MIchael Cortez Md's Online Review Report Card

My husband and I are both nurses with over 30 years of experience. Our son who is 32 yrs. old was put on hospice with Vitas. Every request we asked for our son’s comfort was refused by this doctor. He gets upset if you ask him to explain why he said no on things requested for comfort. You literally have to explain to this doctor that your son is having trouble voiding and needs some further.He is demeaning and disrespectful to my husband and I. He told my husband that our son would be dead in one week. His pat answers are always “I’ve never ordered that in the last 30 years working with hospice and not going to start now .” Vitas hospice and Dr Cortez have no compassion for the patient or the family for end of life preferences. I would definitely choose another agency if you are looking for hospice care for your loved ones. We chose to go to another hospice and saw a huge difference in the care and and medical personnel. My husband and I were so thankful that we fired that physician!

Terrible corporate policies with phone support after business hours. Medication mix-ups with their pharmacy in Memphis, Tennessee via Fed Ex. Then three days before my wife died she suffered a seizure for two hours due to being put on hold for 45 minutes before I could speak to a nurse. The in-home nurses and aides were great, but I am lambasting their touted 24/7 access to "care." Then two days ago they offered me bereavement support with the same 24/7 phone access. No way and their business machine is clearly at fault. I am awaiting an apology from their corporate headquarters in Florida so that another person will not be treated in the same manner. Shame on their management system. Jim Pasadena, California

The last days of my son were filled with pain and screaming. It was handled so poorly by Vitas. No one should have to go through what this family and patient went through. We're all traumatized by the events of the past 3 days. The 1 thing hospice should do is control pain. And they couldn't do it. It was awful and this company should be not allowed to practice any longer

I just wanted to thank the team that helped in comforting my wife and myself prior to her sudden passing. Everyone involved was very dedicated to her. I know she felt at ease with all of them, despite her constant pains. My many sincere thanks, Rick Gomez

I had no idea such a profession existed until my wife's cancer became terminal. They provided everything related to comfort medication and pumps to DME equipment as we needed it without question. When we started needing 24 hours nursing, they had the most loving, compassionate people in the world coming to help care for her. I honestly don't know how I could have survived watching my wife die without there intervention, compassion and caring. There was no family to help, they were invaluable in helping me get through this.

Dr. Cortez spent about 45 minutes with my sister and I discussing our mother's condition. We were very thankful that Dr Cortez was able to give us the insight to our mother's condition and made us comfortable in allowing her to pass away without additional pain and suffering.