Dr. Monteith Dumond Austin, MD

I went to the Reedley e.r. with horrible abdominal pain. I was transferred to the Selma Hospital that night. I met Dr. Austin the next morning. He recommended I have my gallbladder removed. He doesn't sugar coat anything and borders on being rude. I prefer this than a doctor who wants to joke and acts like surgery is not that big of a deal. Dr. Austin made sure I knew all the risks involved with both having the surgery and not. After the surgery he came and talked to me and made sure all my questions were answered completely. He did take a couple phone calls during our talk but you could tell they were about current patients. I am absolutely satisfied with him as a surgeon and would definitely recommend him.

Horrible abdominal pain. Dr. Austin came to hospital Sat. 8 am after I was admitted from ER (Ambulance to ER 3:30 am). He explained in clear terms what CT scan revealed (blocked small intestines) and told me they were attempting to clear blockage without surgery and that if this appeared not to be working, surgery was only option. Hr made sure my pain medication was sufficient to address pain, was clear, concise and empathetic. After his initial visit, both my husband and I knew we were in good hands. 45 hrs after start of pain and 36 hrs after admittance to hospital , My pain increased significantly and at 10:00 PM SUN. night, he began surgery. His last visit just prior to surgery, he carefully explained what he hoped to do and what might occur. Although all of this occurred throughout a weekend, I always felt he had more than enough time for me. After questioning my favorite nurse following the surgery, she advised he called frequently to see how his patients were doing and gave instructions that he was to be contacted on his cell phone (not through an exchange) if there was any change or cause for concern. Long story short, I'd want him to be my surgeon, should there ever be a future need and God willing, there will NOT be.

I went to local ER with what stomach pain. All tests didn't reveal any problems with my appendix. But Dr. Austin could tell there was something wrong. He took me into surgery to remove my appendix. He told me that it didn't look right so he removed it. He sent it off to a pathologist and it came back positive for Carcinoid cancer. If he didn't look past the typical test and look at the symptoms that I was having my appendix would still be in my body and I would have never known about the Cancer. But thanks to him I now know and have a fighting chance at saving my life. He is an awesome surgeron who cares about people and puts them above the so called tests. We all know what is like to take a battery of tests only to hear they are all negative and to be sent away still in pain or sick like I was. But he didn't look at these tests he looked at me as an individaul and could see there was a problem. We need more doctors like him. I am so thankful that he didn't just go by the fact that the ct scan showed my appendix to be normal. Apparently these tests aren't as accurate as they would have you believe.