I am really giving zero stars. My first child had eczema, not severe. Dr. Shailesh Shah of Dracut Pediatrics in Dracut, MA gave me a prescription strength cream for eczema. I was surprised at that, but I was a new mom and trying to follow doctors' orders. My mother did her research and discovered that the cream could cause cancer. I did not feel comfortable using this drug on my newborn. When I called to inform him I would not be using the cream he replied, "Too much of anything isn't good." That was strike one for me. He was not gentle while handling my girl. So much so that she became afraid of doctors. That was strike two. Lastly, she had come down with a case of diarrhea for over 5 days. He told me it was Rotavirus. I didn't know this at the time, but my daughter was already vaccinated for Rotavirus, as most children are. A doctor should be aware of this. Another day went by, I called his office. She still has diarrhea. He told me my house needed to be cleaned top to bottom, strongly blaming me for not keeping a clean house. I called the office and told the receptionist I was picking up my daughter's file. She quickly put it together that day, no questions asked. Probably because it was done before. I switched to Chelmsford pediatrics at Dr. Gilchriest and Dr. Sevigny's office. Dr. Gilchriest Sr. told me to sit down and said, "Rotavirus should only last for 5 days. Your daughter has had diarrhea for 30. I don't know what this is. I'm sending her to Children's Floating Hospital today." Needless to say, I was scared out of my mind for my child's life. I went to Children's Floating Hospital and informed them all of the troubles Dr. Shah gave me at Dracut Pediatrics and my baby girls' condition. They didn't know what it was either and had to run several tests. They found that she tested positive for C. Diff. It causes severe inflammation of the colon and can be fatal. It can be caused by the overuse of antibiotics and by contact with fecal matter. She also had a bowel blockage. Needless to say, the C. Diff. and the bowel blockage could have been fatal. Children's Floating Hospital gave my daughter the correct treatment and she recovered with flying colors. I don't know what I would have done if my daughter had been physically damaged or worse. I probably would have not been able to be held responsible for my reaction. A friend of mine also took her daughter to Dr. Shah. He diagnosed her 3-year-old with asthma. Her daughter developed a cold and was having trouble breathing one night. She called in the middle of the night to tell Dr. Shah that her daughter was having trouble breathing. When he was on the phone with her, he said, "I can hear her, it sounds like she just needs to cough up some phlegm." Then her daughter turned blue, and Dr. Shah replied with the same answer. She hung up the phone, took her daughter to the emergency room, and her daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia. Not asthma. I have spoken to other moms in Dracut who told me that he has diagnosed their children with Asthma and prescribed them inhalers. In the end, a mother's instinct is paramount over anyone else's recommendations, professional or not. I got my daughter out of a dangerous situation... I am writing this to educate and, hopefully, keep other children safe. read more

I work in an office and the way that the front desk talks to people at Dracut Pediatrics is NASTY. They harass you and the attitude coming through the phone is unbearable. They called me a today about a bill that was overdue, I have tried to change my address there four different times and obviously they are not saving it on file there because I never received it in the mail. I tried changing the address on four different times with them on the phone twice, and two other times the appointments I have gone to! I'm sorry your incapable of saving information at a healthcare practice, maybe if you focused more on your work and not being upright horrible humans to people that call or come into the office you would see more then ten patients a day! I can not wait to pick up the records and NEVER return to this practice. It's absolute trash! read more

Dr Shah was the pediatrician for my 3 children for almost 15 years. There were many times my child would comment on how Dr Shah spoke during physicals. Specifically weight being a factor instead of using constructive guidance words like 'fat' were used. Over the past year, there were 2 other doctors my children really enjoyed.. We stayed for these reasons. Over the past 6 months - 1yr both doctors left the practice. Then the office manager left the practice. There were so many changes in the office, it was hard to keep up knowing who was who quite honestly.. Lastly, I scheduled 2 of my children together for a physical & was a 'double appt'. The day before their appointment, sadly one of my family members passed away. Both my husband and I were trying to sort family matters out & decided to push out appointment. We realized we had a miscommunication because he thought I called to reschedule - I thought he had already called. We both take 100% accountability & was entirely our mistake. Naturally, we planned to pay a 'missed appointment fee' & reschedule their physical. Instead of we were rudely informed by the front desk that Dr Shah is discharging my family from his practice & had 30 days to find a new pediatrician. I asked to speak with Dr Shah directly & was informed she would pass this along to Dr Shah... Never received a call. So again after 15 years - this is how my family was treated. I put many unpleasant visits to the side and inappropriate comments to the side as well - and stayed. I do believe after my 3 children were seen for so long & this is how patients are treated in a time of need, I refuse to be quiet. Lessons learned. read more

Dr.Shah was my doctor growing up (I'm 31 now) & I always had an up and down patient relationship with him. One minute be would be kind and understanding, the next, rude and degrading. When I had my first child in 2010, I was nervous to go to someone I did not know, so I decided to go with Dr.Shah, since I was comfortable with the practice. With my first, again, a very up and down relationship, but not so bad that I would leave. Then my second came along in 2014, so naturally I had him see Dr.Shah as well. This is when I started having more negative experiences with him than previously. My middle has a lot of issues with reflux as a baby, and Dr.Shah made me feel as though I was crazy. I had to fight for 6 months just to get him on medication and the right formula. Then, when my son was around 2, he began having issues with eating, and it was brushed off like it was nothing, even though he wasn't growing or gaining. Fast forward to spring 2018 when I had my third and final child. From the moment he started seeing Doctor Shah, it was one battle after another. Our most recent appointment ended in tears and embarrassment. I will not go into detail, but all I will say is how unprofessional it is to degrade a mother in front of her children, and a nursing student! So much to the point that I was crying in the office, and the nursing student apologized to me after he left the room. It is truly such a shame that Dr.Shah cannot get off his high horse and remember where he came from, and why he became a doctor in the first place, because when he was good, he could be great. However, in most recent years, his personality and attitude towards his patients has been appalling. I've waited almost 2 hours at each appointment to be seen, and when I am seen, it's constant shaming me for my concerns. The only reason I am giving his office two stars, is because his office staff are incredible. They will be the only part that I will truly miss about his practice. Here's to hoping he either gets an attitude makeover real soon, or retires. read more

The office staff and nurses here are wonderful. Dr. Shah has a terrible bedside manner and is straight out rude. We stopped scheduling appointments with him some time ago due to these problems and only scheduled with the NP. Tonight we were forced into a situation where we had to see Dr. Shah, he proceeded to become rude, condescending, and somewhat belligerent regarding my childs visits to the ER or walk-in clinic (after hours when his office is closed or on weekends). He ended up with raising his voice to me babbling about "if thats the kind of care I want for my child I can find another pediatrician". I told him if he did not want us as patients that was fine, just say so and we would seek a new PCP. He rolled his eyes and stalked from the room. We will miss Melanie and the rest of the staff there, but Dr. Shah is no loss at all. Melanie thank you for the past couple years of excellent care. read more