My primary PCP stopped taking the new health insurance I signed up for starting New Year's Day, so I was stuck trying to find a new one for the time being until ACA rolls over again. I now (grudgingly) understand why a certain segment of the population was so up in arms about the idea of losing their PCP. Trying to find a new one (I've had the same one for so many years I lost count) leaves much to be desired, from the receptionist's demeanor and onward. I tried to set up an appointment with Anshu Raj, M.D., who seemed to have reasonable online reviews. But the receptionist I talked to just threw me off. I asked for a full physical, and she told me it was "the doctor's prerogative" to not do a full women's physical exam. I stated again that the entire reason I was setting up the physical was to get the entire WOMEN'S exam. She said the doctor "might not have time." This seems completely illogical to me. If I'm calling WEEKS in advance and specifically asking for a specific type of exam, then why not book me at a time when there is INDEED more time. It's not like this was an emergency exam wedged in between two other patients. This appointment wasn't going to be for about a month. Once again, this same receptionist made a comment about it being "the doctor's prerogative." The whole conversation was condescending and a little too flip-mouthed for somebody to be talking to me like that at her job. For all I know, Dr. Anshu Raj is great. But presentation is everything, and first impressions matter. I'd rather hold off until 2023 and pay the higher rate to get my old PCP back. I don't have time for this foolishness. Further complicating matters, AMITA Health is now Ascension; all the phone numbers run together so you don't know which office to call; the Evanston number has been off the hook and busy for the past 30 minutes; and their staff won't let you get an activation code to set up your online profile or schedule an appointment online. I never had ANY of these issues with my last PCP. I'd rather pay double and see a doctor I already trust than to deal with this level of mediocre online and phone service. read more

If you're looking for a referral doctor then this is the place to go. I ended up in the hospital for a blood sugar spike. I explained to the hospital that I didn't have a PCP because the practice I was going to kept having doctors leave. They referred me to Dr. Raj who is inside AMITA Evanston. My first visit the residents were all very nice. They got all my medical history and left and returned with Dr. Raj. We went through some things and then she started giving me a list of referrals for a diabetic eye doctor, an HIV specialist and an Anticoagulation Clinic to manage my blood sugar medication. I told her I had already seen a different diabetic eye doctor and her reply was for me to provide her with his credentials. I then told her I hadn't seen an HIV specialist since my initial seroconversion and all my medication was handled by my PCP's for the past decade. She said she wouldn't manage it and sent me out the door being asked to return in 2 weeks. Since I travel for work and they only take appointments mid week I returned three weeks later and I talked to the new residents again about my HIV medication telling them that my friends had gone to the specialist she referred me to and they had all left his practice. I told them I didn't see why I needed a specialist since I was undetectable and my treatment was well managed. When they came back in with Dr Raj then she exasperatedly told me again she wouldn't handle my HIV treatment and told me I needed a Pneumovax23 vaccine. I told her I thought I had just recently had one at my last PCP was looking in my electronic chart to confirm yet she still ordered the vaccine. When she left the room with the residents they left the door cracked and went out into the hallway to debrief with the residents about my case where they all started joking and laughing about my interaction. DR. RAJ HAS NO BUSINESS WORKING IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL WITH THE IMPROFESSIONALISM SHE DISPLAYED. I tried to contact the hospital but they don't have a means to reach out to them for quality control other than a survey which you can't tell is for the hospital stay or the doctor so this is the only route I had to let it be known. read more

Dr. Raj is one of the best doctors I have ever had. When I saw her, I never felt rushed or inconsequential. She took into account every detail of my health history, past and present, to do her best to diagnosis and get to the bottom of my medical issue rather than just fix individual complaints. I think it's refreshing to know there are still doctors out there like Dr. Raj who actually use their vast medical knowledge and experience to think of alternative ways to improve their patient's life rather than have their patient continue to take current medications or follow medical plans that are clearly not improving his health. read more

This doctor is highly irresponsible. As a new patient I met with her for over an hour and was delighted in thinking I'd found my new doc after I lost my old doc from switching health insurance providers. I went over my medical history in detail (nothing that out of the norm) and let her know I've been taking a specific anti-anxiety med for the last 10 years with great results along with more homeopathic remedies. Fast forward to me needing a refill for said meds and the doctor as a nurse call to tell me she can not prescribe me this basic med (that my past 3 doctors over the years filled with no issue) because she basically did not believe in it and suggested I'd be better weaning off it all together! It unbelievable that a doctor who's only met me once would suggest I change my medication this radically. This is the second time I've been shamed by this medical group for taking an anti-anxiety med. I wish this doctor would have been upfront with me and tell me she 'didn't believe in these meds' to begin with and It would have saved me a lot of time and money. Now I'm back to where I started and have to go through the dreaded HMO once again to find a new doc who is in network and is taking new patients. read more