I'm writing this review because I believe this office needs to take a closer look at its…read moreoperations. I'm 74 years old, and like many people my age, I need occasional medical support. I visited this clinic for ear and throat concerns and, after testing, was told I qualified for hearing aids. I scheduled a tutorial and fitting appointment for 12:30 PM with Dr. Shoshana Richelson.
Despite arriving on time, I wasn't called in until 1:00 PM. I watched the doctor walk in and out of her office without a patient, and when she finally brought me in, the apology was barely audible. Her appearance and communication were disorganized, and my confidence in the process immediately began to fade. She then walked me to the nurse practitioner, who showed me how to charge, insert, and remove the hearing aids.
I left the office with mixed emotions but wore the hearing aids for the rest of the day to evaluate them. That night, I placed them in the charger and went to bed. I woke up at 3 AM and couldn't stand up. I stumbled through the house trying to finish what I was doing and immediately went back to bed.
Four hours later, I woke up to the exact same scenario -- unable to stand, dizzy, and frightened. I returned to bed again, reminding myself that I needed to call the office as soon as I was fully awake.
I called between 3:30 and 4:00 PM and left a message explaining my panic and what had happened. When no one called back, I tried again, hoping to speak with the doctor directly. Instead, I was told to leave another message. I hung up, tried once more, and was again told to leave a message. I waited the rest of the day, but no one from the office ever returned my call.
By Wednesday morning, I was exhausted from the stress of the situation and frustrated by the complete lack of communication. I returned the hearing aids, completed the return form, and canceled all upcoming appointments.
How does an office close for the day without checking messages that may involve urgent symptoms or patient distress? How does a medical practice ignore repeated calls from someone who is clearly frightened and asking for help? This is not just inconvenient -- it is irresponsible. Patients -- especially older patients -- rely on their medical providers to communicate, follow up, and show even the most basic level of concern.
In closing, I will obviously not be returning to your practice. After this experience, I no longer have confidence in your communication, your responsiveness, or your ability to support patients when they need you most. If anyone asks me about this office, I will be honest about what happened and share my experience so others can make informed decisions.
Patients deserve better. Older patients deserve better. And no medical office should allow calls for help to go unanswered!