Letter: Isam gets apology from local Community Clinic

Michael T. Isam
St Augustine, FL

Dear Editor:

Tuesday, May 26, 2015 was a good day!

Randy Stapleford, aide to Rep. Ron DeSantis, sent a Congressional Inquiry to folks at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, part of the North Florida South Georgia Veterans Health System, concerning the way I was treated during my recent visit to the Community Based Outpatient Clinic.

In turn, the Medical Center in Gainesville sent a letter to the Chief Medical Officer of the Community Clinic in St Augustine, Thomas E. Mckenzie, D.O.

Dr. Mckenzie, who is an internist, called me to talk about it and get clear on my side of what happened. As a result of that conversation, we are working on getting my prescriptions here more quickly, and I have been transferred to him.

Dr. Mckenzie apologized for what I went through, and I told him that it was better that it happened to me rather than some of my veteran friends; or, there may have been cops, arrests and who-knows-what.

On a personal note, I also found out there is no damage to my heart muscles, my blood flow is really good, my pulse is better than normal and I am on the mend. I still have to back off a lot of what I have been doing — that’s to be expected.

I extend a most heart-felt “Thank You” to Randy, Bill Dudley, and Jerry Cameron, for kicking this upstairs and helping me reach a successful conclusion.

Thanks to all of you who sent me a “get well” message and prayers for my recovery. Glad you all have an inside track! And, a special “thanks” to my brother from another mother, Michael Pullium, for letting me safely explode!