Patient First - Owings Mills

My baby had a fever so we took her here as her paediatrician was unavailable. We were given amoxicillin as she had an 'ear infection'. The next day we managed to see her regular paediatrician, where they drew blood. Baby had a viral infection and NO sign of ear infection. Once again a gross over use of antibiotics which can be detrimental to children's health. And to top it off,, I'm going to receive a BILL for harmful advice. more

The check in service was the most pleasant of the entire experience. Once admitted a very rude nurse or lab tech sat me down for the usual blood pressure and weight test and asked me to urinate in a cup when I had not yet declared why I wanted to see the doctor. I told her that I felt it wasn't necessary and she embarrassed me by loudly stating in front of the staff that I would HAVE to urinate in the cup or risk not being seen. I refused and said that I would talk to the doctor about it. I was then cattle herded to one of the small non-private offices separated by a shower like curtain. I saw the doctor and he stumbled over his words, didn't make eye contact with me and haphazardly explained why I would have to urinate for him. I reluctantly agreed, and when he left the curtained area I did just that. I went to hand it to him and he loudly stated (embarrassing me yet again in front of the staff) that I was supposed to have done that in the bathroom and sent me on a walk of shame to the bathroom where I was supposed to deposit the sample... How was I supposed to know to do that with no instruction? Am I a mind reader? I decided I was uncomfortable with the whole experience and asked the doctor to not preform the lab work and that I wanted to talk with him in private. He came in and told me tat I was out of line confronting him in the hallway (which he was probably correct about) and started asking me questions like "don't you understand the words coming out of my mouth, aren't I speaking English?" I heard chuckling outside the curtain and when I left the staff was making me feel wildly uncomfortable with their unprofessional stares and whispers. This visit was unlike any I've ever experienced in my entire life... It was like an alternate reality. more

Well what can I say about Patient First... There aren't very many good comments to give this company. The staff is not going to be the same level of service. I'd suggest you go see a real doctor in the first place as Patient First will most likely just take your money and refer you elsewhere anyway. more

My visit to this center was a NIGHTMARE!! I entered the center in excruciating pain with an ear infection. Doctor Paul C. Lane (IDIOT) prescribed me with amoxicillin to clear the infection up, and gave me tylenol #3 (with codeine) for the pain. Simple right?? Needless to say, the medicine prescribed DID NOT CLEAR MY INFECTION UP!! I had to actually spend another $30 co-pay to my PCP 4 days later, to prescribe me a different medine that actually worked AS SOON AS I TOOK IT. They only excused me from work for 1 day after the visit, and I was to report back to work the day after that. I called them to ask for an extension on a Tuesday and they actually told me NO 3 DAYS LATER!!! I can not believe the service that I was given the wrong medication AND was not excused due to that IDIOT DOCTOR not giving me the correct medicine. I am COMPLETELY MORTIFIED that I was treated this way. Will NEVER go to this center again. Probably would have gotten better service if I had just paid my deductible at the emergency room. more

The physician who saw me was terrible! Dr. Lihua Xu made an immediate diagnosis without asking me any questions. She did not seem to care at all about my well-being and simply wanted to get me in and out. Do not waste your money going here. Save yourself time and go to a real doctor! I will never go to a Patient First ever again. more

Both times that I have been to Patient First I have had my needs adequately attended to and my anxieties addressed. It definitely is less stressful than waiting all night/day at the ER and is very clean, the staff is attentive and empathetic. I would definitely recommend. more

As a family member of someone who is dedicated to the facility I know and see about everything. I agree that there is problems as there will be anywhere. I however know the amount of work that goes into the Quality Assurance. It is nothing like a small clinic would have. The centers are frequently inspected by the company itself! Only so much can be done and unfortunately in the Health Field, hiring the wrong person can be catastrophic. Most facilities have wonderful staff but some don't and one bad staff person can mean a bad experience. Also, most of you, not all, don't know what all goes into these centers. Any hospital can be a lot worse than these centers. Which is better a 35 minute wait of an hour wait? All I am saying is that the company tries its best and mistakes happen. It just isn't fair to judge the company based on one visit. If you have three bad experiences than it is OK. But don't tell people off because of a one time problem. Finally, there are 31 centers soon to be 34. I honestly don't think a company would be that big if it has extremely bad service. Thank you. more

Good: I liked the Doctor. Bad: After 35 minutes in the waiting room, I was brought to a cubicle with a curtain, no door. On the way, saw patients walking to x-ray with behind showing in hospital gown. Staff was very loud and joking like it was party time. I waited for 40 minutes more to see the Doctor. She was good and said she would write a script but then 40 minutes later she had not returned with it. Got the nurse to go get her and then on the way out I had to wait another 10 minutes to get 'checked out'.. Improvements: I'd like to see the staff have some professional manners - they loose track of what they are doing in there.. Other: Front desk people are very nice.. more

Patient First is five minutes away from my home and is very convenient for emergency purposes. I have received excellent services and care from there for the past 16 years. It's better than going to emergency. The staff is very supportive and tends to your medical needs. more

Did not have the long wait like an emergency room visit. have severe infection got the treatment I needed and the service was good. more

I have experienced a clinic first had. I don't think I will go back. But, I do respect the people who have dedicated their experience to work there. Patient First clinics do their best to provide the best service possible. Just as with any "franchise environment" there is always the risk of loosing the quality "bedside manner" needed in that situation. That alone can be more stressful than the ailment you seek treatment for. Life will always bring opportunities to be stressed out, the best solution is to create a space in your life where you can manage stress effectively, before you face an added challenge to have to visit a doctor. At The Reid Stress Management Center for Women we provide just that! In addition to Therapeutic massage therapy, we provide stress reduction therapy in the form of meditation hour, work shops, spiritual healing, Pastoral care and a travel club. So next time you visit a Patient First Clinic be mindful of the potential challenges and accept treatment from a perspective of wholeness. After you are all bandaged up... Come see us! more

I was hesitant to go to Patient First because I have a complex history and a couple of chronic conditions that have to be taken into account. I am in town for a couple of months, and do not have a doctor here. The wait was reasonable, the staff were all polite and listened to me. The doctor provided appropriate treatment and told me when to come back to follow up. All in all, they did a better than adequate job. As pointed out in other posts, the doctors in a place like this are at a disadvantage. They are treating patients without the benefit of extensively documented history, so the patient must be informed about their own health conditions and make sure they tell the doctor about chronic conditions, other medications being taken and any history that may be relevant. This is true for treatment provided by any health care professional. If anything does not make sense to you, ask, or get a second, or third opinion. more

I have been there on four occasions, all the times there were new doctors. These doctors think its a joke to deal with health care concerns. This facility should be closed down immeditaley. They are just in the business of making money and donot care about human life. I was prescribed medicines by a new doctor who did not bother to check my history and it lead to an severe adverse reaction on me and when I call them, all they say was that "you should go to a hospital emergency room" after putting me on hold for 25 minutes and transfering my calls to two other people. more

I wasn't impressed at all with the doctors at this place. I went in after falling down a flight of stairs 3 weeks before my wedding because I was so stressed. The doctor refused to give me any pain medicine and instead told me to go home and recite the serenity prayer?!?! Stay away unless this is your only option! The place was clean because it is a newer location. more