Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs

For individuals in the Atlanta area seeking a "Heart Doctor Near Me" who specializes in thoracic surgery, Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs, located at 980 Johnson Ferry Rd NE # 800, Atlanta, GA 30342, USA, is a listed provider. However, it is crucial for prospective patients to consider all available information when making healthcare decisions. The following introduction provides an objective overview of this practice based on the explicit feedback shared by patients online, which details significant negative experiences.

The environment and operational efficiency of Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs, as described by the reviewers, raise considerable concerns. One patient recounted a highly disorganized experience surrounding a scheduled thoracoscopy. This included a lack of proactive communication regarding a pre-procedure appointment, significant difficulties with the telehealth platform (even two years into the pandemic), and a complete breakdown in communication on the day of the virtual consultation. The patient described a situation where the phone lines were in "lunch mode" during their appointment time, leading to over an hour of waiting and ultimately missing their own work commitments. The subsequent virtual interaction was described as "bizarre," with the doctor allegedly being on another phone call and not acknowledging the patient immediately, raising privacy concerns.

Another patient who underwent surgery at this practice reported "many issues" since the procedure in September 2023. They expressed feeling dismissed when attempting to contact the surgeon regarding these issues and strongly recommended that others avoid this provider to prevent potential "headaches." This feedback suggests significant concerns regarding post-operative care and communication with the surgical team.

The interaction between one patient and Dr. Gouldman during the eventual virtual visit was described as highly negative. The patient reported that Dr. Gouldman appeared agitated and seemingly reviewed their information for the first time during the consultation, despite the appointment being scheduled for a pre-operative discussion just one week before the planned surgery. Dr. Gouldman ultimately refused to perform the procedure, citing reasons that the patient found dismissive and based on generalizations about female patients with left-sided chest pain. The patient's attempts to understand the rationale were met with an "annoyed" and unprofessional question. This abrupt cancellation one week prior to the surgery had severe consequences for the patient, who had made significant personal and professional arrangements, including non-refundable travel expenses and a five-week closure of their own practice.

Based on the name of the practice, Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs, the services offered would primarily focus on surgical treatments for conditions affecting the chest cavity, including the lungs, esophagus, and other thoracic structures. Potential services may include:

• Thoracoscopy and other minimally invasive thoracic surgical procedures
• Lung surgery, including procedures for lung cancer, emphysema, and other lung diseases
• Esophageal surgery for conditions such as esophageal cancer and motility disorders
• Surgery for mediastinal tumors and cysts
• Chest wall surgery
• Pleural surgery for conditions like pleural effusion and pneumothorax
• Diagnosis and management of thoracic surgical conditions
• Post-operative care following thoracic surgery

However, the overwhelmingly negative feedback regarding the operational aspects and patient interactions raises serious concerns about the features of this practice. The reported issues with scheduling, communication (both pre- and post-procedure), and the manner in which a critical pre-operative consultation was handled suggest significant shortcomings in patient care and administrative processes. The abrupt cancellation of a major surgery based on seemingly subjective reasons, coupled with a dismissive attitude towards the patient's questions, indicates a lack of patient-centered care in at least one instance.

The negative feedback regarding post-operative support further detracts from the perceived features of this provider, suggesting that patients may encounter difficulties if complications or concerns arise after their surgery.

Currently, there is no promotional information available for Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs based on the provided reviews. The experiences shared by these patients serve as a stark warning rather than an advertisement for the practice.

For local users in Atlanta searching for a "Heart Doctor Near Me" who specializes in thoracic surgery and are considering Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs, it is strongly recommended to carefully review the detailed and highly negative experiences shared by previous patients. The reported issues with scheduling, communication, the conduct of pre-operative consultations, and post-operative support should be given significant weight in the decision-making process. Prospective patients may want to seek additional information from other sources and consider alternative thoracic surgeons in the Atlanta area to ensure a higher standard of care and a more reliable patient experience.

Given the severity of the concerns raised in the provided reviews, it would be prudent for individuals seeking thoracic surgical care to exercise caution and thoroughly investigate other options. The potential for significant logistical issues, unprofessional interactions, and abrupt changes in treatment plans, as described by these patients, warrants careful consideration before choosing Northside Thoracic Surgery - Sandy Springs as a healthcare provider.