AP
Alan Pakaln
May 28, 2023
Phelps Northwell Croton
I don’t know why I call my physician at this office, my Primary Care Physician. My spouse is having a hip replaced in two days. I get a tic bite; I can’t afford to get sick because I will be the only caregiver for recovery at home.
I decide it prudent to follow the CDC recommended prophylactic treatment - one dose of an antibiotic, for high incident areas (New York State is one), within 72 hours.
We both have a Primary Care physician at Phelps Croton, or so we have said. It’s a simple request – there is a bite but no symptoms yet – you explain the situation to the intake office staff. The message back from a physician is to come back if and when I have symptoms; there is nothing else they can do.
You ask for the practice manager who follows your logic, or so it seems, but repeats the message: Make an appointment when you have symptoms, otherwise go to an urgent care facility. Waiting for symptoms will be too late; I need this one dose asap, you explain - you are my primary care, or so I thought.
Around it goes: again I explain - the antibiotic is to prevent a symptomatic disease, necessary within 72 hours of a bite, necessary to assure I can help my returning post-surgery spouse. Sorry, the manager says, but there is nothing I can do.