Sabin Shah's Online Review Report Card

I had scheduled elective surgery on a full thickness tear of my rotator cuff at UCI Medical Center, Orange. My selected physician was Dr. R. Gupta, a stellar orthopedic surgeon. During the pre-op in clinic process, I met Dr. Sabin Shah, a resident. What a gem he was to turn out to be! Because I have a mechanical heart valve, out- patient surgeries become 5-8 day hospital stays for me since they have to deal with anti-coagulant issues resulting from my need to take Coumadin (a blood thinner) and manage a window of time safe to protect my valve and also safe to perform surgery. So I basically become a perfectly healthy individual in the hospital walking around attached to an IV infusing me with Heparin (faster acting anticoagulant that is administered via IV) waiting for my blood levels to become therapeutic. I've had this mechanical valve for 12 years and have had, unfortunately at least four surgeries since then. I self test my blood at home and under my cardiologists guidance, I self dose according to my cardio's guidelines. As a result of this, I have a history and knowledge of how much the doses need to be to attain therapeutic levels. Suffice it to say, after surgery there was a huge disconnect between what the in- hospital pharmacy recommended and what my experience had been with prior "loading doses" of Coumadin. Enter Dr. Shah. Dr. Shah saw me every single day of my five day hospital stay, sometimes twice daily when required. When I brought the dosing issue to his attention-he was ON IT! He consulted professionally with the hospital departments needed and I received the proper "loading doses" required to safely and quickly get my blood levels to a therapeutic level. There ended up being a few other "hiccups" with regards to medication and the pharmacy, which Dr. Shah very quickly resolved. He was always available and offering reassurance. One day, late in the evening during a walk around the hospital floor, my husband and I saw Dr. Shah waiting for the elevator (hopefully on his way home) and I had a few concerns which I addressed with him. He easily could have pushed them off by following up the next day or leaving and later calling in. However, he walked back to the nursing station with us and he went to work dealing with the "situation." What a fine, fine physician UCI is fortunate to have on board! A professional, personable individual that you can tell truly cares about his patients. There is nothing mechanical or short-spoken about him. With a tremendous bedside manner, this physician will go far and I've no doubt if he were to eventually start his own practice - patients would be willing to travel far and wide to consult with him. UCI Medical Center, when Dr. Shah is done with his residency here, you'd be very wise to offer him a fellowship! He is one of the finest physicians I've met! My sincere thanks to you Dr. Shah.