I have been with Bristol Gastroenterology for years. I have found the doctors in the practice to be wonderful, same with an APRN I once had.
The issue I have had is with the office staff and procedures. The office hours are until 5pm, which would be fine, except on three separate occasions, I have called the office around 4:15-4:30 and the message on the phone system said they were closed and to call back during office hours.
I was told, at one point, that a prescription would be immediately sent over to my pharmacy during a visit I had. 7 hours later, I get to the pharmacy and it was not ready. I waited two days, and returned and it had never been called in. I called the office, and after quite a hassle, was told it would be sent over.
When the doctor I had been seeing for over 15 years retired, I was never informed. I called the office to make an appointment, and I was told, quite rudely, that the doctor had retired and I was being switched. The woman who informed me of this said it in such a tone that I should have already known. How would I know if I was never told- no letter, nothing?
When changing doctors, I was told that there would be a $0.65 per page fee for my medical records. Apparently this is legal. Generally, the fee is waived as a professional courtesy if the new doctor requests the record, but, according to the Bristol Gastroenterology office staff, this isn't true for this practice. They charge no matter what, although I firmly believe that my records are just that- MY RECORDS.
Then, I was asked why I was changing. When I mentioned the old doctor retiring, I was told that they put multiple notices in the paper, because it was what they were legally required to do, and this is how I should have known. I DO NOT RECEIVE, NOR READ THE LOCAL PAPER. How about a letter to long term patients? How about updating your own website? Even 3 months, 6 months after he retired, he was still listed!
So- if you want a top notch doctor, and can deal with a hassle, this is your place.
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