A Heartfelt Thanks to the team of Montgomery Cariology Let's…read moreadmit, a visit to a Cardiologist Office is not something most of us look forward to, but when the need arises, we want to be sure that we are in care of great hands and minds. My recent two visits to Montgomery Cardiology were positive and reassuring experience. The combination of professionalism, compassion, inviting office and efficient care left me with a sense of confidence in my healthcare journey. From ease of scheduling my appointment, great office reception, professionalism displayed by the entre team, Dr. Shubir Sofat, Hanna, and Margie was 5 STAR.... I would highly recommend to anyone seeking cardiac care.

Inaccurate and misleading patient notes that seems designed to justify unnecessary testing. My…read morespouse attended first appointment with me, and records of visit contradicted what doctor said and the history I reported. Appears that errors were designed to justify further tests. Call the practice and you will be kept on hold 7-10 minutes immediately, then follow-up appointments with doctor not available for seven months, and they will push a P.A. on you. My impressions are apparently shared by many.

She is one of the BEST doctor we have ever meet. She is so kind, extremely caring and you can tell…read moreher patience really matter to her. This is her true vocation, she about help patient correct medical issues and helping them get healthy. She takes her very seriously. She is a highly trained and very skilled doctor. And she is extremely personable doctor that goes the extra-mile, she called the night of very first visit to make sure the patient was alright and that they understood everything. She clearly enjoy her work, she very through and listens to her patients. She is the right mixture of tough but caring. If you are in need of a heart doctor with a even bigger heart, she is the doctor for you.

I will post below what I emailed to the office after an appointment today where I literally left in…read moretears. Dear Dr. Hausnerova and Staff, I am reaching out to inform you that I would like my patient file destroyed, my upcoming appointments cancelled, and all communication to me and my doctors halted. While your secretary (nurse? Sorry, I wasn't sure on her credentials) and resident were absolutely gracious, respectful, and kind, I do not intend to pursue care with a doctor who repeatedly violated my boundaries, disrespected my lived experience, and demonstrated ignorance regarding many well-accepted concepts and diagnoses in the medical field. Since you evidently do not understand the nature of trauma or mental distress, allow me to enlighten you. Your aggressive and unprofessional approach triggered me. Unfortunately, you are not the first ignorant doctor I have encountered who has made me feel small and scared and objectified. In this case, those feelings caused me to mentally shut down and lose the ability to properly communicate just how hurtful and inappropriate your questions and comments were to me in the moment. Please allow me some time to express those feelings now. Firstly, you spent an unusually long amount of my appointment discussing your own life experience, so allow me to share a bit of my own. I am a direct descendant of Eastern European immigrants, a direct descendant of people who were victimized by violent antisemitism, and a Jewish historian. Your utter lack of awareness regarding the nature of intergenerational trauma is quite shocking. Telling me that I shouldn't be depressed or anxious because at least I'm not in a cattle car to Auschwitz or being barred from education in Afghanistan was cruel and disrespectful, both to the people who have experienced those things, and to me. Furthermore, when I verbally expressed that I found this line of communication hurtful and unproductive, you nevertheless persisted in violating my clearly stated boundary a few more times before the end of my visit. Additionally, when I informed you that I had recently gained a significant amount of weight due to a battle with a lifelong eating disorder, you not only calculated my BMI (a widely debunked methodology) and informed that I was obese, but also asked why I was fat and anxious if my boyfriend is calm and in better shape. I'm not even sure which of the myriad of potential offensive things you were attempting to imply there, but they all reveal an embarrassing cluelessness regarding basic eating disorder and mental healthcare best practices, as well as a deficit of simple human kindness. To be clear, I understand that weight is a potentially relevant factor when discussing heart health and I was prepared to have that conversation in a reasonable and measured way. What I could not abide, however, were your callous and, frankly, incorrect comments about a subject which I clearly expressed was difficult and painful for me. I respect your life experience and the things you have suffered but your success does not negate anyone else's trauma, nor does it have anything to do with my health. I urge you to educate yourself. If that is too much to ask, then at very least I advise you to simply keep your mouth shut next time anyone mentions mental health to you. You are literally causing more harm than good.

Johns Hopkins Community Cardiologists are excellent! They are the most knowledgeable and…read moreprofessional cardiologists in the area. I am a bit prejudiced when I say that Dr. Kumkumian is the best doctor. When you see a cardiologist you want a doctor who spends time with you and explains what is happening to you and what happens next. That is exactly what Dr. Kumkumian does. His is patient and kind. Cardiologists work with your heart and that is an important organ in your overall health. The office staff is very nice and well organized. I would like to give a shout out to Frances who installed my heart monitor. He explained everything about the process before he began. He even made sure I had some water after the procedure. That is going the extra mile. Another, shout out to LaShonda at the Shady Grove Office, she made sure to talk to the doctor about scheduling a follow up appointment that was very important. Thanks LaShonda. My only concern is trying to get through by phone to the Bethesda office. It takes a long time and can be frustrating. But, the quality of the doctors makes it all worth it. I have a few more appointments and tests in the near future and I am confident in my care at Johns Hopkins Cardiac Care.

My longterm chronic illness hasn't been addressed. Now though, I'd like to talk just about their…read morephones. The situation is abysmal, although improved. I usually faint when someone answers the phone in a timely fashion. Remember, it is a sick person who is calling. One of their tricks is / was to not answer at all from 3 p.m. to closing. Then after closing, they don't turn off the switchboard; conceivably you could be on hold overnight listening to the galling muzak, a genre of new age emo music known to disturb deep emotions and nerves. It's not happy, familiar, healing, or soothing. I've made requests that it be changed, but no, it's decades old. (240) 235-9100 if you are brave and curious. To me, it is no joke. They decided to have staff meetings and nobody was notified, the switchboard was not notified, so you'd be on hold all afternoon thinking they were there. One day I went into the office and there was a new sign on the door that blood work would henceforth not be performed and we would have to drive to a lab somewhere. I get the impression that the doctors are not supported by the JH organization, and so come off as uncaring. I feel an immense gulf. I don't feel like they are interested in my symptoms, don't give them much credence. I say "they", but I have stuck mainly with one clinician so I wouldn't have to repeat my story, but that may have been the wrong approach. MyChart is likewise abysmal. Recently, the doctors are allowed with patient permission to use AI summations of the visit; I endorse anything that will lighten the screen time load for the staff. I hope they are checking, because when I use AI I do need to make corrections. My goal is to not suffer, yet my encounters with Suburban Hosp and JHCPDB seem to do just the opposite or at least not provide relief or answers. There have been notable exceptions in the front office. I'm sharing here in hopes that someone will read this at JHCP and makes positive changes. The old model of dispensing health care does not work. They need to be proactive to the utmost, whatever it takes. I don't think this is discussed in their directives.

Dr Urquart is very thorough and has done more testing than any other cardiologist. She listens and…read moretruly knows what she is doing.

Yes, there is a bit of a wait. But after seeing my parents through decades of cardiologist visits,…read moreI was reticent to even go to one. A professional dancer recommended her to me. Dr. Urquhart has a significant dance background, and that was important to me. For me, it speaks to a respectful, holistic approach, not centered on pill pushing or popular thought, and an intimate understanding of the mind-body connection. She tested me thoroughly and diagnosed me accurately. I found her to be a critical thinker and compassionate. She was instrumental in finding me find the best surgeons. Her staff is fabulous. Remember it is a stressful job dealing with sick people day in and day out, and helping them get insurance coverage! Well, they deserve a trophy for all the hoops they have to jump through for emergency procedures these days. I feel as though I could not be in better hands.

I was shopping for a new GP/concierge for many months. They're not easy to find in Montgomery…read moreCounty even if we are in one of the highest ranking ZIP Codes in the country. I've been a patient of Dr. BAROLD about a year In her capacity as a concierge careprovider . This is probably the best internist/GP I ever had. She is thoughtful, thorough, very knowledgeable, accessible, and conscientious. Her bedside manner is terrific. I strongly recommend her both for cardiology and for concierge care.

Dr Barold was my father's doctor. At first I wasn't sure about her because she doesn't pull any…read morepunches and tells things as she sees them without sugar coating. But she was the most amazing doctor for my dad. She really stayed on top of what was going on and would answer texts and phone calls at all hours. She looked over his medication bottles every time to be sure he was taking the correct medications and doses. Having an echo machine in the office was fantastic to keep track of his heart. When he needed oxygen at home, she made it happen that same day. I don't think any other doctor could have done that! She really went above and beyond to take my father's wishes into account. My father died at home at 95 and I believe those last few years were due to Dr. Barold. If I lived in the area I would definitely want her as my own doctor.

Over billed even after insurance paid out and tests that were not necessary like the nuclear stress…read moretest for 88 year old that didn't need it. Had to get the insurance people involved to settle with them. Looking to his past, it is all right there on Google, lawsuit central in regards to over billing, and the nucellar stress tests.

Got a bill about a year after treatment, completely out of the blue and outside the window of my…read moreflex plan reimbursement schedule. Thanks for your promptness, jurkwadz.

I've had two hernia procedures performed by Dr. Sandler and both went as flawlessly as I could have…read moreever hoped for! Both my Primary Care Doctor and my Cardiologist gave Dr. Sandler enthusiastic recommendations and I was not disappointed at all.

From the owner: Dr. Glenn Sandler has been providing surgical care to the residents of Montgomery County for 25+…read moreyears. He has an expertise in hernia repair and gallbladder surgery and also performs minor procedures such as removal of lipomas (fatty tumors) and cysts of the skin. Dr. Sandler has taught courses in hernia repair and gall bladder surgery across the country and has been consistently named as a “Top Doc” by the Washingtonian magazine and Consumer Checkbook.

Dr. James Lee is a good doctor. I have seen him a few times. The office is generally helpful…read morealthough they didn't bill my secondary insurance correctly once and fixed it.

Dismissed as a sense of unworthiness.  Instead you lacked your doctor's ethics on the strength of a…read morelow pay wage gain to the  practice!  You showed me your true self... I was having a melt down and I asked to see a Nurse. A certified and experienced health official in that office. You have this new staff at the front desk none of the old experienced medical staff available if they are still with the practice! However, what I encountered on Friday, May 28, 2021. I sever all ties with this establishment/business practice(s).  Let this be your first and last time insulting me as a human being, a sick Patient, my intelligence a highly educated individual with a Master degree, Magdum Cum larde, Female of color, a child of God, someone's Mother, Grandmother, daughter, Sister, Aunt, Cousin & friend....Let's not forget where we come from for the sake of a dollar $$.  As long as I have my sound mind and can speak I have the right to ask for a experience health official over a non licensed and inexperience certificate administrator concerning my health. I once had high regards and respect for you as a person and a professional. This is my LIFE  that you do not dictate any organs in my body.  Let's be clear I inherited you as my doctor, I was referred to this practice well over ten year's ago at Holy Cross Hospital and my two doctor's one retired and the other one expired God rest his soul. This is how you became my Doctor and neither of the two would have EVER spoken to me in a non empathetic an unprofessional manner. As a physician you never even tried to figure out if I was I okay or have a experienced license health care staff come to see if I was I okay or if I was experiencing anything instead you just wanted to read me the right acts in the presence of a inexperience child practicing on my health at your expense. I am 62 yrs old and 5 months I was born just not yesterday and I have every right to ask for whomever when it is directly related to my health and my medical record. Don't you ever forget that. Maybe you was having a bad day and if that inexperienced young lady have to stop or intervene on you while practicing on another patient every time she encounter a issue you will never be successful. I asked for a Nurse! And I want others to know my experience with this office and the Insurance carrier they may want to be careful doing business with this establishment!  I will not be returning and will also be taking my elderly Mom to another Cardiologist Practice as well.... I do know of other Cardiologists in this area for I was born in Washington, D.C. and I have had nothing but the best physicians practicing on my health all my life for Medicine is a science. My choice. We are not living in some third world. Save your apology. Best, Geneva Coleman

My PCP recommended I visit this cardiac care practice after I fainted. She said they have a great…read morebedside, manner, are thorough, and would be the best doctors to determine if there is anything wrong with my heart. She was 100% correct. I was at this practice for 4 hours, and any test they could have given me they gave me. They found it highly unusual that a healthy 34-year-old woman would faint and did all the imaging and stress testing they could. I was appreciative that they went to such great lengths to rule heart problems out of my reason for fainting. I left with a holter monitor which came back with no detectable arrythmias. With their thoroughness I can rest easy that this fainting experience was a one off and my heart is in good shape.

I had an excellent experience with Dr. Pankaj Lal. I came in after a recent ER visit with concerns…read moreabout chest discomfort and several cardiovascular risk factors. Dr. Lal took the time to carefully review the detailed summary and test results I brought with me, listened attentively to my concerns, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. What impressed me most was that he did not rush the visit. He performed an echocardiogram after noticing a heart murmur, reviewed the results personally, explained his findings clearly, and developed a thoughtful plan for further evaluation with a nuclear stress test. Dr. Lal is knowledgeable, professional, patient, and compassionate. I left the appointment feeling informed, reassured, and confident that I am receiving excellent cardiovascular care. I highly recommend Dr. Lal and his team.

Appointment constantly rescheduled and zero communication regarding lab results. Called to make a…read moretelevisit appointment with Dr. Chen and was told by scheduling that I needed an "order" to make the appointment. Transferred to a "manager" and they were able to make the appointment for me. Clarity on underlying issues were not very clear hence the follow-up appointment. Portal messages were never responded too. Just say not to this practice! I will be going elsewhere since my heart health is ummmm...important!

Outstanding physicians and patient staff. Scheduling over the phone is tough and no online…read morescheduling option if you already have an appt to try and reschedule (where slots for same type of appt could be shown, ie, routine follow up, new patient, new issue.)