This office visit was an abysmal. I do not recommend this doctor whatsoever. He gave me wrong info…read moremultiple times. I came in very excited to maybe finally get relief from insomnia and discuss HRT and my Hashimotos and thyroid. He said Xanax had a longer half life than Ativan...not true - Chat GPT gave me better care and more accurate answers than Dr Kao. He also said I'm not in perimenopause due to my FSH number. He said he took two classes on HRT. He's wrong again- FDH is not the only number looked at to determine perimenopause. He gave me a script for a new antidepressant with horrible side effects and Xanax. This is what true HRT docs warn you about. Male doctors like him who dismiss your perimenopause symptoms and have taken a self professed 2 classes to educate themselves on how to help women like me in their late 40's. He ordered a mammogram and colon guard. He didn't want to pull new blood work or anything. This practice is not one I would ever recommend after 40 minutes and nothing resolved. Left behind frustrated. Beyond mad.

I was a big advocate of Dr. Kao for years having used him since 2021. However, service levels have…read moregrossly deteriorated to the point it is no longer viable to utilize him as a medical provider all while paying an annual fee for concierge level services. I can no longer recommend using Dr. Kao for concierge medical services. It is sad. He was a great provider for a number of years.

I was misdiagnosed with Dementia here one year after my mother died from it. I had been caring for…read moreher for two years. I was given a very brief exam in his office and told me I had dementia. I was devastated. I couldn't really even process what he said to me. I went through extensive testing, very expensive testing. When I went back for follow up, I was tested again and did not have dementia. I had my sister with me this time. Three worth worst months of my life. Right prior to Christmas and my daughter's wedding. Imagine watching your mother die from dementia and then being told you had it. I was 63 at the time. It was a turning point for me regarding healthcare and how I was going to move forward. I hope this never happens to you.

I am a patient of a general practitioner at Intercoastal medicine. I am between jobs and would not…read morehave insurance until Jan 1. I found out I have hyperthyroidism and needed to see an endocrinologist. I have cash and can pre-pay; whatever is needed. After a week with NO communication, I called the endocrinologist's office and they tell me "well, we don't accept self pay". A whole week goes by and only when I take the initiative to call do I find out they have no intention of seeing me? PITIFUL The endocrinologist's office says "No insurance, no service". No exceptions. Are you sick? Do you need immediate care? Not their problem. Drop dead. Luckily, I found a doctor who will accept CASH and have an appointment on the 13th. IN MY OPINION, this group cares more about getting insurance rates than cash. If you are sick, I would look elsewhere. I did get a call today saying they could get me in on Jan. 6, since I now have insurance they can bill. PITIFUL

Continually changing primary drs due to its a teaching location for med students. Was Dr. Bearison…read morethen it was Dr. Modonara and now it is Dr. LEAL

Terrible staff. My mother has dementia and I was interest in having her seen by Dr. Ortstadt. And…read morehe is a in network physician for united health care. His front desk would not schedule without a primary care referral. I explained my mom won't see one as she is afraid. A family member MD made a referral as he knows she needs care as he is personally involved (more than a 15 minute primary care appt would know). And we had labs done within 6 months. But their barrier to care front desk would not let us schedule. Shameful. She is in PPO so no referral is needed. The doctors should understand they are losing income over their horrible front desk. And clearly their reputation is affected. Look at the bad reviews! Not because of quality of care but the bad service of the front line. Time for a change!

It's a Total fraud. Doesn't do any good. Doctor said run as fast as I can-I did. Glad I did.......read more

I must say I went here for one specific issue and I was taken care of so well!! Dr. Isabel…read moreRodriguez is helping me with health care that normally I would probably have had to go to 3 additional doctors to take care of! She showed very honest and detailed care into individual treatment. This was Far from the common "Doctor Experience" that most larger places provide by getting you in an out the door a quickly as possible.. I would recommend anyone I know and love to come to this practice. Even the help at the front counter is great as well.

I pretty much agree with most of these comments here about what poor quality healthcare you get at…read moreintercoastal. I find it hysterical that my endocrinologist Dr Wende Kozlow fired me although I had had enough of the disrespect in mistreatment from them and I was moving on to a better doctor anyway. I tried many times to get them to give me test results when I get blood work or test and it takes minimum of 10 days before they answer you they lie to you and tell you that they don't get the results. I find it hard to believe that Sarasota hospital does not send them the results And only them because two of my other doctors got their results 10 days sooner. They must be on the crap list for Sarasota memorial that they don't get their results because there's no other explanation that they're the only ones that don't get them ever. They don't care about you and your health. Don't ever say something to the effect of "I'm sure the doctor cares more about my health then to let me suffer and not call me back and that got me fired. I didn't accuse them. I said I'm sure you don't want me to suffer. That's a lot different than accusing them of making me suffer, but I got fired which was the best thing that could've ever happened to me don't go there cause you are nothing to them. They don't care about you as a person. I have multiple health problems in desperate need of an endocrinologist and she refers me back to my family doctor that's how much they care! She was a fairly good doctor, but her office staff sucks! They're the ones who made the mess out of this. They're the ones that don't call me back and they are the ones who are very rude all the time! Save you the stress when you when you need a doctor and find a better place than intercoastal!!!! Your office staff can make you or break you in this case they definitely will break you! Not only is this my problem with them, but they asked me to have records sent to them because of my multiple problems. The pile of 9 x 12 records was over a foot high and they shredded them! Came all away from Ohio and they shredded them! Again crappy office staff! A doctor is not supposed to ever destroy records for 10 years but yet they destroyed all the ones that I paid to have sent to them! Cost me a lot of money that's how much they care about you! I can't say enough bad about them. I've had so many bad experiences. All I can say is beware there's so many other better doctors here in this town. Good luck.

I was a patient of Dr. Jessica Thomas, who is part of the Beneva Family Practice within…read moreIntercoastal Medical Group at Beneva, for well over a year. She has zero personality, does not listen and outright lied to me about refilling a much needed anti-panic medication during an extremely stressful time for me. At my July 2025 appointment with her (a nearly $500 dollar out-of-pocket visit!) she refused to refill my medication until I had blood tests completed, promising to do so once she got the results. After spending $200 plus for testing, she denied me a second time. I was told I needed yet another appointment even though I had just seen her the month prior. She comes off as bored, uncaring and impatient. She's condescending when asked questions and does not listen to concerns. I don't remember a single time she's made eye contact with me. Nothing that's she's done during my time under her "care" has proven otherwise. She's simply a worker bee for the machine to make them money without a second thought to how much it costs the patient. Do yourself a favor and stay far away from her!

I went to AMA Health because of a positive test with cologuard. My appointment was in March. I…read morearrived at office where the receptionist took my health insurance card and license. Told me to have a seat. I was called quickly at which time she never returned my documents. Met with Dr. Troum and he explained the colonoscopy to me. I left and made an appointment ( A tow month wait for first available) I left and receptionist never returned my information. Not a phone call nothing. A couple of days before my procedure was to be done the office called to cancel saying the Dr. was unavailable. They tried to make another appointment again I would have to wait another 2 Months I said I would just go somewhere else. A day later I got a call and they said I could come in June 25th and I would only have to wait a month. On June 21st I was diagnosed with a sinus infection. I hurried and called the office wondering if I would still be able to make the appointment and if not than they still had time to have someone take my place. I was told that I could still come. The day before the surgical center called and said I could not come. The office called me back and told me I would have to wait another two months now. August 20th was the next date. On August 15th at around 4 PM I received a call from the office saying the Dr. was overbooked and I would have to make a 4th appointment! I explained that I needed to come on the date I was scheduled because I have been waiting already for six months and I would be leaving town indefinitely to take care of my ailing father. She said she would call me back. Today I have had no call back, still unsure of what my outcome will be and have no idea when I can now have it done. I wouldn't go back to them under any circumstance!

My experience with Defy has been excellent. They're very detailed with reviewing labs and…read morerecommendations with lifestyle changes, medication options and supplements. It's really convenient being able to order stuff directly from their website. I highly recommend them.

I wanted to share my very negative experience for the last 5 years (its scary) with Defy so others…read morecan be aware and advocate for themselves in case they recognize a similar pattern. I'm so disappointed I trusted my health and well-being to this Defy and I regret using them. This is why you should go elsewhere... I originally sought help for fatigue and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I was started on desiccated thyroid medication, and initially things improved and showed in the first year's blood work. However, over time (5 total years), my medication was increased without a full evaluation of how my labs and symptoms were trending together. This clinic specializes in hormones, how can you not properly read year 2 of a blood panel then continue to mis-diagnose and improperly medicate a patient for 3+ years. My emotional, mental and physical health is destroyed right now. Looking back at my lab results: - My TSH became suppressed (very low) - My Free T3 was at the high end or above range - I began developing symptoms consistent with overstimulation, including poor sleep, heat intolerance, nervous system sensitivity, and eventually loss of my menstrual cycle Despite these clear patterns, there was no adjustment made to account for possible over-replacement or the downstream hormonal effects this was having on my body after my results from year 2 of treatment. I was having horrific mood swings, sleeping extremely poorly, and suicidal thoughts. I now understand that my system was likely being pushed into an overactive state, which impacted my sleep (waking up all night long), nervous system, and reproductive hormones (including very low progesterone and loss of cycle). What has been most frustrating is not just the symptoms, but the lack of holistic evaluation. My labs were viewed in isolation for 5 years total, rather than as a pattern over time, and my symptoms were not fully integrated into my care plan. I'm sharing this so others know: ---- Make sure your provider is looking at trends over time, not just single results---- I wish I had known earlier how important it is to balance thyroid treatment carefully, especially when using T3-containing medications. I've done my research and talked to another medical professional about my labs/blood work and Defy medicated me to Hyperthyroid for 3 total years and not only did they not catch it, they continued to over. Treat me for hypothyroid. My progesterone is .1 but started at 1.4 and with my symptoms being text book hyperthyroidism, how was that missed. I am now working to rebalance my system, and I hope sharing this helps someone else catch these patterns sooner and uses another company. Always double check these 'clinics'. I'm so disappointed I trusted my health and well-being to this Defy and I regret using them.