I have had Dr Bain as my doctor since roughly 1995. He is not like my other doctors. He is more knowledgeable, more caring, and more effective. He looks at the body as a whole. Not just your specific issue. I went to Dr Bain for help with Menopause and Thyroid. He is a genius. I never had a HOT FLASH. He is the only doctor I know that looks at your systems as a whole and not just what the numbers on a lab report say. read more

I like Dr Bain he's up todate in the health field he really tried to help me the best he could I'm a tough case. But I know that he worked with me and he works with other people he is a humanitarian. Just wish he would have vouched for me more on getting a diagnosis with a lot of my health challenges But a lot of doctors out there are afraid of the system. read more

Dr. Bain is the most amazing and caring doctor in which I have seen. His compassion and tenacity for care and finding solutions to your illnesses have far surpassed any other doctor that I have been to. For others that have gaslit me and ignored the illnesses, he has not done this and showed me he is committed to finding a solution. I am injured from the recent "shots" and have had a horrible time finding a health professional that is ready to treat me or anyone else for that matter with the chronic neurological and internal issues that have transpired since that time. If you are looking for a doctor that is invested in your care, look no further. I honestly can say with NO doubts about this. Thank you Dr. Bain for your unconditional care and commitment to your patients, I truly appreciate it! read more

Absolutely wonderful comprehensive holistic knowledgeable physician I highly recommend to anyone as their PCP. He clearly cares about all of his patients and goes above and beyond to figure out each individuals' unique plan of care. He's a very kind, intelligent (a little quirky) and wonderful wonderful doctor. Extremely professional. He's excellent at integrating both traditional medical therapy/care combined with exploring alternative holistic alternatives. He looks at the BIG PICTURE not merely one acute complaint or the classic refilling of a prescription without discussion. HIGHLY recommend! read more

Does not abide by HIPPA and informed consent. He wants you to disclose personal medical information through texting with him BEFORE you ever meet him. He claims this his "system of triage", but its basically inappropriateness masquerading around "being different from other doctors." He abuses the power dynamic between a vulnerable patient and a doctor by making you think that uncomfortable feeling is nothing, that doctor knows best. I was a medical social worker and can tell you that charging people for a phone consult who have insurance (which is where they find his name) is unethical and against the policies that allow him to be part of that insurance's list of approved physicians. If you choose to see him, make sure you are clear of his charges and be sure to not give out any information without first signing paperwork including HIPPA disclosures. Its not ok to talk about your medical info through text! read more

Really wonderful experience. One of the best doctors I've seen. He really cares about the whole patient including mental health and environmental issues-- all of which affect physical health. His appointments are long enough to discuss the issue at hand and to develop an understanding of what the core issues is. He cares about what is actually the problem and fixing that and not just treating symptoms. read more

Dr. Bain is amazing. He's a true diagnostician, quick to reply and fit you into his hectic schedule. He listened to me and worked with me to get to the root cause of my symptoms. Highly recommend! read more

Dr Bain is very knowledgeable and very helpful and caring, Very quick to respond to calls and timely appointments. I would highly recommend him and trust his judgment. read more

Receiving care from Dr. Bain was the weirdest experience I have encountered medically in my entire adult life. I would venture to suggest that Dr. Bain is not an actual doctor and has some how gamed the system to offer care to the public. He attempts to make points using intelligent vocabulary but that is about as deep as it gets. I was forced to repeat details several times and he still failed to remember the basic medical complaints and information I provided him throughout the visit. As I informed him of my medical issues and condition, he scribed notes he would at times write down the opposite of what I communicated to him. At one point during the visit, which I went to get help with my jaw bone structure, he instructed me to lay down and breath deep. He then went and turn the water on from the sink and told me to release my breath. Meanwhile, between turning the water on and off from the sink, he held my head and repeated random words. He then informed me that he will have to consult a dentist on my jaw as the jaw is not his expertise. I attempted to communicate other issues medical issues I was facing in his practice of medicine wheel house but those attempts came up empty handed. It was a total waste of time and money; additionally, I believe his medical credentials, degree and license should be investigated. Another weird aspect of the visit is that his zipper was down the entire time. His entire appearance was a bit "off". I am accustomed to writing a good review or not one at all but this visit was so egregious that I made the decision to write this awful review to express my opinion was an awful visit and official physician. Please, do not waste your time or hard earn money visiting this physician as I am certain you will leave the the visit feeling not only creeped out but taken advantaged of. read more

Dr. Bain is AAAMMMMAAAZZZIIINNNGGGG!!!! I first saw Dr. Bain about six years ago for a series of complex medical problems I was having. Severe disorder of the nervous system, back injuries, and an injury to both of my hands. (Go big or go home!) I had seen a series of other doctors before him and they were adequate at best. Dr. Bain, however, took the time to listen to my issues and came up with a very detailed and nuanced plan for treatment that was effective and worked excellently for me. He literally helped me get my life back, and he is hilarious! Go, Team Dr. Bain! read more

Dr. Bain always comes through for me whether it is with medical, spiritual or emotional advise and guidance. He is a one of a kind physician and diagnostician treating the body. 2020 Highly recommend. He is not only a doctor, he is a caring considerate physician and clinician. He is knowledgeable and looks at all options. He treats his patients like family. , 2020 I have been going to Dr. Bain for over 15 years and always look forward to my visits with him read more

I have had very positive telephone visits with Dr Bain numerous times and am very satisfied with his consultations. Will continue to use his services. read more

This is the doctor you see when you've tried other doctors/specialists but you haven't found the cure. This is the doctor you see when you want to combine the best of both Eastern and Western medicine. This is the doctor who will listen to you and long after you've left his office, he's still tinkering away, maybe calling a member of the alliance to discuss causes and treatment options. He cares. And he won't give up on you. He might seem unconventional and that's because he is! I've been a happy patient since 2006. read more

I like Dr Bain! First as you walk in the door he ALWAYS has a DVD playing of a great band or group playing. He gets you in and out and he asks lots of questions! I will say he is a little quirky, he may repeat himself, but overall, he takes care of business and he's a funny guy, to be a doctor. read more

I really like Dr. Bain. Never thought I'd want a guy doctor and he may strike you as a little kooky, but he is very caring and personable. Dr. Bain is a holistic oriented, natural healing doctor. All that means (to me, at least) is that he tries to give long-term solutions to medical problems and won't over-medicate you. The last time I went to him, I needed something to help relax me on a long plane ride, and he prescribed me very small doses of medication - only after questioning me and making sure he could trust me with it. (I'm an attorney so I thought that was funny :) His office is small but comfortably decorated. He has a nice plasma/LCD TV in the waiting room on which he plays DVD's of rock concerts. When I'm done with my appt, he always asks if I know any good bands I can recommend. I also like that I can schedule things online with him, and he always can fit me in when I'm on a tight schedule. Working in the Loop I can visit him during lunchtime, grab a prescription med at the Walgreens right across the street, and be back at work in like 1 to 1.5 hours. read more

I never got to see Dr. Bain. I made an appointment through ZOCDOC and received several emails. One was Dr. Bain asking for referral from my primary physician, who happens to be on vacation. I also got an email with a Microsoft Word attachment. When I tried to open it the software complained that I needed a newer version of Microsoft Word. I tried to download a converter that did not work. Since newer versions of Microsoft Office can produce PDF files I wonder why he isn't using those. How come the referral request was not mentioned on his web site or ZOCDOC? Beware, the computers are taking over our doctors. read more

This is the first doctor who really listend to me and my health problems! He gave me the proper care and I have never felt better! He changed my life and am so thankful! read more

Dr Bain claims to believe in treating candida but when you go to his office for candida treatment he has no desire to treat it. A waste of time going to him. He is not very open minded. read more

My father went to Dr. Bain for support concerning his back issues, among other things. Dr. Bain suggested holistic supplements to help with his sleeplessness and they worked better than any of the other medications prescribed in the past by other physicians, including Valium and muscle relaxers. Furthermore, Dr. Bain offered holistic pain management for my dad's herniated discs and explained the treatments the back surgeon was recommending. Following the surgery, he then went on to recommend a holistic pain management program for my father that was neither damaging to the body nor addictive. read more

This Man is incredible. He saw me on off hours because I was so sick. He explained to me my options and helped me when 7 other doc didn't. Dr. Bain is a top notch class act. He wants people to discuss their problems with their main docs first for an amazing reason. He works with the theory that it takes a village. Anyone that would have a problem with that is clearly not very bright. He approaches the body as a whole, not in pieces as many do. It's true when people do not feel well they are usually cranky so maybe that is the problem with the above reviewer. This man never met me before in his life and changed mine. He sat next to me in the hospital after my surgury at no benifit to himself. So please if you need a special doc who actually cares about you and thinks about how to help you after you walk out of his office, this is the guy. read more

Set an appointment via his online calendar, and received a text saying it was cancelled. Then received a text saying he wants $127 for a phone consultation without even an examination. Of course, the insurance would not cover a phone exam, and how can he do a diagnosis and issue a treatment plan without even seeing the patient? Eeeek, stay away. read more

Bad, bad experience and I didn't even get to see the doctor. Filled out all the paperwork and he refused to see me without a note from my main doctor. What the what?! If someone is going to get a second or third opinion, why would you need to go to your main doctor for a note? "Hi, main doctor, I am not 100% sure you are giving me the best care and I'd like a second option, can you sign off on this note so I can go see another doctor?" Why would I do that? It is baffling, to say the least, how I was treated. I'm extremely disappointed and insulted by my experience. I've been to a LOT of doctors and I've never had such an upsetting experience. A big warning to beware here. read more

As a healthcare professional, I personally believe that Dr. Bain is the best doctor I've ever met. After nearly two years of symptoms and illness that were discounted by six other physicians, I stumbled across Dr. Bain during a desperate online search for someone who could make me feel healthy again....and in two visits he had the issue figured out and was able to identify a plan to alleviate symptoms and to regain my health. He listens to you- NEVER ignores what you tell him, asks questions to fully understand you and does whatever he needs to do to get you healthy again. Appointments are easy to make and he has great availability and will also make efforts to accommodate your schedule. As an added bonus sometimes he tap dances on a little wooden section of flooring in the exam room. read more

Well, I never received a call back. I have a referral from my doctor who says he refers people to Dr. Bain and his wife goes to him. I have Aetna PPO, and was informed Dr Bain is in network. Not sure why he doesn't want me as a patient, really bad business practices all around. Wish there were a no star option. :( read more

Dr. Bain is the BEST!!! I found him through my insurance and he is conveniently located in the loop. I was always tired, not feeling myself and had a few other problems too. After a series of questions and blood work he diagnosed me with a very difficult thing to diagnose. He is wonderful!!! He asks a lot of questions and really cares to hear the answers!! He also looks for others things that could be the problem like diet and stress. He uses a holistic approach to conventional medicine. A wonderful doctor!!! I highly recommend him to anyone :-D read more

I've seen Dr. Bain for 5+ years and I'm very happy with his care. He's smart, knowledgeable and he genuinely cares about his patients. He sits down with you, is very thorough and takes his time so you don't feel rushed. He has a good sense of humor and is very personable. I really like that he has his own ideas too and that he thinks outside the box. When you call/text/email he gets right back to you and you don't have to wait long for an appointment either. read more

Dr. Bain is the best doctor I have ever worked with. I stress that phrase worked with, because he takes a collaborative approach and respects his patients. No one has ever listened to me as much as Dr. Bain. He is a great person with an interesting personality, and I never feel like my questions and opinions are dismissed. He also has great availability, is easy to communicate with, and doesn't leave you hanging. He's very passionate about his work. read more

Dr Bain took the time to understand my problem and solve it in a way I feel most doctors don't. He prescribed me a mixture of diet and medicine that really worked well for me. Most importantly he was readily available for follow-up treatment questions and took time from his own personal life to help me. I'd definitely recommend him! read more

My experience was very similar to some other negative reviews, where-as I question his credentials and ability as a medical care professional. I visited him two times and both were a waste of time and money. He seemed very distracted by a conversation he was having with an office manager during the first visit & kept leaving (seemed someone called in complaining) and Bain suggested to have them check his reviews online (which the positive are probably fake). He was quick to prescribe a antibiotic which did not work and during my follow up appointment, he said it was beyond his expertise and he gave me some names of dermatologists. He often had trouble recalling medical terminology and carried on odd conversation that didn't relate to the underlying reason for my appointment. I did not feel like I got adequate treatment and would not recommend his services. I also suggest a investigation into his education and practice. read more

I am an attorney from NWI and I drive into CHI to see Dr. Bain regularly. He is a partner in my health care. We work together. He is a doctor who listens! He is willing to order lab work to address unknown health issues. He discovered my T3 was low - no thyroid doctor had ever tested my T3 levels. My energy level went way up when I added T3 to my thyroid meds. He found that I have high fibrinogen (thick blood that can clot). Diet and exercise can help. Then, I asked him why salt water made my arthritis go away. He tested me for MTHFR. Sure enough I have the genetic deformity and my body does not release toxins properly. It is hereditary and my niece has it as well. I now take certain supplements to help my body in its tasks. I feel much better! I can not say enough good things about Dr. Bain. read more

Dr Bain is GREAT!!! He was on the only one who figured out what was going on with me, after visits to other doctors. He is uses a variety of different modalities which I greatly appreciate. His great sense of humor can make anyone smile! I also like that he is right in the loop and accessible via public transit or driving. read more

Alan F Bain, DO - Dr Alan Bain, DO - Internal Medicine Near Me - Park Ridge, Illinois

This is an individual who if you don't have insurance - will not see you. My guess is because if a patient is paying himself, he will ask what he is paying for. I needed a problem focused exam. The Doctor called me twice himself to ask me how I am going to pay. When I said I am paying myself, he tried to do the exam over the phone. Then once I told him why I need to be seen, he asked me FOUR times what are the chances I will be having insurance soon . I said none. Then he said that his consultation is $288. I told him I don't need a complete physical exam, no EKG , etc. - I need a problem focused exam. He said that he needs to get to know me "REALLY well" , plus he needs to take my blood pressure ( ?!) . When I told him that what he is doing is not OK, he is only talking about money. He said "I am assuming you are canceling the appointment." You should decide for yourself. read more

Dr. Bain is a one of a kind. Let me start by saying that if you're looking for a cookie cutter type of doctor that just tears by text books, then look elsewhere. Now if you've been to various types of doctors that treat you based off labs alone and ignores how you feel and tells you that you're fine then Dr. Bain is the doctor for you. He is open minded and thinks outside the box and knows that every patient is different and it's not a one size fits all. He listens to me and takes interest in what I have to say. He encourages you to do your own research. He is also very easy to talk to as if you're talking to a friend. He is not for everyone though. There is no front receptionist and you have to schedule your appointments online though Zocdoc, which I find to be convenient. He is very responsive even by text. After recovering from Lyme disease and moving to Chicago I am beyond lucky to have found a doctor to continue treatment to my health where I know that if I ever need to kick it in the butt again I have a good doctor by my side. He also treats my hashimotos. Thank you, Dr. Bain. read more

This was the weirdest experience I have ever had at a doctors office. He did absolutely nothing for me but talk in circles and he made no sense al all. I received no treatment and he just talked about random subjects. I am extremely surprised that people have posted in past Yelp reviews that he was the best doctor. It must have been at a different time because this person is senile to say the least. I'm convinced they must be friends of his or something. Those false reviews made me go to him and I am sorry I did. When I was laying on the table he answered his cell phone on 3 different occasions, and went to his seat to start typing irrelevant information about something going on with his computer system and what "Kevin" was doing wrong. (Who ever that was) He was nervous about asking for the co-pay as if people have denied him in the past. I paid him the co-pay because I felt bad for how horrible of a so called professional he was. I figured no one ever comes back to him. So I considered it charity. I'm surprised that he is on BCBS's list because he is in no way a doctor by any means. BCBS should take him off of their list. Basically my neck is still sore and I am going to go see a real doctor on Monday. Do not waste your time going here! read more

In response to the reviewer below who said that Dr. Bain will not see you if you do not have insurance, that is false. I did not have insurance and saw Dr. Bain for a year and a half. He's a great guy with good intentions and really wants to help you out. Unfortunately, he doesn't really have any staff. This is a problem whenever you need to get a hold of him for something, though he is usually available and quick to respond through email. He is definitely a "quirky" guy, and some people may not feel comfortable with him or like the way he does things. He can kind of be "all over the place" at times, and would really benefit from getting someone to help him out in his office. As for my health problems, he helped me to find more pieces to my extremely complex health puzzle. He started me on natural thyroid replacement for my long untreated hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's problem, and we investigated some infectious agents as the possible root cause of my autoimmune problems. I moved out of state and no longer see him, and I think that my case was a bit too complex for him (as it is for ALL the doctors I have seen) but he was willing to learn along with me whenever I'd bring in articles or whatever. As I stated above, I did not have health insurance, and he was willing to see me and also willing to work out payment plans for my treatment and bloodwork. read more

Made a lot of conversation that had nothing to do with my health issues. He wanted to know what I did for a living right away and know where I was from, and alluded that being from the West Coast I was a "free thinker", whatever that means. I also felt like he was casing on me to see what type of insurance plan I was on as if he was evaluating me to see if I could afford treatment. I found the way in which he was questioning my personal life a bit odd. He seemed to be jugdemental and has a distrust of new patients that are self employed, because our deductibles are normally on the high side. He seemed to project a fear of not being paid onto new patients in which he has some type of prejudice against, that does not seem reasonable to me. read more

Dr Bain is extremely well rated by the majority of his patients. A few, however, rated him poorly after typically one and no more than 2 visits. I am his established patient and I think I know why. Many a genius can come across as distracted or disorganized in some ways. If you give up because of these first impressions, you will not reap the benefits of seeing Dr Bain. Also, if you find typical doctors helpful, keep seeing them. If you have seen enough of them and not getting meaningful help, however, go see Dr Bain with an open-mind and work with him. I started seeing Dr Bain a year ago, at a time I was at the end of my rope having tried a few well-rated internists and seen a host of specialists at Northwestern for 10+ years, incurred tens of thousands of medical payment (all picked up by Blue Cross PPO), tens of scans, hundreds of labs and quite of number of procedures and still suffering from multiple chronic conditions. The first couple of hour-long visits with Dr Bain was nothing like my typical doctor visits. First of all, he explained to me his treating philosophy - he is neither my typical primary care doctor nor my specialist. He told me that these doctors have their respectable places in medicine and I should keep them in my care. Instead, he asked me to use him as a 3rd opinion to learn from the experience of other patients like me and gain insights to what might be worth pursuing in terms of treatment. He provided me a number of links to online sites, some of which patient forums, and told me to go study before seeing him again. He told me that his approach cannot be effective unless I educate myself first. I have since found relief for a number of chronic conditions which I had been told by other doctors that were either benign, psychosomatic or inevitable due to aging. My bowel issues are mostly healed. My headaches are less frequent, and I am doing better now on a number of measures after stopping a symptom-reducing drug that can cause blindness as a long-term side effect. I know that this is NOT sheer luck because Dr Bain's diagnoses and treatments were based on lab results, and he ordered those labs based on his thorough investigation of my health and his profound knowledge of medicine. Blue Cross PPO spent tens of thousands of dollars for my medical expenses during the past decades to have brought me no relief until I found Dr Bain. The tools to cure many chronic conditions are there in Western medicine, but it takes a genius doctor to unlock their potentials and I am so happy that I found him! Dr Bain is not a profiteer. I learned that when I dragged my skeptical husband in to see him for his multiple age-onset hereditary conditions. Dr Bain thanked me for the referral, talked to my husband at length and concluded that it was not (yet) time for them to start a doctor-patient relationship (not until the patient sees the limits of conventional medicine, such as what you get from major medical centers). He did not even charge a visit to his insurance because, Dr Bain said, he did not dispense any medical advice during the visit. That's a world of difference from any other doctor I know, many of whom would order you to come in for a hollow "follow-up" visit just so they can bill one more. He is NOT a money-grabber. That I think was unfair to say of him by one of the reviewers. read more

If you are looking for a healer, you have found him. He is amazing. He has helped me more than any other alternative or mainstream doc has. He is also very easy to talk too. He understands. read more

Dr. Bain is absolutely the best practitioner I have ever had the privilege of working with. Finally, I have found a physician who LISTENS to my concerns and doesn't just brush them off. He always asks me tons of questions to try to get to the root of the problem so that it can be accurately treated. We work as a team and I really appreciate that. I have suffered with serious allergies and thyroid problems for many years and he's been the first person to come up with a treatment plan that actually works. I love the fact that I am feeling normal again for the first time in a long time. I used to feel that I always had to have some type of prescription at hand to take when my allergies started acting up but not anymore. I will continue to be a patient of Dr. Bain's for a long time! read more

I've been seeing Dr. Bain for the past 6 years and I'm just amazed not to say something else about the reviews he has received. About 8 years ago I was diagnosed with low thyroid function Hashimoto and after two years of going to several doctors looking for help and some relief Dr. Bain the answer to my prayers. Every time I go he spends a long period of time listening to my concerns and evaluating my blood work. That I never found anywhere else! If you are not used to different and odd then he is definitely not for you. He is the kind that cares and he is a very compassionate person that I've entrusted my health to. I don't see myself going to a different doctor unless is a needed specialist. Every time I see him I thank him for being able to sleep throughout the night, leveling my hormones with a balanced treatment of western medicine and a natural approach and for relieving so many other symptoms. If you don't mind 5 minutes Drs. who won't even look at you but are fixated on the blood work and the new chemicals on the market then this is not your kind of doctor. This is a Dr. who cares! read more