Lichtenstein Mitchell MD

My husband Jeffrey had THE WORST experience with Dr. Lichtenstein and his office that we’ve EVER had with any medical facility! He was having gastrointestinal problems and had been to the emergency room twice. Both times they took tests, and determined that there was some sort of blockage in his stomach, causing pain and prohibiting him from eating normally. He ate just a little bit and felt full, only to throw up and have severe stomach cramping shortly after. Jeff had put off going to the doctor because he didn’t want to miss work, or be told that he would need to be off for an extended period of time. Yet his symptoms got so bad that he had no choice.
Jeff saw our primary care physician in June, who advised that he needed a specialist, and referred him to Dr. Lichtenstein. At first, Dr. L. was fine, assessing the symptoms and scheduling a series of tests for which hubby would have to return to the hospital or office, a few times. Jeff asked about his job, since he drives for a living over the road, and wasn’t sure he would be able to work. He had been off for several days prior to this office visit. The doctor agreed that he should not return to work yet and wrote him a note.
When Jeff called his job, at first they said to just bring the doctor’s note once he returned. The tests were spread out over several weeks, and because his job is unionized, they needed him to fill out the paperwork for short term disability after the 5^th day to cover his position and also enable him to receive the very minimal yet guaranteed disability pay. This is where the problems began. He called the doctor’s office and then took the paperwork up there, and Dr. L. filled out the paperwork stating that Jeff was at the time under his care, should not return to work, yet was not «disabled.» Jeff’s union rejected this, since they needed justification for why he was off work for so long.
After speaking to his union regarding the paperwork, he called the doctor’s assistant and explained the situation, and she said she would have to have the doctor call. When Dr. L. returned the call, he told Jeff he could not state that he was disabled. Jeff told him he didn’t want him to say that, but he needed the doctor to confirm that Jeff was currently under his care, being treated for his symptoms. Dr. L. seemed hesitant to even do this, and Jeff had to explain that his job would be in jeopardy without this! Dr. L. finally agreed that he could do this, but he still didn’t have any sort of diagnosis, and he didn’t seem too interested in getting to the bottom of the problems.
Also, after every test, there was NO follow-​up from the doctor or his office. Jeff kept going to the tests and looking at the results in North Shore Connect, yet didn’t really understand the results since they were written in medical terms. He was sure the doctor would be calling with a diagnosis, next steps, or further instructions.
After not hearing ANYTHING from Dr. L. or his office for a week after the last test, Jeff called. Dr. L. asked Jeff what he had been doing, and Jeff told him he was waiting for some sort of direction from him. He seemed surprised and even a bit taken aback when Jeff told him he had never experienced a doctor who didn’t follow-​up with his patient and coordinate his care. Yet this is the truth.
Dr. L. ended up revising the paperwork but also releasing Jeff from medical leave, without ever determining what was wrong or offering any additional follow-​up. He was still having issues! Jeff had really terrible pains, inability to get comfortable or sleep, still trouble eating normally, etc., It was terrible! And yet this doctor offered no professional advice, no referral to another specialist, medication, further testing, NOTHING. It’s as if he just gave up, and truly didn’t care.
Jeff’s other doctor had tried to assist by taking him off of some other medication he was taking in order to see if maybe that was masking the problems. She asked Jeff more than once what Dr. L. had found, or what the next steps were, and Jeff had to tell her he didn’t know, or nothing. Even though gastroenterology is not her field (she’s an endocrinologist), she knew that Jeff was still not well, and SHE had no problems filling out the paperwork for his job, after Dr. L. washed his hands and released him back to work, with no resolution! Unbelievable. She recommended that Jeff seek out another gastro doctor, which he did, by getting another referral from our primary care physician. That appointment was hard to get and is not for another few weeks (it’s now September), yet she is well aware of Jeff’s medical issues and has been working with him to protect his job while he gets all of this sorted out. It’s just amazing the difference in the level of care, communication, and concern that he has experienced. We were very surprised and disappointed. Due to this we would never, ever recommend Dr. L. to anyone we know. He is a highly paid, uncompassionate, JERK.