Johns Hopkins Moore Clinic Retreats In Hiv Care

[FiercenBed]

When first diagnosed I had two very serious hiv related skin conditions going on. So serious my doc said id have to see a dermatologist. So I punched around on the computer and found a dermatologist at hopkins specializing in hiv infections. sounded like my guy.

Well the appointment thing was a whole mess. Check out my previous post for background if interested. took over three months for an appointment.
http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=10913

Anyway a biopsy, laser treatment & pap smear <ouch> later, things seem to be getting under control. So @ my last follow up the doc gives me a letter saying hez leaving Hopkins to open his own practice. Great I think another doctor. I ask him whoz taking over dermatology at Hopkins HIV Moore Clinic. He stated “no one”. They <Hopkins I assume> wouldn’t meet his contract.

Holy cow I was in shock. Dermatology is a major fricken issue with hiv & aids. The mother hospitals in treatment is going to leave a major specialty open for hiv care.

So I guess I follow the guy to his private practice. His letter sez his practice will still ‘be dedicated to skin problems associated with HIV.’ But he also “ specializing in restylane <trade mark>, juvederm <trade mark>, levulan <trade mark>, and a list of other ‘procedures’ aka cash cows that iv never heard of. Though my insurance isn’t on the list of 8 providers. Now I get to sit in the waiting room with a buncha women waiting for botox <trade mark>….lol it really is all about money; duh.

I know someone from Hopkins must read these forums. A comment I think would be in order.

[CallMeSid]

hi.

although i can't comment directly on the HIV care at the moore clinic, as a former employee of JHU, i can tell you that they are an EVIL institution.  yes, there are some leading doctors and researchers in their schools of medicine and public health, but the administration is morally bankrupt and views f*****s and n*****s with HIV/AIDS as cash cows.  the morale of the employees at the hospital is in the toilet almost completely across the board and the support staff (billing, medical records, patient services) is littered with barely literate, lazy, incompetent morons.

i'm sooooooooo sorry you have to deal with this.  have you looked into whether there might be a dermatologist with HIV-related expertise at the U of MD's evelyn jordan clinic (HIV-related care) in baltimore?

wishing you the best,

sid

[FiercenBed]

hey sid.....thanx for the reply

im often told that i over react to situations like this so it is refreshing to hear that i am not 'crazy'. the clinic is literally a free for all. it is dirty, grungy, and depressing. they almost got away with billing shy of $800 for one doctors appointment that i didn't need. part of that fee, $400,  was not covered by my insurance and they wanted me to pay it out of pocket. they sent it to a collections agency. your absolutely right about the support staff. they are rude and arrogant and just plain ole stupid! i can name names but guess i shouldnt on this site.

then after i opened an 'investigation' i got an apology letter stating it was a 'mistake in operational procedure'. not only did they refund the insurance company and myself but i got my next appointment free 'in consideration for their error'. free medical care!? musta bn a big mistake. after all that i was referred to an 'outpatient clinic' in the suburbs where while im waiting for hiv treatment i can get a quick dose of botox...lol.

iv gota host of docs  for a variety of problems.....but dealing with hopkins has by far been the worse experience.
ill look into umms' jordon clinic.