Ronald C Mackenzie, MD

This is from Web MD about what to look for in a good doctor. Dr. Mackenzie is all of these things and more.
Confident: «The doctor’s confidence gives me confidence.»
Empathetic: «The doctor tries to understand what I am feeling and experiencing,
physically and emotionally, and communicates that understanding to me.»
Humane: «The doctor is caring, compassionate, and kind.»
Personal: «The doctor is interested in me more than just as a patient, interacts with me, and remembers me as an individual.»
Forthright: «The doctor tells me what I need to know in plain language and in a forthright manner.»
Respectful: «The doctor takes my input seriously and works with me.»
Thorough: «The doctor is conscientious and persistent.»
That list isn’t in any particular order. The researchers didn’t check whether confidence was more important to patients than respectful treatment, for instance. The Mayo Foundation funded the study.
Because I have gone through so much my husband watching me and helping me go through these things has had panic attacks. Some of the things I have gone through would sound like an evil fairy tale if I explained them so I do not bother to but my husband watching these things that happen to me has suffered panic attacks. My husband talks a lot and asks a lot of questions.
My husband went with me to Dr. Mackenzie’s office on all 3 visits and asked so many unnecessary questions and Dr. Mackenzie was patient with him and answered them all. Dr. Mackenzie listened to both of us. In addition my husband went to him for his own pain condition Dr. Mackenzie was really open and not offended when my husband said he would rather have acupuncture than medicine. Dr. Mackenzie is very open to alternative medicine.
Dr. Mackenzie was a part of starting the alternative clinic at HSS. The Specialized Center Combines Traditional and Alternative Therapies to Treat Musculoskeletal and Rheumatological Conditions at HSS and is open to all forms of medicine. He is also a Faculty Scholar in the Ethics Division of Weill Cornell.
Dr. Mackenzie didn’t try to give me a bunch of tests that I didn’t need or a bunch of medicine that I didn’t need and ethics being his focus makes me confident in his skills as a doctor. So many doctors now want to make money so they prescribe a bunch of tests and medicine because they get commissions from doing that. Dr. Mackenzie is not that way and his focus is on the patient not his ego. I think that is his strongest point. He is going to have me consult with other doctors at the HSS which specializes in my condition to make sure I get the best treatment because my condition is so rare. Many doctors I know would not do that because they think it puts their egos in jeopardy. They would be wrong. I respect Dr. Mackenzie more because of that! He is one of the few doctors who takes our insurance at the HSS. His specialty is Rheumatology but he is an internist too so his diagnostic skills are not limited to his specialty.
Ronald MacKenzie is Associate Attending Physician at Hospital for Special Surgery and Director of Perioperative Medicine with the HSS Spine Care Institute. He is also Chair of the American College of Rheumatology Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Committee.
From the hospital web site-«It is Dr. MacKenzie’s vision that HSS continue to expand it’s national influence in rheumatology while establishing an important role in shaping ethical standards for medical research and practice.»
From the web site
«Dr. Ronald MacKenzie, Medical Director of the Integrative Care Center, added, «The goal of the Center is to offer our patients the best medicine of today and tomorrow — whether that would include traditional remedies or new therapies which have recently generated public interest. This comprehensive approach is ideally suited to individuals interested in preventive health services as well as individuals with complex medical conditions such as back pain and arthritis.»
In addition his staff is really pleasant and delivers messages on time and the staff at the hospital that takes the blood as well for Dr. Mackenzie is really good. I have problems getting my blood taken I always have due to small veins and the phlebotomy specialist has special methods to get blood that do not hurt that I have never seen used anywhere else!
You can not find a better doctor than this!