Kelowna Bone and Joint Health

My son hurt his shoulder last week playing football. Xrays done in the ER showed no dislocation or break so he was referred to Dr.Rajasekaran for a potential rotator cuff injury or tear. We got the phone call this morning to come this afternoon. He Used an ultrasound on my sons shoulder and found that my sons rotator cuff is fine BUT he did indeed have a fracture on the top of his humerus bone. He was very quick, very direct and knowledgeable. I don’t mind direct doctors who don’t beat around the bush.

I saw Dr.rajasekeran yesterday. He was abrupt,accusatory right from the start even though he had no prior information about my injury covered by WCB. Didn't even know it was a claim! He had no files about my injury and spent less than five minutes "diagnosing" me. He said I did not exercise my injury enough. And seemed hung up on my asthma. No mention of my GERD or antibiotic allergy though lol. Chastised me for using ibuprofen instead of Tylenol before work. Touched my arm briefly and ended the session with barely any feedback from me,the injured worker. He did not recommend an MRI even though I have been injured for 9 months with minimal improvement. I have returned to work part time( not full time as before) and continue to have pain and have modified my life (sold my horse, changed job duties at work, can't canoe yet) to accommodate this new reality. That reality is BC Doctors do not really care about injured blue collar workers. From my physician to this "specialist" I have been pushed aside. I feel lost in the system and unworthy of proper treatment. I feel doc R missed a lot of information from me and did not take enough time to examine me. He seemed bored/annoyed. I am a veteran house keeper and support service worker at a Senior's facility who does a very physical job. Dr.R has no concept of hard work. My job IS my work out. I am 55. Not overweight. I will be following up with claim worker to discuss this wasted appointment. I drove 3hrs for it. Glad my husband took the day off so he could drive. Driving is also an issue for me. But what ever! I am fit as a fuddle. Mrs. Tessa Caron

Was told to contact them if I had swelling after the shot I was given as some people are allergic. I have been calling everyday for 3 weeks and keep getting the same message with no way to leave a message. When do they work!! Also since covid there sign on there door says to not come in before your appointment so I waited in my car. I was in his exam room when he chastised and lectured me for being late and he pointed out it wás 9:19. My appointment was for 9:20. How was that late??

Told to come 10 minutes prior to appointment not knowing that I’d be refused if I wasn’t there at that 10 minutes prior (when I would have been waiting). Refused me as a patient because I didn’t agree with his regulations even though I rebooted and agreed to pay the $100 fine for a procedure that takes 10 minutes. This dr needs to be boycotted. Has absolutely no care for anyone even his staff - who keep quitting. College of physicians and surgeons are hearing about this.

Dr. Rajasekaran was able to listen to my symptoms, history & in short order he really did zero in my problem, and took immediate action to rectify the pain. I found him extremely knowledgeable, calm, and assured of himself. Not to mention extremely professional, he was always checking in with my pain tolerance. After living with this pain for many months, it's gone. I had a wonderful experience!

Direct, thorough, and to the point! Dr. Rajasekaran has seen me repeatedly to get to the cause of my pain. He always offers multiple approaches to treatment while continuing to be very patient in moving forward as conservatively as I feel comfortable with. I truly appreciate all of the Covid protocols and LOVE the fact that even though I arrive 10 mins early, as instructed, I have NEVER had to wait to be seen. I am so tired of doctors offices where you can wait 30 minutes plus past your appointment time before even leaving the waiting room.

On February 28, 2022 Dr. Demcoe performed my knee replacement surgery. I have had several knee surgeries completed and a previous knee replacement surgery performed by a different orthopaedic surgeon in another location. I have no hesitation in stating that my experience with Dr. Demcoe has been the best I've experienced both in terms of the surgical outcome and in terms of his thoughtful communication and 'bedside manner'. Dr. Demcoe ensured that I was well-prepared to make the decision to proceed with the surgery and that I had outstanding support through the surgical procedure and with the recovery process. I realize that Dr. Demcoe must be very busy, however, he never seemed rushed during his in-person interview with me nor during the telephone meetings once I had returned to Fairmont Hot Springs. I have been so impressed that Dr. Demcoe follow-up telephone interviews with me that included my physiotherapist and the woman who was providing personal support in my recovery. He asked for updates, provided helpful responses and I left each of the interviews with a plan for continued intervention. He provided encouragement and very clear directions. When we completed our last telephone interview Dr. Demcoe committed to seeing me again in August. That future plan certainly gives me confidence in this surgical journey. I've been clear in my communication with my family doctor, my family and friends that Dr. Demcoe is the most incredible orthopaedic surgeon I have been blessed to be supported by. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being outstanding, I have no hesitation in rating Dr. Demcoe as 10+.

I've been to see this this physician a few times and had always had a positive experience. This recent series of interactions has been quite different and frankly concerning. Per his instructions, I called in after an in-person appointment to report results of an injection he'd administered. This was so that he could confirm the next step in a process he mapped out to diagnose my injury. Admin staff advised me that he'd need to speak with me by phone instead of arranging for me to come in for a follow up injection we'd discussed during the first appointment. A call was arranged for the following Monday at 7:20am. I missed that call and should not have (busy household, kids, etc). When I called back, I was advised I must pay $100 for the missed appointment. That was the first I'd been advised that missing a call would result in a 'fine' (I was aware of the fee for missed in-person appointments). I questioned the fee and advised I'd not be paying the it but rather would be taking time to consider my options with my GP. I called back in again the following day after some consideration to ask if there could be any leniency given. I was advised to go back to my GP and that he'd no longer see me. I offered to pay the fee but was again advised to look elsewhere. That came as a shock and frankly a dramatic over reaction. I completely understand having penalties to encourage compliance however, the practice of charging $200 for missed in-person appointments and $100 for a few minute phone call in particular does seem excessive. For lower-middle class folks like me, that fee will come out of necessities for my family. I know I should not have missed the call. My concern is with the way this was handled thereafter. It was very unprofessional and lacked any consideration for me as the patient who'd been waiting in pain for 6 months for the appointment in order to get my recovery process started. Given my past interactions with Dr. Rajasekaran this was disappointing to say the least. I do hope that, for the sake of others, I'd perhaps just caught him on a tough week and he overreached.