Karin A. Pacheco, MD, MSPH

I found Dr. Pacheco to be very through and detail driven. I can remember her exam of me for metal allergies in 2013 prior to a knee replacement. She guided me through a reaction to nickel in staples used in the surgery. I am currently reaching out to her again and found her easily accessible. Thank you National Jewish!
Sep 27th, 2021

Told her patches don't stay on back as I get drenching sweats. Didn't even make it home and they were off. I even have air conditioning in my SUV that works great. Dripping sweat down my back. (They say don't get it wet.) Went back to have patches on my arms. Stayed on this time. Arms really red and bruised afterwards. She said just a reaction to the adhesive, no allergies to metal. Was positive years ago when tested. The little boxes started to show up after the last time I saw her as some of the redness was disappearing. She was very confused and disorganized. I have no faith in what she said. Kept telling me blood work for metal allergy not ready yet. Then when I said I would tell my insurance I was not getting results I receive a message saying she said you are not allergic. I doubt they ever got the blood test results. Not having stents placed. They can't be removed. Just no faith and it's my life on the line.
Jan 30th, 2023

Review for Dr Karin A. Pacheco seen at National Jewish Health in Denver Terrible doctor. No understanding or belief in complex, chronic, environmental illness. Was told I had anxiety and I should breathe into a paper bag due to hyperventilation - I have never hyperventilated in my life. Instead of remaining agnostic and curious she quickly came to a conclusion that allowed her to feel she was in control and understood the problem (she didnt). She offered a baseless and unhelpful solution and doubted my ability to accurately self-report symptoms, even doubting my ability to know if I had cold symptoms or not. Meanwhile I have been sick for four years and can no longer work due to illness (I have since found doctors who believe me and are willing to help). This was an incredibly disheartening and painful experience. Ideally doctors should be curious and understanding with a desire to help and investigate the unknown - even with complex, chronic cases that are beyond their general scope. Karin reached the limits of her knowledge and instead of remaining open she deceived herself and attempted to deceive the patient with doubt and skepticism, going as far as to tell the patient that their experience was not actually possible. She attempted to blame the patient for four years of chronic illness; likening the problem to a psychological imbalance and hypochondria, instilling even more suffering in the patient. Her main focus seemed to remain in control and not admit the limits of her understanding, the areas where her knowledge and training failed her. She remained in a state of denial and just wanted to get me out the door. She gave me a psych diagnose for a non psych condition, making it nearly impossible for me to come back for help. I have since found doctors that are willing to help. This illness is not hypochondria. It is not an anxiety disorder. Eventually research will validate the experience of patients like myself and Karin will be confronted with her mistreatment and misdiagnoses of patients.
May 8th, 2021