Dr. Jeffrey E. Gittins, D.O.

The staff at this facility is great. The office is clean and everything a person could ask for. Dr. Gittins, on the other hand, is a criminal. It would take hours to explain every detail involved in how Dr. Gittins is the epitome of everything you fear in a doctor. I'll do the best I can in this short post. If I can save one person from being treated by this man then it'll be worth it. I came to Dr. Gittins because my knee hurt. He recommended I get surgery on my foot. It had been broken for 2 years and was never a problem before then: at the time I was running everyday, ~6 miles a day, and I had run 2 marathons just 7 days apart the month prior (in October 2015). I asked him if I got surgery what my chances were that I would never run again. He said "There are none." It was a standard procedure that carried very little risk, I was told. I agreed to the surgery. During my first post-op appointment I was told the screw 'moved.' Dr. Gittins implied it was something I had done. I was in extreme pain during the healing process and, as such, I asked questions (a fact which visibly irritated him). Dr. Gittins told me that there would be no long-term damage. I asked if, because the screw had completely missed the target and was sticking into the bottom of my foot, there would be excess scar tissue that would cause problems in the future. He said there wouldn't be any. My treatment progressed and my foot got worse. I eventually got the screw removed and the pain didn't stop. It wasn't until my last 2 appointments, appointments that Dr. Gittins conveniently missed, that I was able to speak honestly with his PA Megan. She told me that there would be excess scar tissue and that, yes, the pain would be there forever. She recommended I get orthopedic foot inserts, special shoes, and walk as little as possible. I went from running 6 miles a day, dancing and walking non-stop everyday, to that. For the rest of my life. Since then I literally haven't been able to stand without pain. I have to ice my foot when I get home from grocery shopping. Prior to this I never had to ice my foot before - not even after running 63 miles in 7 days. I've had 3 more operations on my foot since November 2015 simply trying to undo the damage Dr. Gittins did. Each doctor has told me the same thing; there is no possible way the screw 'slipped' into that position that caused all the damage. It was put there like that initially. Dr. Gittins made a mistake. That is forgivable. What's not forgivable is the way he treated me during the extreme pain I experienced because of his mistake, and the way he lied me to me throughout our relationship. What's not forgivable is that during my initial appointment when I told him "I run 10 miles a day. I ran my first 2 marathons a week apart last month. Now my knee hurts" he wrote down in his notes (which I have copies of) "He is preparing for a marathon and his foot hurts." In all, Dr. Gittins does not listen to his patients (missing details of huge importance), lies and covers for himself when he makes mistakes, and will make you feel uncomfortable and unwelcome if you show any intellectual curiosity as to your injury/operation. He does this because he knows he can get away with it. After speaking with several lawyers I've learned that in Ohio doctors are very protected. They know that they can drag any lawsuit out so long that, unless you literally lose a limb, end up in a coma, or die, no lawyers will take your case . I actually know a man whose son had to get his foot amputated as the result of a failed unnecessary surgery and, after the lawsuit, the doctor only lost his license. Neither the patient nor the family was awarded any compensation. In all, what Dr. Gittins did was criminal and he knows he can get away with it. There are better doctors in Columbus/Ohio. I used to hike, dance, and run. I was always active and on-the-go. Now I can't walk 1 mile without having a pulsating pain. I sincerely hope you don't ruin your life by letting Dr. Gittins treat you like I did.