I am a disabled mother with loads of spinal issues. After recently moving to the area, I have been in tremendous pain. As a cash-paying patient, I was inspired by the 'Payment Options' content on Dr. Alterman's website that stated 'Health on a Budget'. That page has since been taken down from Dr. Alterman's website. I was also inspired by Phase I of her relief care plan which states, "if you are in pain when you come to our office, the first objective is to help you feel better".After leaving the first message within Dr. Alterman's office hours, my enthusiasm dimmed. That afternoon, I left a 2nd voicemail in between calling her office several times. I was in tremendous pain. Finally, I received a call back the next day from the receptionist. She scheduled my first appointment, informing me to expect the appointment to last for 90 minutes, that the appointment would include an exam, treatment and a manual adjustment. She never mentioned x rays so I didn't take my xrays. On the day of my appointment, I called several times to confirm directions only to get the answering machine every time. Five minutes before my appointment, I received a call back from the doctor who informed me that I was in the wrong parking structure. A bit lost, I finally arrived in her office with my little girl 15 minutes late.
I asked the doctor if she accepted my insurance. She told me that she does not accept any insurance plans, contrary to her website information. I was confused. Accustomed to receiving chiropractic treatment between 1-2 times per week, her fees were not within my budget. Remembering Dr. Alterman's 'Health on a Budget' option, I asked if there was anything she could do to help me out. She became agitated and told me that she was not in the habit of negotiating (I had tried reaching her office in advance to review payment options but no one answered my calls). Meanwhile, my little girl was playing with the toys that were in the office. The doctor became annoyed and suddenly ushered her off to a complete stranger in the waiting room asking the patient to 'take care of her'. I was appalled by her cold and harsh treatment. She became edgy and irritated as she proceeded to examine my spine with a fancy computer program that kept crashing. After reviewing the computer report, she stated that the exam was complete and that I could leave. I felt so uncomfortable. When I asked her about the treatment, in a huff, she told me that she had a patient who had been waiting for 30 minutes already and that there would be no treatment. I was shocked as she grew angry and said that she would not see me again. Wow! How this lady humiliated me was beyond belief. I just hoped that my little girl did not notice her caustic behavior. As she left the room to get her next patient, she passed right by me, ignoring me as if I wasn't there. I was mortified. She contradicted her website data when she told me that she does not accept insurance or provide relief. Never have I been so offended by a doctor. I hope for that others seek and find a compassionate doctor who truly cares for the needs of her patients. read more