Avoid Dr. Ellis ! ! ! My adult daughter & her 2 yr old son went here for a sick appt. Fever, fussy, upper respiratory, cough) Came to this location due to earlier appt avail. 10:40am (instead of 3pm) at the Cedar Park office. I work in the building & joined them. I paid co-pay up front & then we waited. After 15 minutes, I told my daughter I needed to get back to work. I left and got busy. Later, I checked my phone, I had missed a text from my daughter, it arrived 30 minutes ago. I assumed it would be a post-visit update. Unfortunately, NO! They were still in the waiting room!!! Her son was worse (she was sick as well) I asked if they were back yet and she said no. It was now 11:45 am!! Over an hour in the waiting room with a sick 2 yr old, no one said a word to her. I encouraged her to ask about the delay. (Why should the "customer" have to ask the provider about the extended wait??) I kept texting on and off with my daughter. After another 15 minutes. they were taken to an exam room. I was about to have my lunch break, so I called my daughter on the phone (instead of texting). Her son was crying "home, home" in the background! Informing me that when they took them back to an exam room the assistant told her that the doctor was with an emergency patient who came in before they arrived. My daughter was so upset, not feeling well and her son was having a meltdown with the excessive wait. I decided to go back downstairs to this office. As I approached the front desk to ask if I could go back to the room, my daughter (holding my grandson) exited one of the exam rooms & was in the hallway. I told the front receptionist that was her & they said I could come back. As I entered the back area, my grandson was crying as my daughter was explaining that she was ready to leave. They had waiting over an hour & a half & did not know how long it would be. She explained that her son was hungry, tired (he is sick, and it's now after 12:10pm) & they were not going to wait any longer. I spoke to one of the assistants & asked why they did not provide updates to those waiting & asked how much longer would it be? I hoped the "emergency" was being resolved.
Dr. Leighton Ellis, exits the emergency patient's room. A young boy darts out & two parents follow, trying to catch up with the child. Dr. Ellis joined my daughter, myself, grandson & now two medical assistants in the hall and asked what was going on. My daughter briefly explained the situation & Dr Ellis, said "oh well, that's not my problem." Dr. Ellis, then pointed to the assistants and said, "talk to them about it." I stated that she needed to take some ownership & not just pass the buck. Dr. Ellis said, "well, I'm done with the emergency and will see other patients now." I asked if my grandson was next. Dr. Ellis asked the assistant who was next. There was one other patient ahead of him. Dr. Ellis said, "too bad, someone else to see first," and turned her back, walking away. I was shocked at her flippant, arrogance. My daughter was heading out the door, I asked the desk to refund me my co-pay, so I could leave too. I was informed that they could not refund the co-pay without my card.
I sprinted up then back down several flights of stairs to get my credit card. Returning to North Austin Pediatrics, the receptionist said, "oh, I don't need your card, I just voided the transaction." I took the receipt and left, trying to catch my daughter in the hall. She had left. I went back to the pediatrician's office, hoping to obtain the name of the office manager & the names the staff. To address this ordeal later. I was told the office manager was in the office & could see me now. I met with him & explained the situation. He defended his staff saying my daughter received updates every 15-20 min the whole time. One of the assistants was there also & said they did not update her in the lobby. The other assistant then came to the door & confirmed that my daughter was only told once about the delay & it was when she was brought back to the exam room. Not again. Simple communication along the way would have produced a better outcome. Ken agreed.
Enter, Dr. Ellis again. Not knowing that we all were aware and agreed that the communication was poor. Dr. Ellis walked up to me & said, "I don't know what your daughter told you, but she is lying to you. She is a liar & we updated her several times" I was so shocked!! I returned with a finger near her face and stern "you don't know what you are talking about, do not ever call my daughter a liar". Then Ken grabbed me by the arm, pulling me out of his office!! He stated he was calling the authorities and I "could not talk to the doctor like that". I said "she cannot call my daughter a liar." As I was trying to leave, he got in my face, called me a hysterical crazy woman blocking my path to the door. I had to move around him to leave exit. Dr. Ellis now following us, saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry". I left in complete shock, crying. read more