This office does not take covid safety seriously. At all.
I only went here because he was automatically assigned as my PCP through Medicaid. For the record, I never actually ended up seeing Dr. Ponieman, I ended up with Dr. Torres for some reason.
For my first appt I waited an hour to be seen in an overcrowded tiny waiting room, absolutely no room for social distancing. Some people waiting had masks under their noses. No effort from reception staff to enforce proper mask wearing. Both women working at reception had masks on their chins. Technically the front desk is in another room and you talk to them through a glass window, but still a terrible covid precaution for a health practice. When I finally saw the doctor I said I wanted a covid test in addition to what I was there for (physical and some rx refills) and he said okay. I get sent back to the waiting area to wait to be called in for blood work. After my blood work is finished I ask about the covid test and she tells me they don't do the tests there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Last but not least, even though the prescriptions I needed were pretty basic things I've been on for years, I was required to come in for a follow up to review the blood work before he would fill them for me. The waiting room was empty this time, although the PA was talking with someone with the door open, both of them with masks pulled down. I don't recall if this happened the first time or not, but Dr. Torres was unable to keep his mask above his nose. As he spoke, it kept sliding down and he'd pull it back up. This happened at least six times in a ten minute time frame. This is a doctor, almost a year into a pandemic, and we still don't know how to wear masks that fit correctly???
Reception also left the enclosed area with mask on her chin to throw out her Dunkin' Donuts garbage in the patient waiting area. Highly doubt there's not a trash can under the front desk.
Never returning to this office. read more