ask Doctor Mc Sinus Surgery why Dr. Carothers left suddenly, like same day kinda stuff .

I've been going to Northwestern Nasal & Sinus since April. Yep, right after I got my cute little kitty that made me wheeze and itch. Awww, but he is such a cutie...umm when he isn't tackling me at 2am when I'm on my way to the bathroom or batting at me when I'm in my armchair and not giving him the attention he demands. Oh....back to my review of NW N&S. So I went here after doing some research on both NW N&S and allergy shots. The offices are very spa like. I love that trend in doctor's offices now. Not so sterile and stuffy like they used to be back in the day. When I made my appointment they had me go to their website and print out a bunch of paperwork to fill out and have ready for my appointment. So I basically walked in, handed over my paperwork and insurance card and that was it. I spoke with Dr. Carothers and went over all my allergies and the issue of my newly acquired fur ball and he gave me my options. Yes...one of them was to get rid of kitty. :( But he was playing it straight and I appreciated that so in the end I went with the option that I originally came in for...allergy shots. I had blood drawn that same day, came back a week later and got my results and the paperwork of all the nasty little things that make me itchy, sneezy and wheezy and I started on my shots that same day. 3 shots a week is what I go through to keep my little bundle of joy but it is so worth it. The process is pretty easy. I go in once a week, sign in, sit in the shot waiting area for all of 2 minutes or so, they call me, I get my shots and I leave. Badda bing, badda boom. Well I actually spend a little bit more time chit chatting with the girls in the office. They are all so sweet. Allergy shots are working really well and...I don't puff up or grab for the inhaler any more when my kitty rubs up against me. :D Thanks NW N&S! read more

I could not agree more with every other negative review on here that explains the lack of care and concern provided by this practice. My experience here was horrible and I actually gave them the benefit of the doubt by returning over a period of 2.5 months. The first thing you'll notice that they do here is CT scans up the wazoo. As soon as you say you have a problem, they'll do a CT and an endoscopic probe procedure. While CT scanning is a good guide, it's NOT needed for EVERY circumstance. The next part is the unnecessary prescription of NEW brand named drugs which aren't available as generics. The worst part is they never prescribe you a similar form of drug (antibiotics or antifungal tablets) which are available for much cheaper. I would NEVER return here even if my life depended on it. If you want to view pretty aquariums, go to the Shed. read more

What a complete rip off. I should have listened to the other reviews that mentioned he will find any way to charge you for services you didn't need. I went to Dr. McMahan for ear / nose issue, and came away with allergy testing (when I had already had it done and had the paper work from my previous tests), a CAT scan (really?), and blood work done. During these consultations I told him that money doesn't grow on trees, and his response? That I have insurance. Wrong response. So in other words he was ordering tests that really didn't do anything, charging my insurance, which didn't cover everything, and then I'm left paying upwards of $800 out of pocket for no solution to my ear/nose problem. I stopped seeing this Dr. after the bills started coming through, and am sorry that I didn't do it sooner - like when I came away from the pharmacy having paid for $100 in prescriptions (after insurance). Or when I was overhearing him tell a patient that his blood work came back and he had X,YZ... then immediately came into my room and shared my blood work came back and the result was THE SAME. Coincidence? No - I really don't think so. I bet if everyone on the planet had that same test, the result would be the same. Oh, and that test cost me a cool couple hundred out of pocket. I would never recommend this Dr. He orders tests you don't need (when you've already had them done) and clearly doesn't care about the cost to the patient. read more

Unbundling of services, questionable billing. Be very, very careful about this practice. It is imperative that you get a second opinion and aggressively question each and every charge. While the care in my experience was adequate, the charges for treatment of a [blocked] sinus infection were truly extraordinary. The practice billed more than $15k - excluding anesthesiology - for a rather minor, 50 minute long procure. Moreover, this single procedure was unbundled to five (5) billed surgical procedures, one of which was rejected by Blue Cross. In total, all the charges including office visits exceeded $20k for a sinus infection. There are also other red flags about this practice, including marketing initiatives that rail against single-payer healthcare and very peculiar messages incorporating bible verses on the practice's voice-mail system. In my opinion, the other reviews about poor bedside manor are foolish whining more than anything. In fact, they detract from the real disturbing issue that this practice focuses more on cash flow than patient care. Any physician who treats hundreds of patients is going to have unhappy patients who feel they aren't receiving enough attention. This is to be expected. Yet, sick patients should not have to constantly worry about excessive billing and intentional unbundling of medical services to increase billing. read more

Well Dr. McMahon or should I say Vince McMahon, I forget, you both have about the same ethical code. I just finished paying $900 for two measly checkups. $600 dollars which went to unnecessary blood allergy testing which my current allergist had to redo because she informed me its not as effective as FREE pin testing. I also just paid $400 for two unnecessary CT scans. How do I know they were unnecessary, the doctors at the Mayo Clinic told me so. Note that I will be filing a claim with the better business bureau and my insurance company in hopes that your reign of fraudulent charges and shotty service finally comes to an end. I fully realize this wasn't the most professional of responses, however, I don't believe you warrant my time. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. McMahan's for the past six months. While he's a perfectly competent doctor who treated my allergy issues well, the rest of his practice is a disaster. I've had no less than four appointments cancelled on the day of and each time I do get in to see him, I wait for more than an hour after my appointment time. Today, I waited exactly an hour and walked out--telling his staff that I would never return. Either this is the fault of a physician who tries to pad his schedule with too many patients, or it's due to extremely incompetent schedulers who obviously don't take into account the fact that the doctor routinely goes over his time. In any case, I have half a mind to send him a bill for my time. Trust me, it's just as valuable as his. Only go to this doctor if you don't value your time. I plan to find one who respects mine. read more

It's been 3+ years since I had my sinus surgery, performed by Dr. Carothers, and all I have to say is...WOW! I think I've had maybe 2 sinus infections since 2008--and I typically would have about 6 a year--my colds don't last as long as they used to, I don't suffer from extreme pain in my face...overall, life is pretty darn good. For those of you considering sinus surgery, I do have to warn you that recovery is not as easy as people tell. You do walk around with packed gauze in your nose for a week to 10 days afterwards--I'll always remember that I couldn't even smell the Lush store on Armitage, and I was standing right in it! Also, even after the gauze/packing comes out, you have to rinse your nose out, which is never pretty. Still, most of that is a distant memory, and one barely remembered, when I think of how my quality of life has improved. read more

Ditto the BEWARE OF THIS PRACTICE messages. If you venture into this place, ensure that you know EXACTLY what everything is going to cost upfront, ensure that your insurance company WILL pay for it, and know that what is being told to you is most likely reflective of what is most beneficial to the practice and their bottom line. Do your own Due Diligence and research as much as you can about what alternatives there are to any diagnosis, such as Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture, cleaning up your diet, etc. Know that most of what is being practiced by the Medical Industrial/Pharmaceutical Industry is profit driven and indifferent to the effectiveness of the treatment. Buyer Beware. Lets hope that some legislation gets passed so that payment only gets made for effective results. read more

This is by far the best-run and friendliest Dr's office I've been to, pretty much ever. I've never had to wait more than maybe 10 mins tops for a scheduled appt., and have always been able to get a same day appt. for emergencies. Dr. McMahan takes the time to get to know exactly what's going on with each patient and genuinely wants to find the right solution for whatever your particular problems are--unlike many Drs nowadays who will just throw antibiotics at you and send you on your way. I just had surgery on Monday and he called me, at home, from his home Monday evening to make sure I didn't have any questions and was feeling okay. He was also kind enough to take time out of his day to field a phone call from my father in FL prior to my surgery to answer his questions about the procedure. All the techs, PAs and admin gals are cheerful, friendly and helpful. If you have allergies, sinus issues, or any other ear-nose-throat related issue I strongly encourage you to visit this practice. After over 10 years of horrible chronic problems I am finally on the road to recovery and only wish I would have gone to them sooner. ***UPDATE- 1/4/09*** It has now been over a year since my surgery and I HAVE NOT HAD ONE SINUS INFECTION SINCE. For me, this is nothing short of some Miracle Worker, gettin' Helen Keller to talk type experience. I am no longer constantly sick, tired, and rundown from chronic infection nor do I have to pump myself full of antibiotics just to survive. The words "life changing experience" get bandied about quite a lot these days, but this truly was one for me. Major snaps to Dr. McMahan and his staff. read more

I'm still amazed by the fact that when I arrived, I was seen within 5 minutes. I went in for some tests for my asthma and ended up going through probably the most thorough tests ever. Jihan, the RN, that I worked with was very patient and explained each test in detail. That helped me understand what each test was for and how each one would benefit me. I even ended up taking an allergy skin tests and discovered 7 additional allergies that I had no idea about that add to my asthma. I appreciate the quality and the time that they took to properly help me. I highly recommend for anyone else out there with asthma or sinus issues to see them for help! read more

Dr McMahan saved my life! After being treated by two other ent's and two useless nose surgeries, I was left with a deviated septum and massive blockage to my right nostril. It was so severe, I had to quit school.I began failing my courses, as a result of not being able to breathe. Even if I slept for twelve hours, it felt like I didn't sleep at all. The blockage was literally ruining my life. That's when I paid a visit to my PCP, and was referred to Dr McMahan. As soon as I opened the door (door handles are a nose made of copper) to Dr McMahan's office, I KNEW he was a doctor who was passionate and successful at what he does--I knew I was in the right place! My appointment was at 2PM. And guess what?! I was actually seen at 2PM! But even if I was seen later than my scheduled time, it wouldn't have mattered. The office is such a beautiful place, with an in wall saltwater fish tank, and complimentary coffee or water while you wait. After a couple visits, Dr McMahan went over my CT scan, and it turned out I had cysts and polyps in my sinuses. This was a result of infection after infection due to my deviated septum, that the other "doctors" couldn't fix. This would require functional surgery to fix my septum and endoscopic sinus surgery to remove cysts and polyps. The surgery was a complete success, and as a bonus, made my nose look better (wasn't expecting that). Here I am 12 years later, so grateful to Dr McMahan for giving me my life back. So, as you can see, not all doctors are created equal. I've referred a few friends to Dr McMahan, two of which also required successful surgeries. Best ENT hands down!! Thanks doc! read more

I've been a patient of Northwestern Nasal and Sinus for 7 years. At that time I decided I couldn't ignore my sinus issues any longer and needed take better care of myself. Sinus surgery was recommended 10 years earlier (by a different dr) and I just didn't want to deal at the time. Dr. Carothers performed my surgery and aftercare. We tried all of the non-surgical options prior to surgery and in my case surgery was the only option that was going to fix my neglect over the years. After the initial recovery the surgery brought great relief. I felt the office staff was very supportive in answering pre and post op questions. Never had an issue with waiting long periods of time for appointments or billing / they also give samples when they have them on hand. I see Dr. McMahan now and I've been just as pleased with the care. He has taken the time to get to know my history And symptoms. Has made new suggestions for feeling even better. I still make the trek into the city as I feel this practice has the best ability to treat my issues. I tried a dr. In the burbs and it was an epic fail, he did not listen to my concerns, actually didn't even examine me or want to look at my records and prescribed 100 refills of prescription nose spray and sent me on my way. This is not the treatment you will receive here. read more

Earlier this year, I developed a severe sinus infection (first ever) and went to Dr. McMahan to get treated. For the most part I was satisfied with the service received. Sleep apnea test and allergen test passed with flying colors. I just was a bit surprised that even with PPO insurance, you still have so much to pay. read more

I came here yesterday and saw Dr. Welch and Dr. Shen. Both doctors were incredibly competent and offered different solutions than doctors I had seen in the past. I feel confident moving forward with these doctors- I recommend both of these doctors if you're experiencing ENT/sinus issues. read more

I used to go to regular allergists. Boy was that a mistake! Northwestern Nasal and Sinus is WAY better. I don't know how I first got recommended to Northwestern Nasal and Sinus but this was a find! I see Dr. Carothers, who is the younger partner. The office is well put together and has a "nose" door knob- something I can't forget! I have always been able to get an appointment in a reasonable amount of time. I haven't waited too long in the wating area. The only major complaint is that I have getting allergy shots for years and the technicians aren't always on the ball about having me send back my sheets. A few times its taken longer than it should to get my allergy vials sent home. Regardless, I have been very happy and my sinuses have been MUCH better since coming to this office. read more

Beyond what you read that is negative, that is just not worth reading. Thanks to Dr McMahan he diagnosed a rare disease that is typically not diagnosed for average of 7 years. He was able to diagnose it very quickly & I owe this doctor my life! He is one of the best, if not the best Doctor - period! He listens and is good at figuring out even the most difficult cases. Thanks to him I am now healthier even with my condition. He saved my life! Originally I went to him after having a botched surgery from a different ENT, I was frustrated and upset. The first surgeon had left me with nerve damage - Trigeminal Neuralgia! And was still having terrible infections, so I went to Dr. McMahan, and yes at first I was very skeptical. He had a great bed side manner, and I was in tears as well as hysterical - a real Hot Mess. After a few visits and consultations with the Neurologist, he finally came up with a solution. And, thanks to Dr. McMahan he fixed the problem! After a year I again had issues, not as bad. But, Dr. Carothers said that I had scar tissue. He promised a perfect nose, I laughed. However, I can say this In 3 years I have NOT had a sinus infection! I do have allergies, and there are very few flare ups. I did only do 2 out of 3 years of injections. Other then the medical treatment and being fixed, I love the office. Very modern and clean. They have coffee, tea or water while you wait and a very beautiful salt water tank. Even on the last minute "emergency" they were able to squeeze me in and I saw the Dr. on time! They are excellent at dealing with emergencies and being scared. A++ read more

Once again Dr. Mac to the rescue ! A few years ago he changed my life with a major sinus surgery that I don't fail to appreciate almost every day. I was referred by a friend who was extremely pleased with his work as well. Few days ago he took me in right away when I had a sinus infection that was pretty bad). The great people there: (Shout out to both Sonja and Amy for being so patient and helpful and considerate). Mellow atmosphere. Anyway always like to go into this state of the art practice filled with talented and caring professionals. John Ryan read more

Dr. McMahan was awesome! I've been dealing with sleep apnea and sinus problems for years. I evaded surgery and dealing with it for quite some time. Dr. McMahan was thorough and spoke slowly. I never felt rushed even when I was nearly 30 minutes late!! The front desk staff was awesome! The office itself is relaxing, and state of the art! I was VERY happy to find out that I was able to have everything done (minus the actual surgery) in the office! The other place I went to, I had to go to a outside vendor to get a CT scan, which ended up creating more hassle with my insurance. So keeping it all in house... AMAZING! Getting an appointment was painless and quick. I never felt talked down to or treated with any disrespect. Barbara (I believe that was her name) in surgery scheduling was, simply put, awesome. She put my mind at ease, explained everything in detail, and again never felt rushed! I would say that it probably is a pretty penny if you didn't have insurance, but hell what doctor these days aren't expensive, and if they are cheap, are they even worth going to? I didn't think so! Also, to the nay sayers - you're either on crack or you aren't real because I HONESTLY could not give a low rating. read more

While I understand people's apprehensions about Dr. McMahan or Dr. Carothers' use of CT scans and the endoscopic probe as some kind of ploy to reap money from their patients/insurance companies, I think we need to keep the conspiracy theorists out of here and look at the actual medical need for those tests. I had been miserable with allergies/sinus pressure pain and I have completely lost my sense of smell for the past 3 years, I had seen other allergists and they just gave me some allegra d and sent me on my way. I cam here and I was diagnosed with a deviated septum and chronic sinusitis through the use of those machines, which were conveniently located in office and I was able to get tested and a prognosis within the same appointment. How many people can say they went to their doctor and got all their necessary tests done in one appointment instead of having to schedule a CT scan/MRI/X-day in a separate appointment? I believe they have the best interests in mind and I had no idea about either of my conditions prior to coming here and chances are I wouldn't have known about them if I hadn't come to this specific office. I had Dr. MacMahan and he was very detailed about my hx and about various ways to manage my allergies with home remedies. Also, with the medications he prescribed he gave me my first set of prescriptions throiugh free samples. When I did have to finally refill my prescriptions, they were reasonable, between $10-20 per medication. Sorry people weren't happy but he's great at his job and his staff is equally as great. read more

First of all - This clinic has nothing to do with Northwestern Hospital. I made a mistake and went to this clinic thinking it was part of Northwestern. Dr. Carothers was young and arrogant. He overlooked my medical history and tried "selling" me sinus surgery. All he cared about was making money. When my doctor at Northwestern found out I was going to Dr Carothers he said that I was a victim of the savvy marketing. The clinic spends a lot of money on marketing to make people think they are affiliated with Northwestern. The doctors across the street just cringe when you mention Northwestern Nasal Sinus. read more

I was at first perplexed by the nature of Dr. McMahan's bifurcated reviews until after my initial 2 visits and subsequent 2nd and 3rd opinions from other specialists. On the positive side, his bedside manner is impressive. He's polished and professional and his office looks like a million bucks. The positives pretty much end there. On the negative side, despite just getting an mri, a ct scan in lieu of any other preliminary tests seemed extreme and was certainly unwanted. After the first gratuitous dose of low-level (based on the opinions of the other 2 specialists) antibiotics, I got another blast of radiation via another ct scan. Sure enough, the antibiotics proved ineffective and surgery was the very first recommendation. If proven untreated, the threat of meningitis was the thought I walked away with and was set to go thru with it until my spouse encouraged me to get a 2nd opinion. I was immediately told that surgery was not necessary and that 2 ct scans in the course of 3 wks was certainly not suggested. My father is a surgeon so I called him to get a 3rd opinion from his colleague, who agreed. This whole fiasco put us thru a lot of anxiety for over a month and I walk away from this experience slightly angry and certainly more aware. I think my growing up in a medical family may have caused me to trust openly but this has shown me that there are certain things one should watch out for. To be clear: this has nothing to do with insurance premiums, copays or anything financially related. Good luck... and be aware. read more

I was recommended to Dr. Carothers last Spring. At first the office seemed a big improvement to my previous ENT at 3000 n. halsted. Some of the office staff are friendly (but some have messed up my appointment times twice). Anyway, after being told for the third time I would benefit from Sinus surgery I took the plunge. Dr. Carothers has no bedside manner and my post-surgery visits were painful and lasted 5 minutes but billed at $1200 a pop to my insurance! He never let me ask questions and was out of there in a flash every time. It also turns out there was a mix-up on one of my prescriptions and I was on prednisone for 3 weeks due to a miscommunication between his Rx handwriting and the pharmacy(was on;y supposed to be 5 days). Had he let me ask all the questions I wanted, I would have asked why I was still on it. Needless to say I ended up in the ER 2 weeks after surgery with no conclusive evidence as to why I was running a temp of 103 and vomiting all day. Carothers chalked it up to a random stomach bug, but I'm convinced I got sick because my immune system was compromised due to the prednisone and antibiotics. Now, I'm supposed to go back for another post-op and new CT scan and they call and tell me that Carothers has left the state! No prior warning. Also, they mixed up my appt date again. Then when I was running a few minutes behind to see the other Dr. Macmahon (after I've told them I can barely make the 3:30, esp. if there's traffic), I'm told he cannot stay past 3:30. So after rushing downtown as fast as I can, I'm not able to make it, and he's not willing to stay. Patient care? Especially after just having surgery a couple of months ago? These doctors do not seem to give a crap. And Carothers leaving with no notice? Very fishy to me. I'm going to try and find an ENT who understands that not all of us can get there before 3:30 and who gives a damn about my health. Sorry, but I'm enraged. Also, just got another surgery bill. Not sure what I paid for as the results are not convincing me that I made a good choice. At all. read more

Warning, warning, warning!!! This place is genius, at least when it comes to billing into the stratosphere and prescribing medication(s) that are so new (read expensive, expensive, expensive) that you need prior authorization from your insurance carrier. I've seen Dr. McMahan twice in the past two years (I know, shame on me!) for a serious sinus infection. Both times I was immediately sent for their in-house CAT Scan then seen by the doctor and sent home with a cursory explanation/diagnosis ("you have a sinus infection." DOH!) and a list of prescriptions that would choke a horse. BTW, I have stellar insurance through my wife who is a medical professional at Northwestern but this is just unconscionable and obscene and probably why the whole health care/insurance industries are so out of hand. For the follow-up visit I was once again immediately shuffled into their in-house CAT Scan department for a second dose of radiation. Then seen by doctor McMONEY, oops, I mean Dr. McMahan who patiently explained the infection was abated. Bottom line here folks is you better have top-notch insurance, be sure to ask for samples of the nearly experimental drugs he's shilling for the pharmaceutical reps that feed his staff every day (breakfast, lunch and dinner if they're available) and make sure you, at least, request generics or even the over-the-counter medications that are now readily available. Lastly, how was this diagnosed and treated prior to them/him having access to in-house X-Rays? Well, I think we all know the answer, which was $2000.00 less per patient visit! STAY CLEAR & SEEK ALTERNATIVES IF POSSIBLE!!! read more

I was a patient of Dr Carothers in Feb 2011. He recommended a complete rhinoplasty for a deviated septum (when septal surgery is all I need) In his opinion the bump in my nose is caused by my eyeglasses (it was caused by two broken noses). He told me I would have to wear contact lenses for 5 days because I would be fitted with a "tent" bandage that would not allow glasses to be worn. He assured me that it would "cure" my sleep issues - after reviewing my two sleep studies and a head scan he had done in the office. He also ordered a complete allergy panel that cost my insurance ~$1800. Whe I returned months later for follow up on the allergy panel, he had left the state for Atlanta without notice and i saw Dr McMahon. He reviewed the sleep studies online at NMH and told me i had severe sleep apnea - when the two sleep doctors said i had mild apnea with no need for any intervention, that it was not causing my sleep disturbance. But I was told that i needed a C-PAP machine, that I could die in my sleep, and he promised that after one night i would feel like a 20 year old. Frankly, at that point, I should have doubted his ability! But I agreed and long story short, I had it brought by a technician, spent an hour, tried it for less than a week, was miserable, and still haven't been able to get Sleep Solutions - the vendor he uses - to take it back. My insurer and I agree it was not medically necessary, he refused to respond to me re: questsions and concerns. My doctor has looked at the records and says he was wrong to diagnose sleep apnea, that he had no reason to recommend it and i should get a second opinion. Last but not least, when I was on hold, the office "hold" music is punctuated with Bible verses?!? Need I say more? read more

BEWARE OF THIS PRACTICE! After reading BenoitTro W. review, I am in shock. We had the EXACT same experience in this practice. I went there twice over a period of a month approximately. Dr. McMahan spent with me at best, 5 minutes combining both visits. The rest of the time his assistant talked to me and explained the outrageous list of medications I needed to take for starters, without having even been diagnosed with absolutely anything yet.I was also sent to the in-house CAT Scan in both visits, which did nothing to help the doctor with my diagnosis, which happens to be (surprise!) an allergy (a previous doctor had already tested me for that, AT NOT COST FOR ME). Too late, though: they run a blood test in my second visit (I was already $300 out by then) which confirmed my known allergy! Now, I am out another $220. They contacted me to tell me that I have to go in again just to give me the test results (?- another copay, I guess). I didn't, though. They told me over the phone what I already knew, and that they recommended that I went in for weekly shots for my allergy for 2-3 years... I don't even want to take the calculator out and do the math for those services... Fancy offices don't mean good service. A $6,000 bill for an allergy diagnosis!? Not cool. read more

I came to Dr. McMahan two years ago due to a very negative experience I had with a racket of an ENT practice at 3000 N. Halsted (Google it, and you'll find out quickly who it is). Anyway, my seasonal allergies have gotten worse and worse over the years. Dr. M has a decent bedside manner, and his offices are gorgeous. He did an endoscope on me, something I thought was gratuitous, ordered me for a RAST blood allergy test and gave me several prescriptions. His work was, on the whole, completely unnecessary. After doing my research, I could've just survived with a allergy skin test, not the RAST test that costs thousands of dollars. In addition, he gave me about $1,000 in medication, with a few piddling "discount" coupons. Come to find out there were a few generic options available, and some of the medication I didn't need. I was fortunate that insurance covered everything or else I would've been hurting. After doing the medication and the test, I decided not to go back to him. I'm now seeing an allergist who is more (cost) effectively addressing my needs. I'm sure there are people out there who truly need treatment for serious ENT ailments, and he's probably helped them tremendously. But I would consider shopping around first. All of the one-starred reviews aren't a fluke. read more

BEWARE OF THIS PRACTICE! After reading BenoitTro W. review, I am in shock. We had the EXACT same experience in this practice. I went there twice over a period of a month approximately. Dr. McMahan spent with me at best, 5 minutes combining both visits. The rest of the time his assistant talked to me and explained the outrageous list of medications I needed to take for starters, without having even been diagnosed with absolutely anything yet! I read more

I have been a patient for the past 7 years, i see Dr McMAhan for my sinuses, and get allergy injections. It's pathetic and ridiculous to see these negative reviews!! The nonsense people have written is complete crap. I think these people just like to hear themselves talk, and have nothing better to do than to take out their misery out on someone else!! First and foremost for the ignorance written below, he is a specialist, not a general practitioner and you are not going to an immediate care center, YOU ARE SEEING a specialist!! You see a specialist after you have gone through extensive trial and failure and you have been miserable for quite some time and it's beyond a general check up. Dr McMAhan and his staff and exceptional. You walk in the office and it's like a family!! Dr McMahan is hilarious, I can't believe the crap written here!! He gets down to the point and gives you the facts, he wants to get you better, that is HIS JOB!! He's been doing this a long time he knows what he's talking about, he doesn't dismiss any of your symptoms and makes sure there's an answer and reason for them. Even if it involves extensive testing!! Wouldn't you rather feel at ease knowing its nothing, then to go years and have something serious missed. In case you haven't noticed every ENT specialist has A ct scanner in their office it's what needs to be done sometimes to make sure you aren't infected anymore!! Since when is it the doctors or hospitals fault on the insurance you have? We picked it, we know how much we have to pay, and what our deductible is!! I have to meet my deductible , it has to be met before anything is covered even my monthly medications!! I know every year I have to pay it!! Dr McMahan is far from a greedy man, they have the best billing arrangements, they are flexible, easy, and have been so understanding through difficult times. I used to be sick all the time, sinus infections probably life long and never knew it, congested to the point I accustomed to it because I didn't know any better. Couldn't never smell anything. I don't have any issues, yes I get my 1-2 sinus infections but with a quick visit I can rest assure my infection is gone and the bacteria is not eating away at sinuses!! Doctors used to send me away with just basic OTC meds and never did any aggressive treatment to put an answer or end to my misery until it this cool place!! Oh and for the idiots who said its verbatim on what he tells the next person, first of all you are noisy and should stay out of another patients medical confidentiality and second of all DUH, he's a specialist he only sees patients who have sinus allergy and sleep issues, so the testing is going to be the same do you want our sinus issues solved or what!! read more

A few years ago, my GP (affiliated with Northwestern MH) wanted me tested for sleep apnea. I went to the NMH sleep center and was told I had "very mild" sleep apnea, so I was not given any kind of medication nor any kind of CPAP machine, or frankly, any other recommendations for my condition except, "lose some weight, and it should improve if not go away altogether". Fast forward to now, a few years later - with me, at least 60 lbs lighter, eating extremely well (organic, little junk food, etc) and constantly, constantly fatigued, exhausted, barely able to function on a normal day and just wanting to sleep my weekends away. I knew my snoring had worsened and decided it was time to go to get a second opinion about my sleep apnea, and my seemingly chronic nasal/ear infections and issues. This time, I decided, I'd go to a specialist instead of just calling up NMH and asking for a doctor like I always do. I found Northwestern Nasal & Sinus and was able to get an appointment promptly. They started out with having me fill out an extensive medical history and current symptoms listing. I talked with Dr. McMahan at length about my medical history chart and current issues. He checked out my ears, nose and throat, and did a CT scan. Then my records from the previous sleep study arrived from NMH, and he sat me down, asking me who had told me my sleep apnea was only "mild". As it turns out, right there in black and white facts on my record, was that my apnea was in fact *severe*. He prescribed an CPAP machine, which I had in less than 24 hours (I'll be upgrading to an APAP shortly) -- and I cannot tell you what a difference this machine is making in my life. Instead of being constantly exhausted, cranky, sleeping poorly -- and all the issues that brings on -- I feel like a person again. Chances are fairly high that I may need further work done, but when I go for follow-up in a couple weeks, we'll see how the machine is doing. So, some important lessons learned. Most importantly: if you get a sleep apnea test, make sure your doctor thoroughly reviews the results with you, no matter how "mild" they say the results are. So, some important lessons learned. Most importantly: if you get a sleep apnea test, make sure your doctor thoroughly reviews the results with you, no matter how "mild" they say the results are. I was a bit surprised to see the review here where it says the other primary doctor at this office was trying to "sell surgery". The doctor I saw, Dr McMahan, did discuss surgical options, but he also stated that surgery would be the last choice after trying a variety of other options first. He was willing to listen to my concerns about taking medications simply "for medication's sake", and so he was selective about who he recommended for my follow-up visit with a different doctor for a pulmonary evaluation (related to asthma) and to have a thorough physical. (The doctor I saw for that was located in NMH.) To my surprise, today in the mail, I received a copy of the letter NN&S had sent to the GP I had visited. NN&S listed my full list of symptoms and examination results, and a printout of my CT scans, so not only did the GP have those notes, but I do, too. (I've spent a good amount of time online, researching my various issues. It's very educational.) I was shocked to find that NMH had mis-diagnosed me, because sleep apnea - especially severe sleep apnea - is something that can be life-threatening, not to mention all the physical issues it can lead to. I think of my physical quality of life for the past few years and how much better it could've been if I had been properly diagnosed to begin with, and I'm thankful to have a doctor who seems to know what they're doing now! Again - I can't tell you *what a major difference* it's made in my physical well-being to already have had the CPAP machine for under two weeks! read more

Worst receptionist experience ever. I called to make an appointment because I had severe ear pain. The receptionist told me there were no ear doctors in all week and then hung up on me. She never asked for my name, whether I'm a current patient or any details about my ear pain. I don't know how the doctors are at the clinic because I was never even given a chance to make an appointment. My suggestion is to hire new office staff that have some manners. read more

Asked doctor to explain history of sinus issues to my dentist regarding issues I have been dealing with. He proceeded by give her incorrect information saying that I was in a prior scuba diving accident and that's where my sinus issues stemmed from. That would be very useful information if it was correct and if I've ever gone scuba diving. Get your facts and charts straight. Errors like these cost you patients. read more

Dr. Carothers is an amazing physician! I received corrective surgery for a deviated septum, which caused chronic illness, and also had my nose fixed during the process. My nose is now beautiful, and I'm not sick all of the time. The service is fabulous as well! read more

Scary. Their offices are in two old converted apartments in a high rise where staff are sitting in the kitchen, you wait in the living room and then are seen in a a bedroom. Staff are SO confused it's frightening. We were there for over two hours for a 5 min appointment. They couldn't find my sons records and therefore, the doctor didn't even know why we were there. RUN. read more

I been there . Nicely decorated office with Italian marble and fine statues. That is the star for. I waited an hour to be seen by the doctor.The front desk staff was rude and uncaring. I said "was" because i am not planning in going there anymore. The doctor (Carothers) did the direct laryngoscopy and ordered the CT scan without telling me how much was going to cost me or even if my insurance would cover it. The insurance did not cover these tests The whole examination lasted less than 30 minutes i did not get any relief for my problems .The bill was close to $ 2500 . Enough said. read more

This place is a mess which is a shame because Dr McMahon seems to be very knowledgeable and competent. 1st appointment I waited over an hour and they couldn't wait to get me for the cat scan everyone has mentioned. Came for a follow up appointment and again waited over an hour but this time I got up and walked out. Of course the cat scan guy chased me down the hall telling me he could do the cat scan first. I refused, put on my coat and left. I'd prefer to find a doctor who respects my time and doesn't overbook to the point that there is an hour wait at 730 am. Ps the office is really creepy. It's an old dingy dirty apartment that doesn't even remotely resemble a doctors office. And they are no longer associated with Northwestern but conveniently never updated their name or website so you think. It's pretty obvious why that relationship ended. read more

Poor billing practices - I paid over $700 out of pocket (plus subscription co-pays) for diagnosis and treatment that never worked. My insurance company paid ~$3,000. I was never given advance notice of the cost of certain tests and procedures. I would have certainly opted for an alternative to the tests that cost approximately $175/test (3 different times) had I known the cost. I raised this issue with the billing department and they assumed I just didn't have the money to pay and offered a payment plan. That was not the issue! After 4 months of trying to convince them to see the faults of their practice, I just paid the bill and am choosing to recommend that no one else seek care through NN&S. Moderate (at best) care - emphasis seems to be placed on speed with patient, not informing patient of options or understanding the full extent of patient needs. Note: other Northwestern-affiliated groups have given great service in the past, so this post should not be seen as condemnation on Northwestern groups, just on NN&S. read more

Great Doctor. Great guy. Takes the time to go over what's wrong and covers all options. Doesn't push you into surgery. In fact, he advised other, less expensive and severe options, but in the end, surgery was what I wanted. When I needed to see him over the weekend, he met me at his office. These other bad reviews are just people looking to complain. I've seen a bunch of other ENTs and none of them could give me a straight answer or even the time of day. Dr. McMahan did. read more

I'm really surprised at the negative reviews here for Dr. McMahon that indicate a lack of attention. I came in to get allergy shots (I've been allergic to a variety of things for a while and decided to stop suffering and just get the shots). He spent 20 minutes just chatting with me about my medical history, what I hoped to achieve with shots, what else I could do to minimize allergy reactions, etc. I am lucky to have great insurance so I wasn't bothered by the fact that I had to get a CAT scan done to see if I had a sinus infection as the doctor guessed I might. Sure enough, I had an infection and from looking at the pictures it was a doozy. I was given a lot of medication to clear it up (again, I am lucky to have good insurance but if you do not you might want to mention this to the doctor and perhaps they can try just one or two medications at a time to knock out an infection?) and one of the medicines caused a minor allergic reaction (I know, the irony right?). I was able to get a hold of the office on a holiday weekend and a doctor immediately called back telling me which medicine I should keep taking vs. stop taking based on my symptoms. Not only did Dr. McMahon follow up with me on the issue and, obviously, the sinus infection, he followed up via a very detailed letter with my primary care doctor about the sinus issue, allergy shots he would be starting me on and my new found allergy to one of the medicines I was put on (as well as the substitute it was replaced with). I'm now getting allergy shots and really happy with the results thus far (as well as the staff who always take time to explain medications, procedures, etc). The nursing staff taught me how to do my own shots so that I don't have to pay my co-pay every week, which was also appreciated. read more

I joined yelp just to share my experience with this office. This place is run like a HIGH PROFIT BUSINESS not a doctors office. I used yelp to find this physician office and it was a big mistake. Read the other negative reviews on here before you go. This practice is what is wrong with healthcare. Doc gave me 4 meds that were not needed. Went for a second opinion and the new physician discontinued the entire regimen. If you go here, you will be placed on many expensive meds. Poor bedside manner and week customer service. They use their in-house CT scan to make a huge profit and you will sign a ton of papers as a new patient to ensure they get payment if you should have to have a procedure done. As the other poster wrote on here, "There's a reason the office looks so nice." IF YOU GO HERE, GET A SECOND OPINION Visit the website and see all the forms that they have you sign? Reimbursement is the concern here, not the patient. read more