Beaufort Memorial Express Care and Occupational Health, Okatie

"By far the WORST Doctor I have ever had see me in an emergency situation anywhere in the United States. I got injured on my job on Dec. 21, 2023 but waited until the next day to go over to the Urgent Care Walk in for BMH in Okatie because I didn't feel good after I got hurt and was not in the mood to sit in a waiting room for who knew how long. The next day Dec 22 I make my way over there at 9 in the morning hoping I would make it in pretty quickly. I was seen by the P.A. who took all of my vitals and asked me the typical questions with an injury such as mine. I had been working in the Walk-in putting my delivery away. Most of the things I have to move are cases of frozen food that is solid and weigh about 40 lbs. In this case I was working alone and picked up a case to put it up on a shelf and I lost the balance of the box and in doing so I twisted my back as I lost it and also wrenched both wrists backwards. This is nothing that I have not done throughout my whole career as a Chef and Ex Chef but this was me trying to get things done. The P.A. refers me to P.T. which I found to be odd given that they do NOT know what exactly I might have done to myself in this situation so putting me in P.T. without any X Rays or MRI is really quite sketchy. They gave me some wrist braces which were the worst fitting braces that I could have been given since they impeded my thumb and my fingers from being able to write, use a computer or drive myself home from the walk in. Three weeks went by which included me having to get really assertive with the insurance group that my company works with for Workman's Comp to get a pair of wrist braces that were more in line with my needing along with getting me in to see a REAL doctor which was necessary just to get the braces ordered because the Workmans Comp people wanted a Dr. to sign off on them and not a P.A. I went to meet with the Doctor.....Dr. Kaup......who comes into the room and immediately dismisses my injury as it not being that bad? REALLY? I will be the judge of what I have experienced and what I am feeling regarding my overall ability to do my job. I had to sit there and bite my tongue because knowing that this was a Workman's Comp case.....I could not say a word. I told him that I needed him to put it in writing that I was unable to do any lifting or pushing of anything of weight but he said he couldn't do that and said he would allow no more than 5 lbs to be lifted and no more than 10lbs to be pushed???????????? He said he would not put me out of work to try to work on rehab so I stood the chance of continually exacerbating my injury because when you are allowed to return to the job you do companies DO NOT care about limitations. YOU DO THE JOB!!!!! This doctor then tells me he will put me on steroids or painkillers which I said I would not take. I WILL NOT take anything that is going to prevent me from feeling what I am doing to myself further injuring me due to a false sense of confidence of the strength of my back and both of my wrists. My case worker was in the examining room with me. She represents the insurance company that is the liaison to Workman's Comp. She heard it all. We walked out and when we got outside the building I told her that I have never ever been dismissed by a doctor before and that I had no intention of returning to that one. She told me that she already had it in motion that I was going to see an Orthopedic at BOSS in Bluffton and that I would NO LONGER return to Dr. Kaul and BHM. I went this past week and met with Dr. Stolmeyer at BOSS. What a difference...like night and day. He was a bit taken aback that there were not films or MRI that had been done. He didn't understand why that was not the first thing that should have been done in order to qualify what happened and what was going on. He has now prescribed an MRI since my XRay that was done at that same day in BOSS came back with all of my skeletal imaging being good and clean of any issues. IF you need to go to the BMH walk in.....DO NOT have Kaup address your needs."

"Went in because I was having problems after a cold. Quick with everything! Put in room asked little questions by both nurse who acted like she could care less to be there. Doctors walks in very quick with everything where seemed like nothing was recognized and didn't ask me what was going on. "Prescribed medication" but never put it in to pharmacy. I am starting to hate beaufort memorial now. Why do all the doctors have to be so dismissive and have to be in and out quick now!? This is not how you treat patients! Will never go back again!"

"I have always had great experiences at the Okatie Express Care. That is until yesterday(1/22/24). I am prone to sinus infections and had all of the symptoms as I usually have, and instead of waiting until I was worse, I went in for some meds. The Dr who saw me was rude and dismissive of my concerns. She basically walked in and said that I had a cold and to tough it out. She barely scoped my nose while even telling me it wasn't necessary to see an ENT because I have a common cold, which I don't. She said the only thing she could do was give me a doctor’s note, which wasn't necessary. She showed no care or concern about how I was feeling. DRs. usually put me on meds so I don't get any worse. This Dr paid no attention to what I said and didn't ask for any of my symptoms. I'm still feeling horrible today but can't get into the ENT for about 3 weeks. I knew that, which is why I went there instead. Next time, I'll drive somewhere else. She didn't bat an eye when I said my daughter (who was with me) had a 102 fever yesterday but seemed OK today.. didn't look at her or even offer to look at her. She's not even 2 yet and was coughing and draining quite a bit. As a Dr, I'd be more concerned if I were her, but she was in a hurry."

"I have always had great experiences at the Okatie Express Care. That is until yesterday on Halloween. I am prone to sinus infections and had all of the symptoms. I felt horrible and was looking for relief. Dr. Goetze was rude and dismissive of my concerns. She basically walked in and said that I have a cold and to tough it out. She did not even fully examine me (as she stated on my patient portal that she did). She said the only thing she could do is give me a doctor’s note. She showed no care or concern about how I was feeling. After just reading the other reviews here about her, I am surprised she is still permitted to practice there. Zero bedside manner and concern. On a better note, the receptionist (name started with an M) couldn’t have been nicer and was very sweet. Today, since I still felt so horrid, I was able to get in to see my ENT who actually did a full exam and scoped my nose and said I indeed have a sinus infection as the frontal sinuses were infected! She said I definitely needed an antibiotic and steroid to clear it up. I am so glad that I went and didn’t wait and “tough it out” as I was told at Okatie Express."

"TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE!! Don’t go. Went to Express Care for an open wound. They REFUSED my request for a culture. Dr. Geatz never gave me a script for an antibiotic. My wound got worse, infected & swelling. The nurse is rude and incompetent."