I've been with MedFirst Schertz for my entire adult life, from the time I turned 20 till now, 23…read moreyears later ( I'm 43). I've been through 6 or 7 switches of doctors and PAs or NPs, (starting with Ms. Fikes, and including Blaine Carmichael who I don't care for because he cuts you off and belittles you and makes you feel stupid but he's retired now), their clinic move from a tiny little office space near 3009 to where they are now off Schertz Pkwy, and finally joining up with the best PA ever, James Bell, being devastated by his retirement, the clinic dropping my insurance, having to find another clinic, MedFirst taking my insurance again after a few years (it's ACA) and finally, the golden ticket: Mr. Bell coming out of retirement because he hated it.
During the dark ages that I had to see another provider, I went to Kellum, and they are an absolute nightmare all around to deal with. I went through almost all the same issues as above, but I've always been treated as a pill junkie, my pain has never been taken seriously even though it's debilitating, they miss very obvious causes of issues that took me about 5 minutes to find, they misdiagnose and mistreat, and I seriously consider filing a lawsuit every time I have to go in for anything. The only good thing is that their front office staff is really friendly during check in. And their bathrooms are mostly pretty clean. You don't want to be assigned to Dr. Kellum, who didn't diagnose my dad's very obvious ALS, and he suffered tremendously for it and died early needlessly. A serious and egregious mishandling of his health, because he allowed my dad to keep talking him out of that diagnosis, but he had all the symptoms. Kellum is a man tired of his job and doesn't care at all anymore. I went through 3 or 4, maybe 5, PAs and NPs because the turnover there is so high. I have been with this last NP, Brandi Breur for about 3 years and the only reason I'm still seeing her is because she is able to prescribe a medication I need that Mr. Bell cannot, and I am working hard to find another doctor that will prescribe it instead.
Now for the good stuff. When you see Mr. Bell and his MA, you don't get any of that. He doesn't dismiss you, he listens, he asks question, he reviews your chart and reason for your appointment and any labs right before coming in, and will go over anything important with you. You'll get a quick mini physical every time and not be charged extra for it. Pretty much every visit I have with him is productive and I love his MAs as well. He only has one MA under him, who is dedicated solely to him and his patients and it makes the care you receive much more efficient and reliable. If you send a message on the portal, you'll usually get a fairly rapid response. Typically same-day if you send it early enough.
Now there was one time I was deep into my depression and created a problem that wasn't really there with his MA, who was new to me. We went back and forth and I finally told her I didn't want her to respond to anymore of my messages, that I wanted someone else to handle my situation, essentially firing her from my care, which I have never done. Like I said, I was pretty deep into my depression and feeling some things. That same day I got a call from the clinic from the clinic manager who helped me work things out with her. The next time I saw her in person for an appointment she was so sweet, and held none of it against me. I apologized and we all moved on, and she still handles my care for Mr. Bell and does an excellent job.
Refills and referrals are submitted very fast, but sometimes you won't get notified and you have to go view the portal for the information.
They have an onsite lab so anything they need done there is done right away after your appointment. They have a radiology clinic across the hall that does X-rays and mris and other imaging and I believe they get you in same day too. They have an extensive network of specialists that they can draw from, and you can specify if you have any preferences.
