I recently met with Dr. Cole to address hormone issues I've been dealing with. Based on the great reviews, I felt she might be the right person to help find the answers and solutions I was looking for.
I'd been going to another local hormone specialist, and wasn't totally happy with the results I was getting. It was kind of a shock to learn that her consult fee is $400. Other specialists in the area charge 1/2 as much. My health is a top priority for me, so given the reviews I figured she must be worth it.
Making the appointment was easy. I was told she books out months in advance, but was given a cancellation spot the following week. I was also informed that she's always running late and it was okay to come late to my appointment. That was odd to me. What type of professional doctor does that? And also has the staff tell patients they will have to wait well past their appointment time?
The day of my appointment, I arrived on time and ended up waiting 45+ to see Dr. Cole. The office is okay. Very small waiting room and the doors are all open, so you can see and hear everything going on in the office. The front desk person was nice and chatty. Everyone else was, well, not as pleasant.
I finally got to see Dr. Cole after waiting close to an hour. She came across as scattered, unfocused and not very professional. New clients have to fill out all kinds of history forms which takes forever. I wasn't impressed when she started asking me the very same questions in our session. Why did I spent 20min writing the stuff down if she was just going to use our appointment time to ask the same things?
Anyways, I explained why I was there and what I was experiencing. She didn't really take my opinion or experience into consideration before deciding what she thought the problem was. Her manner was pretty abrasive and very much the "expert". Didn't care for her manner or approach at all.
A few minutes into the consult staff members began interrupting our meeting. People just opened the door and walked in. They'd ask Dr. Cole about other patient files, the internet and stuff like that. It was one of the most unprofessional experiences I've ever had.
After I'd shared my history, symptoms etc. Dr. Cole told me it would take another 2 consults with her at $400 each to determine a treatment plan. She always said I needed 5+ tests none of which were covered by my insurance totaling and additional $2k!! Basically I would need to spend $1200 in office visit fees + $2k in tests and then she'd be able to give me a diagnosis and treatment plan? I explained that I wanted to go the most cost effective route, and she just didn't seem to hear me or take that into consideration.
Based on my experience with other hormone doctors, in my option she's WAY over priced and far too scattered for me to feel comfortable and trust her as a physician. My personal feeling is they are taking patients for as much money as they can y calling the it the center for age management. Like it's some cutting edge facility when the hormone doctor down the street does the same things for way less. I've never gone to a doctor who charged a HUGE consult fee, then charged you again to give you your results, and then planned to charge you AGAIN just to get a treatment plan.
Truth is, if she was professional, on time, focused, delivered value in all of her appointments, took my needs and concerns into consideration etc. I would consider spending the money. But Dr. Cole did none of those things. Meeting with her showed me how much better the other Dr. I'd be going to was.
One off the biggest red flags for me was seeing Dr. Cole and her staff. I believe that a Dr. and the office staff are a reflection of the services being provided. Nobody I met, including Dr. Cole, appeared overly healthy, youthful, focused, personable or that they were managing the aging process well. In fact, the front office clerk said she had the same hormone issues I did and that they were still a problem.
If the doctor hasn't helped herself, or her staff, I'm doubtful she'll be able to help me. Dr. Cole might have 20+ years of experience, but to me it doesn't show in her professionalism or approach to treating clients. read more
