Complaint Review: Bourgeois Medical Clinic

Bourgeois Medical Clinic (BMC) is a well-known medical establishment in Morgan City, LA. A large number of local businesses utilize BMC for pre-employment drug screens, physicals, and so forth. Today I got to experience first hand the incompetence and unprofessional attitude of some of the staff at Bourgeois Medical Clinic.

The first issue is the long wait. I was at Bourgeois Medical Clinic for about five hours. About 98% of my time was spent in the waiting room.

The next issue is that they ask for way too much information. It does not matter if you were injured in a wreck 10 months or 10 years ago. You must provide to them medical records that prove you were released from the doctor. This is completely ridiculous! If you were released then you were released. It's documented on the forms you have to fill out and sign stating that all information is accurate and correct.

I am diabetic. Since I had not seen a doctor in a while, they demanded that I get blood work to show that my diabetes is "in control." All of my years that I have worked, my diabetes has NEVER affected my work nor has there been any complications of my diabetes affecting my work. Five of those years were spent working the medical field.

I stated to them that I did not have a doctor (a doctor must order this blood test). They stated that I could easily go to Chabert (one of the charity hospitals) and get this done. Ummm.. No. This is not "easily" done. First you have to get an appointment with a physician and then the physician has to order this blood work before anything else can happen. At Chabert you are looking at 1-3 months wait before you can get an appointment to see a physician. How is this so "easy" when you need a job and the only thing holding you back is an incompetent medical facility such as Bourgeois Medical Center?

I asked the woman at the desk how can my diabetes consider me "not able" to work. She said that it just does. I was never given any rational explanation. I stated that the matter was compltely ridiculous. In a cocky tone she stated it was not ridiculous.

I noticed a sign on the front desk that stated "Bourgeois Medical Center DOES NOT tolerate the use of profanity." I have never seen such a sign at a medical facility before. After what I have gone thorough I can see why people might use profanity. You are treated like crap and forced to wait long periods of time.

Some people might say that you have a choice of what doctor you want to see. Not in this case. As previously-mentioned, Bourgeois Medical Center has contracts with a large amount of the local businesses. Therefore, either you do EXACTLY as Bourgeois Medical Center states or they don't pass you on your physical and you don't get a job. They don't care whether you like them or their facility or not. Bourgeois Medical Center is making large sums of money off of the physicals, lab services, and so forth. They are already making money. Why should they care if you like them or not? Why should they care if they are holding you back from getting a job? They already have money!

I have spoken to quite a few people and another medical establishment about my issue as I am trying to get the blood work done. I have been told by all of them that they are not surprised to hear me say these things. It seems as if this is normal for Bourgeois Medical Clinic to treat people in such a way.

I will be filing a complaint against the doctor that refused to approve my physical (Donald P. Thibodaux, M.D.) with the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners. In addition, I will be filing a complaint with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

It's time that the Bourgeois Medical Clinic learn some bedside manor and the Patient Bill of Rights. Then again, I guess when you have all the business and have no one to answer to, why should you treat people with respect?

I also plan on consulting an attorney. I feel that I have been discriminated against based upon a medical condition.

Nicholas
Morgan City, Louisiana
U.S.A.