one told me I had been flagged. So I suggested she stop lying. The next thing I heard was “on hold,” music. So I hung up the phone and started posting again.

The following week (this week) I received your letter. So I have been emailing the local news media regarding this unfortunate incident. It is my intention to keep doing so until I receive an apology and postive proof that I am not “flagged,” in whatever system you are speaking...

Dr. Emily Neely presented one of the worst bedside manners I have ever witnessed from a physician. She did not ask me a single question during the 10 minutes total she was in the room with me. If I tried to speak, she spoke over me. She explained pertinent medical information with a derogatory tone. She did not even go as far to ask anything about my medical history or symptoms I've been experiencing. All of which I feel were very important to my care/diagnosis.

As a fellow medical professional, I am embarrassed if Dr.Neely speaks to all of her patients the way she spoke to me. I left her office in tears feeling unheard and judged by her lack of empathy and dismissive attitude towards my newly diagnosed condition that affects my life daily. Per her words, it is “not a life altering disease,” when this has affected my life daily for over two years while going undiagnosed.

To follow up a week later- instead of getting a phone call or an appointment follow up visit- I received a letter with Dr.Neely’s response to my lab work. After her lecturing me previously on how I “just needed to take medication” and that “dietary and lifestyle changes will not be enough”, my lab values were found to be in ALL NORMAL ranges. She suggested I get my levels rechecked in 6-12 months and that medication was not needed currently.

Basically suggesting I do nothing for 6-12 months in the meantime to keep my levels normal. This is particularly frustrating because although labs are normal, my daily symptoms are still debilitating. The symptoms of which she did not discuss with me.

I will be finding a new endocrinologist as well as a functional medicine doctor that can communicate my care effectively and want to see me find remission and thrive again.

Thank you for reading. I hope this helps someone because there are doctors out there that won’t make you feel the same way she...

I have been treated at the clinic for many years and have always been very satisfied with the entire experience until this last visit. The check in, intake with the nurse, doctor's visit and lab experience went well as it always has. Then began the issue. I walked up to the checkout area and proceeded with the information to retrieve my account. I handed her my credit card and she advised she was unaware of the charges for today. I advised my account had a balance and I needed to pay this amount. An appointment needed to be scheduled for future visit which was later than the date that was required due to medication refill. I explained that it was necessary to have an appointment on or before the request. She was obviously annoyed with me advising the importance of having to stay in time frame of this appointment. She is short and curt in attempting to set my next appointment. She processed my payment and handed me the receipt. I requested the processed payment statement that was always give to me stapled to the recipient. She retrieved it with a annoyed look and placed it on the counter. I asked if she would mind stapling it to the credit card receipt she completed the request. I am aware it was the end of the day and I am sure you were ready to leave it was obvious. I have never felt so dismissed and treated like it was a burden to obtain a follow-up appointment. It maybe that you were new, as for all the years I have been there we have not crossed paths or you just having a bad day. I am in hopes that this was an isolated incident as you made me feel that I was imposing...