Gastroenterology Clinics Queensland: Dr Natalie Kiel

k. clarke

I recently had a day procedure with Dr Kiel. The two stars do not in any way relate to the manner in which she carried them out. I felt compelled to share my experience with respect to her approach to me as a new patient. Without seeing me, she scheduled me for the procedures. I had expected to have an initial consult but was advised by her office staff that Dr Kiel does not do this, but would see me before the procedure, in the hospital. I saw her briefly when I was wheeled in for the procedures, and was at least able to give her some background, but given they were waiting to start, I felt under pressure to get my story out as quick as I could, and ended up using perhaps 5mins to try to do so. Dr Kiel saw me after the procedure whilst still groggy in recovery, and handed me an envelope with a brief report in it. I assumed at this point I would see her post op in her offices to discuss the results, but she directed me back to the GP, despite the issues being ones that a specialist (ie. her) would need to address with me, not the GP. I rang her office to discuss this and had to insist upon having an appointment with her, which I ended up cancelling and seeing a different GI, as by this point, I'd lost faith in her anyway. I subsequently received a break down of the hospital fees from my insurer and upon reading it, found out the Dr Kiel had charged a consult fee of 180.00. I feel this is rather unethical - not only did she not advise at any stage that her brief visit to me pre op was a 'consult', she did not advise that it was a separate billing. If I were going to pay a consult fee, I'd at least like it to be when I'm fully clothed and my mind firmly on the consult, rather than in the state you are in when you're waiting for a procedure to be carried out in the pre op room. Not a GI specialist I'd use again.

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