Mayo Clinic

I could not find a complaint venue at Minnesota Oncology. Since you are partners, perhaps you can forward it to the correct person. I would like to share an encounter with Dr. Schwerkoske, Woodbury location, that I found quite troubling and inexplicable. I have been a patient of his since 2003. He presided over my successful chemo process and has been my contact since the beginning of my cancer adventure. I have lost track of the number of times that I have reported for testing and then the follow-up with the conclusion being no trace of my original malady, Waldenstroms macroglobulinemia. My most recent follow-up was on 9/8/21. Cancer-free was I again. Subsequently, I noticed that lymph nodes on the right side of my chest and neck were enlarging. I went to my primary, and he suggested that I see my oncologist. Testing again on 3/18/22, again no cancer. But the doctor ordered a biopsy, and the result was low-grade B-cell lymphoma with plasmacytic differentiation. The problem, I could not get the results, so I did not know that I was a cancer patient again. I called Schwerkoskes nurse for the results but only was told that he had left a short note saying that the results were consistent with the disease. The nurse said that he did not want to schedule an appointment. Imagine my confusion and displeasure. I said I wanted an appointment and scheduled one. Meanwhile, after several tries, I was able to see my biopsy results by driving out to Woodbury. (Allina would not give them to me in person, they said I needed to write a letter. I asked Woodbury MOHPA to just tell me the results and, of course, they wouldn't provide them.) But at that point, I knew the results, and I was appalled. Schwerkoske, aware that new cancer had appeared, did not want to discuss it, did not want to make an appointment to decide how to go forward, nothing like that, he just wanted me to go away. While I am told that that was not malpractice, I think it was at least criminal doctoring. And again, note that this incident was after an amicable (I thought) nearly twenty-year doctor-patient relationship. He seemed rational when I interacted with him on 3/18/22, but I wonder if he has issues of some sort. And I wonder if other patients have had similar interactions with him? Finally, I would ask, does this encounter reflect the standard or practice at Minnesota Oncology in 2022?

This fee is a fee not a deposit or an amount that goes towards your deductible or medical expenses... for my ex husband who has been battling with 2 CSF leaks in his spine/brain since having a cyst removed in July of 2018, and living on disability only for last 3 years....it is impossible to pay. He manages to pay his living expenses and his medical insurance with very little monies left over. He has been to many doctors in Houston and had many blood patches (which is what they commonly do to help CSF leaks) but to no help...he doesn't sleep well, he has a hard time keeping food down (as a result has lost a great amount of weight) he is dizzy, and suffers from horrible headaches daily....not too mention horrible seizures off and on...We heard there is a doctor by the name of Dr. Marsh that has cured a friend of a friends CFS leak and has cured many others...however when we checked into process it is apparent to us that this is only a cure for the wealthier patients...and not to the ones that are on disability and have no means of coming up with this $5000 nor traveling expenses or deductiblles that are inevitable with going to the Mayo clinic in Minnesota.