JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A neurologist has opened a new clinic in Jacksonville after his previous employer closed its practice suddenly in late November, leaving patients in the region without neurology services.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sashi Taravath opened Brain Matters Neurology, located at 3391 Henderson Drive, this week after the permanent closure of Jacksonville Children\u2019s & Multispecialty Clinic of Neurology.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to continue serving patients because a lot of them were coming to see us, and there are no other neurology service providers, so they were depending on us,\u201d Dr. Taravath said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Taravath said the sudden closure of JCMC wasn\u2019t handled properly, leaving patients looking for answers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unfortunate that patients were not given proper recourse to continue their care,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ernie Leonard, who first started seeing Dr. Taravath at a Havelock facility a few years ago, said he\u2019s happy the doctor now has his own practice.<\/p>\n
His wife, Joyce Leonard, said JCMC was difficult to work with.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a very hard time trying to get into his office. They wouldn\u2019t return our phone calls, and they ordered the wrong tests that Dr. Taravath requested,\u201d Joyce Leonard said.<\/p>\n
The Leonards said the issues with the old clinic extended beyond scheduling problems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe weren\u2019t upset about their closing, but we\u2019re upset that we cannot get my husband\u2019s medical records and the tests that he had done there,\u201d Joyce Leonard said.<\/p>\n
Dr. Taravath said he hopes to see more familiar faces as the community learns about the clinic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we did provide excellent service and good care, and I\u2019m sure most of the patients would love to come back and see us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always felt it\u2019s our duty to provide the service to people in this part of the state where there is no one else to provide that care,\u201d Dr. Taravath said.<\/p>\n
He declined to comment on why the old clinic closed. He said he brought some staff members with him from JCMC but hasn\u2019t hired a nurse practitioner yet. He said that a hire will be made soon.<\/p>\n
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