Two things, number 1:
I haven't needed to go to my PCP for much other than a yearly physical. I got a bad upper respiratory infection the beginning of December 2013 and called this office (I am one of Dr Schuck's pts) several times. After 3 days of calling I finally got to speak to a random nurse. I explained my symptoms and explained that I just wanted to tell my dr what was happening so that she could make a recommendation as to whether she thought I would need to be seen (again, no insurance so pay out of pocket). I did not want to go in if it wasn't necessary. I asked for the Dr to call me back and waited a couple more days after leaving a couple more messages (realing feeling like crap at this point). Finally the office manager called my back and told me that I would not be able to talk to my Doctor unless I made an appointment to come in. This tells me that the emphasis is placed on the dollar, not the patient. I can't get 30 seconds of my doctors time? And I am supposed to trust this person and practice with the care of my family? Laughable. I am a practice manager for a living and our practice always makes time for patients, and will have a patient come in for a 2 minute consult if they don't have the money to pay just so we can give them a quick checkup to prescribe a medication. I wasn't looking for a free visit, I would have paid. I just wanted 30 seconds of my doctors time.
Second:
They never, ever take you in on time. My wife is there for a physical right now. Her appointment was at 1:45 and she texted me around 2:15 saying nobody told her about running behind, apologized, or anything else and that she was still in the lobby. Again, as a practice manager, this is ridiculous. Even as a human this is ridiculous. You make a 1:45 appointment and don't bother to tell the patient that you are sorry, the doctor is running behind. Or hang in there, we will be right with you, sorry about the wait. Or anything. Again, completely unacceptable. This is the same practice who I have overheard while waiting in the lobby trying to reschedule a patient for being just 5 minutes late. They don't care about your time, but don't mess with even a few minutes of their time because they will not see you!
These things both tell me that the practice in general does not care about their patients in the least bit. I no longer trust that they will do the right thing for their patients. What I would like in a practice is for them to medically dedicate themselves to the well being of their patients. I understand that they are a business and need to make money like any other. I have money to pay them even without medical insurance, but they chose to not help me when I was sick and not have enough respect to take us in on time, or let us know when they cant. read more