Charles Mcdonald, MD – California Pacific Medical Center

I had a sudden breathing problem arise in April and after visiting several doctors to no avail, I was referred to a lung specialist. It’s tough to get a specialist in the city, so after calling 5 pulmonologists I found Dr McDonald through CPMC and scheduled an appointment 40 days out, the quickest wait I could find.
He said he wasn’t sure why I had shortness of breath and prescribed advair, although I had no allergies, and scheduled a pulmonary function test. He said he would give me a call after it was finished. After I had the test, I did not hear back, so I called his office. The receptionist asked if I was a patient then took down my phone number and said he would call me back. He never did, so I called his office a few more times, each time the receptionist asked, «who are you?», «Are you a new patient?» and «OK. What’s your phone number? I’ll have him call you back.»
When he finally called I missed it, but Dr. McDonald left a message suggesting I do a complete pulmonary function test, a more rigorous version of the first test. I completed the test, and again did not hear back. Again I called the office 3 – 4 times and again the receptionist said he would call.
In the meantime I was able to get a chest x-​ray, a chest CT scan and an exercise test where they monitor lung capacity. All totaled i had 5 of the best tests to diagnose a lung issue, but could not reach the doctor. After playing phone tag for over 2 months I again missed his call. He left a message saying, «I am leaving the country for a month. I do not know why you have shortness of breath. I did not see any chest x rays on file, so I recommend you get one, and a CT scan.» I had asked the pulmonary technician who ran my test earlier if he had access to my records, to which he said, «yes, everyone at CMPC does,» and pulled up my tests right there. He ended the call musing, «You might just have tiny lungs. Some people just have tiny lungs.» I had no shortness of breath before April, so I suppose he thought they shrunk.
I found a great primary care physician through UCSF who reviewed my tests. She thoroughly walked me through my test results, showed me what the numbers meant and diagnosed me.

Years ago my lungs were in very poor shape and I was spiraling out of control. I could not walk a city block if there was even a slight breeze, cold air, fog or rain. In and out of emergency rooms from bronchial congestion; Uncontrollable bouts of coughing kept me sleepless for years. I was at my wits end when I was referred to Dr. McDonald. He was a no nonsense physician and sized up my situation, prescribed relevant testing and a course of treatment. He got my lungs stabilized and I have continued to trust his guidance over the last 12 years. He is highly trained in his field and one can expect excellent treatment. However, the quality I value the most is his willingness to be there in an emergency. I have called him from all over the world and I’m embarrassed to say sometimes it wasn’t at a decent hour. I would trust my life to him. He has been there for me when I felt the most vulnerable; sick in a foreign country where I couldn’t speak the language. He is now and always will be my hero.

A great experience! Dr. McDonald was thorough and kind. His staff is wonderful on the phone and in person. And a big thumbs up to the x-​ray department at 2100 Webster! I was in and out of there in 15 minutes with a thankfully clean chest x-​ray.

Several years ago, I had three successive bouts with bronchitis, and I had been noticing a lethargy that affected everything from my workouts to my work. Frustrated with my primary care physician of the time, who kept telling me nothing was wrong, I asked a friend with physicians in the family if she could recommend someone. They sent me to Dr McDonald.
After thorough testing, DR McDonald told me it was asthma, and he put me on a course of treatment that has me feeling just fine. And I rarely get sick anymore; when I do, it’s usually just a cold.
Dr McDonald’s professional skill is rounded out by his empathetic nature, which helped me deal with the idea of having a chronic disease, not just the symptoms and effects. Dr McDonald is a terrific physician.

office visit — march 13^th.
doctor #5 of 6
condition:
violent cough for 1.5 months.
severe rib pain.
mcdonald: usually i don’t see people until they’re coughing for over 2 months.
me: …umm…
mcdonald examines me. ‘so what do you want to do?‘
me: …umm… what do YOU think?
mcdonald: well, you could take Advair, but i don’t think you have asthma. do you want to try it?
me: …umm… sure.
…
wow. no help whatsoever.
it’s like i was blind.
in the dark.
in a dark tunnel.
…you get my drift.
i hate U.S. health care.
i’m moving to france.