Patient First - Bethlehem

Reviews 5

JA

James Hart

They have good facilities there, the staff was nice, helpful and knowledgeable, payment was straightforward and Ive never waited very long to see somebody. But I gotta say, Dr. Sheets was terrible. Ill usually go to an urgent care center to get a new asthma prescription; its now cheaper for me than going to a doctor or hospital and my budgets tight. Ive been on the same prescription for 31 years, and havent experienced any changes or difficulties with it. When I went into Patient First, I explained that I just needed a new prescription and I was fine; there was no emergency. "Well, we gave you a prescription... looks like it was two MONTHS ago. So whatd you do with it?" Thats the first thing Dr. Sheets asked me. I explained that, well, I used it. "No. You shouldnt be doing that, you should be using it once a WEEK. You have uncontrolled asthma and you need to see a pulmonologist." I explained—as best I could, I wasnt really ready for any of this, I just needed a scrip—that I take asthma meds when Im active, and this is how its been my whole life. I just my inhaler the once and Im fine. "No, no, you have uncontrolled asthma." I asked her what that meant, uncontrolled, because with meds its never given me more of a problem. She stammered and said that there are levels, and Im at "the uncontrolled part." She said, "I see they prescribed you prednisone, whatd you do with THAT?" I said I didnt get it filled, because its overkill; my asthma doesnt fluctuate and Ive never had it that bad. She said, "well, look, prednisone takes down the inflammation," as if she didnt hear me. Honestly, I think the uncontrolled asthma part of the conversation came from something she read, because she never really got around to explaining it and then stopped using the term. As I left, she said, "okay, feel better, and make sure you get that prescription filled!" She had just spent ten minutes explaining to me that I was on the wrong prescription. I guess this is just what shes used to saying when people leave. Holy hell. All I needed was an asthma inhaler; the same one Ive been on for three decades.

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AP

April Smith

Not sure what I was thinking going here. It was 530 pm and my son complained of severe ear pain. The Peds office was closed and I figured it was a routine ear infection....why sit in the ER?! Registration and being roomed was flawless... it took 10 minutes! Great! I was alone at 530?pm with a 4 and 6 year old. Thats where it changes. The place was a ghost town. The nurses desk was flooded with nurses,etc. I figured this was going to be quick. WRONG. after 1 hour and two screaming kids for dinner we were checked on. Told that one person was ahead of us but it would be soon. By 90 minutes someone else checked on us because my 4 year old was crying. She told me 4 people were ahead of us Basically after 90 minutes we still had awhile to be seen. Their trick is rooming patients fast and closing the curtains. It looked barren but apparently was not. I elected to leave. Waiting over 2 hours would have been our fate. It was after 7 and the only updates were after I asked... not because they keep you on the pulse of things When I walked in I feel some kind of information should have been provided that the wait was this long This place is a DISASTER. honestly I have waited less time in the ER than this. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AVOIDING THIS HORRIFIC PLACE. Typically I dont take the time to review places but this was unreal.

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PA

PATRICIA KELLY

I was here twice in the last week....I hurt my lower back at work, the pain is unbearable. They prescribed me naproxen, and vicodin. I have taking pain pills twice in my life, The first time when I shattered my front teeth, and the second time was when a broke my arm. I understand theres an issue today with people getting addicted to pain killers, but I have to be uncomfortable 24-7 until they can "figure out" whats going on with my back. My job requires me to sit most of the day which makes the pain ten times worse. I called to see if there was anything they can give me for the pain because I just cant take it at this point. Im not sleeping, and cant focus because of this pain Im in. When I called they said they gave me what they could so I need to deal with it until the cat scan comes back. I was there on the 8th, the 12th, and my cat scan is scheduled for today the 16th. So for the last week Ive been trying to "suck" it up, because when you call they have no compassion and take days to return your calls. The only good thing I can say about this place is your in and out, but thats probably because no one wants to go there. I shouldve just went to the E.R to begin with.

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VE

Vereen James

Never again. I went here since my doctor had no open appointments, but I would have been better off if I had stayed home and suffered. There was a $50 copay and I was told my insurance would cover the rest. Flash forward a few weeks and Im sent a bill saying I owe Patient First $103. If they had helped me get better in any way I wouldnt be so against paying it, but I was there for 2 hours waiting to see what seemed to be the only doctor there. And when he arrived he looked at my throat for a few minutes and insisted I get blood taken. It probably took another hour for 2 nurses to prick me at least 6 times before an emt was called in to take blood from my hand. All of that was unnecessary and the antibiotic and numbing rinse he prescribed me did nothing for my tonsillitis. After I didnt get better I went to my doctor who laughed at the baby antibiotic he had prescribed and prescribed me a stronger one and some flonase. There was only a $15 copay, I was there for thirty minutes as opposed to 3 hours and in two days I was feeling back to normal. Going to Patient First was a huge waste of time and now money.

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SQ

Squishy Bear

I loved the convenience of being able to go whenever I wanted to and have been using them as my PCP for the past couple years but my last visit has me changing PCPs. I loved Dr Esbenshade and Dr Jaques the last time I was in I saw Dr Navone made me feel like that either she was just trying to get me in for additional visits and copays or that they were bothered by me using them for my PCP. Im pretty healthy and just need blood pressure medicine and that is mainly what they do, refill my maintenance meds. She said that I needed routine lab work to check levels (which I understand and they have done at my past visits) but instead of just doing the lab work while I was there told me to come back and have it done and only gave me 1 months refill on my medicine which is usually a 6 month refill. When I questioned why she seemed bothered. I really feel like she was just pushing to get me to come in for as many visits as possible for $$ so I changed PCPs from Patient First. I really liked them but I dont like being seen as a dollar sign.

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