Patient Experience
As a 32-year-old competitive cyclist, I went in for what I thought was a routine physical for a new racing license. Dr. Baykal noticed a slight irregularity in my heartbeat that others had dismissed as 'athlete's heart.' He ordered specific stress tests and discovered a previously undiagnosed arrhythmia that could have been dangerous under extreme exertion. His meticulous attention during a routine checkup probably saved me from a serious cardiac event during a race. He explained everything with diagrams of electrical impulses - I've never understood my own heart so well.
My 87-year-old father, who has both diabetes and early-stage dementia, was admitted with severe dehydration and confusion. Dr. Baykal didn't just treat the numbers on the chart. He spent 45 minutes with our family, explaining how the dementia was affecting Dad's ability to manage his diabetes, and created a coordinated care plan with the neurology department. He even showed me a simple chart to track Dad's fluid intake. For the first time in months, I feel we have a roadmap, not just a prescription. His holistic approach to geriatric care is extraordinary.
I brought my 5-year-old daughter to the emergency department at midnight with a 104°F fever and a strange rash. Dr. Baykal was the internal medicine specialist consulted. While the pediatrician focused on the immediate fever, Dr. Baykal connected her symptoms to a family history of autoimmune issues I'd mentioned in passing. He suspected Kawasaki disease early and initiated treatment before all test results were back. His ability to synthesize emergency symptoms with broader medical history in a frightened child was nothing short of brilliant. She recovered completely because of his swift, integrative thinking.
After a complex abdominal surgery at another hospital left me with persistent, unexplained pain and digestive issues for 8 months, I was referred to Dr. Baykal. Instead of just ordering more scans, he conducted a 90-minute 'detective session' - mapping my pain against my surgical report, asking about specific foods, and even how I slept. He identified adhesions and a bile flow issue that everyone else missed. His follow-up protocol involved coordinated video calls with my surgeon and a nutritionist. For the first time since my operation, I'm pain-free. He doesn't treat diseases; he solves medical puzzles.