It's a struggle sometimes. I've yet to find a PCP that I felt I could confide in, and that is sometimes VERY NECESSARY.

If only I could give them 0 stars. First they take away the Doctors to save money and now you can't even get in to see a Nurse. Over a year to get an appointment. The system wants you to go to the emergency room so your co-pay is now 200 instead of 40. It's all a scam. read more

As I said before this factory medicine. Don't be 2 minutes late. Come back to the exam room and wait for 20 minutes. They are fine for sinus infections and sprained ankles. Anything more complex--go to someone who knows something. We are blessed. The world's best medical care is 2 hours away in Boston. Brigham and Women's wants a referral. But as long as VMG gives you that referral, BW will see you. Schedule online and see a world class doctor. Bay State has 3 or 4 neurologists. Brigham and Women's has 130. Yes one hundred and thirty. I spent 5 minutes talking to a new patient advisor. She decides which one of the 130 doctors you need to see. I am lucky. I have phenomenal health insurance. I hope you do too. read more

This is not the kind of place I would trust with my life, or anyone else's for that matter. Don't go here unless it is a last resort. 1. the doctor in mammography told me that she could force me to have a breast biopsy, even though no anomaly was present. No one can force a patient to undergo any medical procedure that is not acceptable to them, yet this doctor looked me in the eye and told me that she could force me into this biopsy when it was not needed or necessary simply to satisfy the fact that medical science is studying "something" that pertained to me; 2. The doctor examining my eyes told me that the plug that had been placed in one tear duct for dry eyes had travelled to the tear duct in the other eye. I thought she was joking because this is medically impossible. She told me she was not joking; 3. The people in charge of podiatry referrals kept mine secreted away. Each time I would call for a podiatry appointment, they told me that they did not have the referral. So, I had to call my doctor's office to find out what happened. After several months, one of the secretaries let it slip that they really did have it, but did nothing except to deny me an appointment. By then, the pain was out of control. Finally, after being able to be granted the appointment, the doctor gave met he most apathetic exam you could ever imagine and sent me home to suffer it out while they said they were trying to get preauthorization for a procedure that was automatically acceptable to my insurance company. I had what I thought was a long wait for the second appointment, only to learn that the doctor decided not to come in that day. It was cancelled. I tried very hard to think of why I had merited this kind of treatment, and decided that there was nothing in my conduct or appearance. It could be that it is because I have Medicare, IDK what the real problem is over there aside for the lack of empathy, expertise and substandard patient treatment. This type of gross incompetence would result in lawsuits had the recipient means to hire a lawyer. People like this should not be in the medical profession AT ALL! read more

So I am sitting here at the lab waiting for my appointment which was 7 mins ago. I was told that there are six people in front of me. Either (1) this is a place that overbooks (2) this is a place that allows late people have priority over on-time people (3) is understaffed or (4) the worst-- allows lab walk-ins take priority over people with appointments. Whichever reason it is---- This place does not respect the busy lives of patients. There is no excuse for having six people in front of me when I am on time for an appointment. read more

Made an appointment with their cardiologist, Dennis Reison, two months in advance. Less than a week before the appointment I received a text saying my appointment was canceled. That's it. Later I got an email saying that there was a conflict, and telling me to reschedule. Not even his secretary called to explain or apologize. Why telling me only now? I'm withdrawing from that practice. I can't trust them. read more

This is a review for eye care and the optical shop. I had a bad experience trying to get contact lenses here and I would recommend going elsewhere. The woman at the optical shop was extremely difficult to work with. She took days to return my calls, and then she claimed that my insurance would not cover my contact lenses and was very dismissive when I tried to get more information. I even got the insurance customer service rep to call the optical shop to explain my benefits, and the woman still refused to place the order! I gave up and went to a different shop (For Eyes in Cambridge), and got my contact lenses 3 days later with no problems. My experience with the eye care department itself was a bit better, but still not great. The doctor changed my contact lens prescription strength, but she didn't give me a trial pair. I had to call back to ask for a trial pair and then wait several weeks for it to come in. read more

Very, very rude staff in Internal Medicine. Very, very uncaring and unprofessional doctors there. 3 visits in a row, I was treated abusively, left to wait endlessly in the exam room, and then given crap medical treatment. I waited over a year just to get a physical, and I arrived 20 minutes early for the appointment. Even though I got there early, I was rushed rudely, spoken to like a prisoner, and physically treated roughly. Wendy, who didn't identify her title or job, left me to rot for 30 minutes while she and my "doctor" stood in the hall and had a raucous conversation about personal details of the patients!!!!! After listening to this for most of my scheduled appointment time, I came out and interrupted the party. Neither Dr. Vigderman nor "wendy" had any apology for their unprofessional conduct or wasting more than half of my scheduled appointment. I took over 6 months for Vigderman to give me a referral for hand therapy , and in the meantime, my injuries became permanent. Total neglect. Totally unprofessional. Total incompetence. read more

I had my first colonoscopy experience at Valley Medical Group and was left in the procedure room for over 20 minutes to stare at the equipment. I was traumatized and would NEVER use this facility or the GI physician from Hampshire GI in Florence, MA. I would never use these people again. Go somewhere else. I did not feel safe. read more

This facility has gone very down hill in the last number of years. Doctors are leaving the practice, patients too. It's is nothing better than a walk-in clinic who put bandaids on issues and do not thoroughly or comprehensively diagnose or treat. Rude staff (medical and administrative), and medical staff lacking experience. Patients get passed from nurse to nurse and there is often not one doctor to oversee a person's case. It's a shame that is had declined so much from what it used to be. I am leaving the practice (have been a patient there for years) and don't recommend. read more

I have been going to Valley Medical for years. Mostly good experiences, and they can meet many different needs. Not super nice about being a few minutes late, yet if you arrive on time, you will likely wait. The people are generally friendly and helpful. read more

Was there on the psychology end last year and was provided incorrect information about my psychological conditions. When I asked about certain aspects of my behavior, struggles with socializing, and asked for insight on other conditions, I was showered with compliments rather than given actual psychological advice. I finally went elsewhere after I left the state and I have been receiving *actual* psychological advice and I am truly being psychoanalyzed and I'm finally improving. This place was a waste of my money and time. Speaking of money, they tried to charge me extra for my co-pay until I pointed it out. read more

I would be highly critical of VMG-Amherst on two points...1: their Patient Portal is nearly non-functional...it is extremely slow, and 2: two or three of their MDs are verging on incompetent, not seeming to know what they are doing. My highly competent PCP has unfortunately retired, and I feel like I'm left just holding the bag. The software could presumably be fixed; not all portal software is ad bad as Athena's. The flawed MDs are probably there as a result of very poor management. I am at a loss to know how I should respond, other than moving to another provider, but this is quite problematic... read more

I was with this practice from 2000 for 15 years. I used to see Dr. Lauren Proctor until she left somewhere around 2010 at which time I was assigned a new PC. I loved Dr. Proctor and was sad when she left. My new doctor, who is not an MD but an osteopath, failed to diagnose me for 20 months with a cancer called multiple myeloma. She never investigated further than simple blood tests even though I fractured 2 ribs within 3 months (we didn't really know they were fractured or why, but in spite of my complaints and pain, she basically shrugged her shoulders and let me walk around without any investigation). After that, I had anemia, elevated blood protein levels (very high!), more unexplained bone pain, bumps on my bones that would not go away and had me in level 10 pain (ie, tears, immobility, doubling over). All of these are symptoms of multiple myeloma. By the time of my diagnosis, I was at Stage 3, the most severe stage of mm. Why she never ordered a CT scan is beyond me. At one point, I asked her if I could have bone cancer and she said, "No, you don't have calcium in your blood." I could scream. I have looked back at my records and have had them reviewed and was told that she missed sign after sign of myeloma. I had never heard of it, but an entire medical team missing it for almost 2 years? Do you feel safe knowing this? Stay far away, your life may depend on it. My prognosis for living well or long is severely impacted by the negligence and lack of knowledge of my PCP. I even saw an MD when I tripped and had intense, debilitating pain in my acromioclavicular joint (it was fractured, but no one ordered any x-ray even though the pain was incredible), but he did not do ANY investigation, simply offered to shoot cortisone in my shoulder joint. My prognosis is worse since no nurse, tech, MD, the PT who had me in tears when she was working with my arm, nor my PCP had any care to investigate further or put their heads together even though I kept coming in with issues and symptoms from May 2012 through January 2014 when I was finally diagnosed via CT scan. If my PCP had ordered a simple blood test or CT scan way back in August of 2012, when my second rib fractured for no reason (from picking up a basket of towels!), I might have been spared all of the bones in my body being destroyed by lytic lesions (myeloma eats away at bones). I also had a broken radius, 2 fractured ribs, a fractured fibula, and damage in my femur. All of that would have been prevented, except for the ribs, had my PCP known about myeloma. I am convinced that she had never heard of it before me. Never have I received an apology or acknowledgement that they screwed my life. Run away from this practice as far and fast as you can. Horrible. read more

At the time of my physical in 2018 I made an appointment for June of this year. A few months ago, I learned from a phone call that my doctor wouldn't be able to keep that appointment and I rescheduled for August. Today, another phone call, another broken appointment, and I was told my doctor wouldn't be able to see me until 2020, but I could see a nurse practitioner in August. Anyone who thinks that Valley Medical Group or their doctor in that practice cares about their health is one or two phone calls away from learning how wrong they are, as I did today. read more

I had a colonoscopy on March 6th and they gave me propofol even though I told them that I am allergic to it! I had a horrible adverse reaction and they just blew me off afterwards. I will be meeting with whoever is in charge soon. Do not trust them if they tell you to ignore your gut instinct. They are mechanical and lack bedside manner. read more

The left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. The receptionist tells me I don't have to go for labs until October. I told her "But a month ago P.K. office said I needed labs in August because for the first time in my life I apparently need labs done twice a year because I take lowest dose of Simvastatin" Dr. Cav. never had me get labs twice per year. Receptionist: "Oh, wait, its coming up now, um, yeah, you are due in August." Last basic labwork cost me about $150 out of pocket at this place? I do pay over $700 a month for insurance, but with all the ridiculous co-pays and deductibles, this is simply just another way of taking more money out of the working class to pay for the non working class if you ask me. I will get my lab work done elsewhere for free and they can send the results to the PA at VMG. I literally waited to get up North and went to the Urgent Care in York, ME vs going to VMG. I think they are all about the billing!! Who pays a co-pay at their annual P.E.? Well if you tell them someone is wrong, they will not only add on a co-pay, they will charge you extra for your annual PE. Dr. Cav always told me "You can talk about anything you want during your annual Physical exam." Not at Valley Medical folks, so patients beware. read more

I made a appointment for 9:45am and wrote it down. When I show up at 9:40 the receptionist tells me it was at 9:35. I told receptionist that was not the time I was given. She tells me i'm late and can' be seen. Seriously??? 5 minuets late when I usually spend 15-20 mins in the waiting room before my name is called? That' obnoxious. The attitude there is ridiculous. And it's sad because I have been going there since I was a kid. Had enough of the attitude. I Will find a better provider for myself and family. Rob McAllister jr South Amherst read more

This review is for a routine colonoscopy that I recently had performed at the Valley Medical Center (VMC) Ambulatory Surgery and Procedures Center in Amherst. I don't normally write reviews for medical facilities, but this facility was so well run I had to write something. The preparation package that was provided to me a few weeks before the procedure was very comprehensive and easy to understand. The nurse who called me before the procedure was helpful and very professional. She answered all of my many questions and helped me to better understand the process and procedure. When I arrived at the facility I was greeted by a small team of nurses who admitted me and set me up for the procedure. They were helpful, explained what they were doing, and worked hard to put me at ease prior to, during, and after the procedure. The were empathetic and 100% professional in every respect. Without going in to any details, I'll just say that the doctor was great and the actual procedure was much less traumatic than I had imagined it might be. In the end I found that 99% of the difficulty and stress of the colonoscopy procedure was the preparation process that you must go through starting two days before the procedure. The actual procedure was a piece of cake, thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at this facility. One final word - the facility itself is totally modern, uses up to date equipment, and is spotless. In my view it is clearly maintained to very high standards. read more

I was a patient of Valley Medical Group for a few years but at this point have absolutely lost my patience. A few months ago I had an appointment scheduled at this facility. I traveled 45 minutes to get to my appointment and when I got there they told me that the doctor wasn't in and that they forgot to call me. Also, a few months ago I requested my medical records. I'm still waiting for them even though I've called Valley Medical Group multiple times to request the records and check up on their status. A few weeks ago I was told I would have my records within 3 days. I'm still waiting. The administration of this office is absolutely ridiculous. read more

These doctors have all been great, and that includes the Northampton doctors. I have seen four of them over the past year, and each one has been empathetic and reasonable and communicative. No complaints. I like the centralized system. I just met Dr. Feinland and thought he was great. I got seen on a Sunday in Northampton without a previous appointment. That was a miracle and I was so grateful. read more

New to this practice. Moved to Amherst and tried switching from my original doc of 15 years. I have high blood pressure. The PA who saw me a few times barely got out "high blood pressure" before she was saying "medication". Terrible. Also she said if I get these couple tests under a physical, they'd be covered under insurance. 1500 dollars in medical bills later... Pretty sure this is malpractice. Now the old doctor says I'm a new patient because I saw someone else a couple times and can't come back. Love the world of US medicine. read more

I've spent 20 years with this ever-devolving medical practice and I'm finally fed up. Not a single NP I've seen is still there -- rats leaving the sinking ship? I could tell stories here for hours. Coughing up blood 15 years ago, went to VMG, got a botched x-ray and had to go back for another to see if I had lung cancer. Waited, waited, finally figured out it must not be cancer since nobody bothered to tell me the results. What was it then? They apparently didn't care, as long as it wasn't that nice cash cow, cancer. Two years ago, such bad shoulder pain I could not lay down to sleep, it took 3 months to actually get help but only after yelling at the doctor who insisted I had to see a surgeon first after I told him repeatedly that I could not have surgery because of time lost from work with no pay. Over and over -- and not even to mention the "mistakes" in billing. They call this CARE????? I had a covid test on Monday, supposed to have results in 48-72 hours, 96+ hrs later, no results -- I have to have a negative test so I can go back to PT (elsewhere!) and it now looks like I'll miss my Monday appointment, too, all because of this lousy incompetent insurance mill. I despise them. If I could give them 0 stars, I would. read more

Senior citizens beware! My aging mother had Valley Medical as her primary care, and the care was terrible. Long waits, rude and unsympathetic staff. I remember taking her to Valley Medical when we suspected she had a urinary tract infection. We only got to see someone when after a 45 minute wait, we threatened to leave. Last year, when faced with the threat of a move to a nursing home, my mother committed suicide. Where was her doctor? read more

What is wrong with this place? Everything! If you don't have 15 minutes to wait on hold for a human- don't bother. If you do get an appointment, and your doctor spends more than 10 minutes with you, someone keeps walking by knocking on the door just to remind them they're spending too much time. I guess your doctor wouldn't know how much attention you actually need. This was explained to me after I asked if someone wanted to come into the room. Unfortunately, my doctor left specifically over this. Now I know why the good ones keep leaving. read more

I'd give it more than 1 star based on quality of care which was actually of a good quality but this review has more to do with level of service by reception and treating patients as actually valued customers. I think it's unacceptable to allow someone to walk in for an 8:30am appointment at 8am and then tell them their appointment has been cancelled without even apologizing or notifying them ahead of time. Unless the physical therapist called in sick at 7:59am there is no reason for someone who has an appointment within to not be notified. They have a 24 hour requirement for patients and it would be nice to see something similar for the workers. Not all of us have cars or can just rearrange our days every time we need to. No apology offered on behalf of the staff, which is just rude. read more

I have received medical care at VMG for 33 years. Up until a few years ago I thought highly of this practice, but my opinion has now changed. I saw Dr. Dann for many years, and after she left the practice I decided to see an NP. I first met her when I had a scheduled appointment for an annual physical. My face to face time with this woman was literally 5 minutes, and it was clear that she had not even opened my chart before she entered the room. I decided to switch to another NP, Carol Anderson. I only saw her a few times and she was fine. The problem was scheduling. I set up an appointment for an annual physical and it was a six month wait. No problem as I am reasonably healthy. However, shortly before the appointment I received a phone call saying that my appointment needed to be rescheduled and there was another long wait before I actually had my appointment. I met Dr. Furcolo at one point and decided to switch to her as Carol seemed to be very busy. VMG called me on 6/25/13 to schedule my annual physical. The first available appointment was 1/3/14 which I accepted. I received a phone call today telling me that the appointment needed to be rescheduled. The first opening was June of 2014! Are you kidding me? A full year wait before they can fit me in for a physical? And they cancel the appointment and make no effort to remedy the situation? The receptionist did offer an appointment with the 5 minute NP which I declined. Suffice it to say that I let the receptionist know I was not happy; she was rather snippy with me and said the doctors are entitled to take time off. Not the right thing to say to an unhappy consumer. She then put me on hold. After an almost 10 minute wait the office manager came on the line. She was apologetic, very professional and offered me an afternoon appointment on the original date of January 3. I declined and asked for the June of 2014 appointment which I had been told was the first available appointment. I figure that gives me quite a bit of time to find a new health care provider. I have no intention of going back there again. Two identical scheduling problems along with a snippy receptionist convinced me that it is time for a change. read more

My doctor was "unclear" about the medication I was taking but chose to prescribe the wrong medication instead of referring me to a doctor who knew better or educating himself on the matter. The receptionists are beyond rude and "misinformed" about a good number of things, including basic insurance information and what the doctors can and can't do when it comes to missing school or work for time spent here. It took 5 weeks to fill a prescription because neither the receptionists nor the clinical coordinator understood how to fill the insurance information, so I spent hours on the phone with the insurance trying to get every number that I needed to go through to the doctor, and when I would call the receptionists back to see if anything had gone through, I would get laughed at and receive attitudes because they thought I was just trying the same thing over and over. Turns out that they had the code they needed from day one, and even when this was admitted to me and it was admitted that there was no reason for it to have taken so long aside from them being "misinformed", I continued to get amazingly rude attitudes and even had someone hang up on me. If that wasn't all, when I called to complain, more than one person tried to tell me that it was my fault because I hadn't given them the right information and then had no answer for me when I explained how it wasn't actually my fault and that they'd been giving me the run around. Go to the Northampton branch, the extra 20 minute drive is worth skipping what honestly feels like harassment to me. read more