To be candid, this is a bit of an emotional review for me…read more Anyone who has ever struggled with chronic pain will know this to be true: it's absolute hell. For the past six years, I have had debilitating lower back pain. I've had to stop working out, and I've had days when I could barely walk across the room. I've gained weight, lost sleep, and have really struggled. The most frustrating part has been that no one could ever tell me what was wrong with my back. My scans showed some swelling in my SI joints, but that was always the end of it. A year ago, it was discovered through a blood test that I possess the gene HLA-B27, which can indicate the presence of a disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis. So there it was: an answer! But even after previous doctors saw this, they were hesitant to diagnose. Why? I have no idea. But I was always just put on pain medications, which is never a good answer. I actually stumbled into Dr. Paul by accident when my previous doctor was out on leave. She was the first person to have a long, focused conversation with me about what was going on, and diagnosed me with AS pretty much immediately. It was such a relief to have an actual answer. From there, I was put on the appropriate medications, and was pain-free almost immediately. It's been several months and I am still feeling amazing. Dr. Paul is an exceptional doctor, and spends time addressing questions and concerns, which I've found to be really rare with rheumatologists. She changed my entire life and I'm back to functioning at 100%, which I'll never take for granted. I cannot recommend her enough. Kathy, one of her staff, has been wonderful as well. Truly a great group of people.

I don't appreciate you all gaslighting me. I very clearly received a call from your office. Both…read morecalls were verified by the carrier. I have attached screenshots and once this bill cycle comes to an end, I'll even have an official record from my carrier because knowing you all, you're going to say something like you can't verify that these screenshots are real or that it's not an official record so you can't verify it right? I shouldn't have to go that far though. The level of avoidance that this office is willing to go to avoid accountability is astounding and a little concerning. West County Rheumatology abuses its power and it's so disheartening to see. Shame on you for throwing a rock and hiding your hand. Again, both calls were verified by the carrier. How would the person have known about my upcoming appointment and other details? Was there a breach of patient information that this office hasn't informed patients about then? They sure had a lot of details that an average Joe wouldn't have. Also if your office is all of a sudden having issues with calls being logged then that's another thing you should use your poor investigative skills on. Verifying my coverage is one thing but asking for something to keep on file that IS NOT an insurance card is another thing. It's just a very odd and unorthodox request. I'm not alleging a hipaa violation either, I'm saying that you requested PHI that you don't need and it was inappropriate and accountability needs to be had. Stay within the confines and parameters of your job next time so you don't do this to other patients. You all are not going to investigate this matter, you couldn't care less and that's been very apparent in how I've been ignored. It's simply just something you're going to ignore and pretend like it never happened and eventually do to next person since you can't own your actions this time to know what not to do next time. All I'm asking for is accountability/ownership to be had and to ensure this doesn't happen to anyone else where they are left feeling uncomfortable because someone didn't know how to stick within the borders and boundaries of their job. Your staff decided to straddle a gray area out of an intention that is still unclear. Once again the standard protocol is to simply just verify my coverage by calling my insurance company. The call would've been different if he just verified that I had the same insurance but no I "turned 28 and we're going into a new month" and you all wanted something to "have on file." If the concern was your office not being paid then you could have asked me to reschedule. It's something I'm not a stranger to and was willing to do before. But I wouldn't be surprised if you followed this statement by saying it's about patient care and the doctors wanted to see me right? Yeah, okay. Once again my appointment was at 10:10. If you all were so concerned you could have called my insurance again on Monday. The supervisor I spoke with at my insurance company along with an agent that was called the same day not too long after I received this inappropriate call said that all you would need to do is call them, and you didn't need anything to keep on file. To anyone viewing this, I would beware of this office. They love to hide behind their positive reviews as seen in other reviews when criticism is given or a patient experience that happened to be negative occurred. I understand mistakes may happen however, this is a mistake that is treading a very thin line of invading a patient's privacy. No one is perfect 100% of the time but apparently West County Rheumatology is since they can't own their sideways actions. You know just like I know a person from your office called me. My carrier knows a person from your office called me. The person who called me knows that he/they called me, office management knows that he/they called me, and I'm sure the whole office knows at this point and is participating in this coverup/damage control by the way things have been going. However, just based on this response and any response you have to critiques and genuine concerns seen from other patients, I understand that this office will never take any ounce of accountability/ownership. I'm not the first patient to say that Michelle ignores phone calls and I probably am not the first to be gaslit by this office. I won't be the last either. It's convenient that this office and its management has been so busy. The person I spoke to on Monday 3/2 informed me that there is an office manager and an assistant but neither one has called me back. Does your system notify you when and the reason given why a patient has cancelled an appointment? I put the reason. No one thought to raise a concern then? Continue to play blind, deaf, and dumb though.

I received a letter from Michele, the inept office manager who is incapable of apologies and…read moreaccountability, stating they would no longer see me as a patient because I left a bad review and because I was "confrontational" in my communications. Apparently demanding accountability and using my voice to warn others of their awful business practices - as a consumer in America is allowed to do - is worth removing their healthcare. Michele, all you had to do was actually listen to me and work toward a solution. You refusing to work on a referral, which Tricare didn't even require, tells me a lot about your character. Folks, steer clear. While the doctors may be competent, they back up office staff who is not. On top of it, they are refusing care to a military family. That tells you all you need to know.

Remarkable! Thankfully I found Dr.Ince in late February when the list of dr.'s given to me by an…read moreurgent care physician, could not get me in until August or September! So I searched my maps and found Arthritis Consultants, I called on a Thursday and they had me in by Tuesday! Dr. Ince was fabulous, not only he was friendly and showed genuine concern for my pain and discomfort, but he has a wonderful personality, great humor and makes brief small talk to get to know his patients yet, not too long to keep others waiting. He gets directly to the issue and addresses it with passion and finality to assure the most effective and immediate treatment in order to offer the most expedient relief to his patients. I know this because I have experienced this when I needed immediate treatment from weeks of pain that no one could diagnose! And what's more deserving of notability is that even with a strong accent, he speaks clear and precise and is very articulate, leaving no guesswork to his instructions! Finding Dr. Ince has not only been a blessing to me, but his entire team is courteous and compassionate as well! His assistant, Tasha has been absolutely terrific and helpful!l Never have I had a more enjoyable experience in the face of pain and anxiety and the ongoing journey to normalcy! If I had to go anywhere else; well, I wouldn't! Thank you and Great job Arthritis Consultants and to Dr. Ince and his superior care and fantastic team!! FIVE STARS ****

I usually don't leave reviews on anything, but I feel like this one would help some people in the…read morefuture. The way that this office is run is incredibly unorganized and unprofessional, not only in my short experience there, but also in trying to make the appointment itself. The US healthcare system is an abysmal failure, insurance is a nightmare, so the least an office can do is have a pleasant experience for patients. This one unfortunately missed the mark today. 1. Played phone tag for months. When I finally got hold of someone, the person I spoke with seemed very rushed and very cold on the phone. 2. Was a new patient, scheduled that day (one success of the day! flexible timing), but was told to print out all paperwork and have it done before I come in. Having to come in 30 minutes before your time is also intense. Having paperwork ready for new clients is kind and pretty standard, so that was an odd request on top of the half hour wait. 3. Was told this specific Dr. took a particular insurance as a secondary insurance by multiple sources at Mercy and online, then was met with a lot of pushback from the office. 4. Bombarded me with paperwork, at one point two office staff came into my room and one was explaining, page by page, how to fill it out as quickly as possible, while another one (at the same time) was asking me to sign an agreement saying that if my insurance fell through (the one that I was told would work) I'd be responsible. I was incredibly overwhelmed and asked for space. 5. The Dr. visit was fine. However, I wasn't told I was getting the tests in the room or briefed about what specific tests would be done, so I started to leave, but was told to go back to my room as I was getting tests done at the office. 6. The person who took my blood did their job. I was told I could leave. I started to leave. Whoops. They forgot another test. Had to get poked again. Bad day to be someone who notoriously passes out from needles. 7. Okay, I left finally. Scheduled a follow-up. Right as rain? Nope. 8. Someone didn't give me paperwork to sign for a test to be sent off, so my options were to figure out a way to print it off and sign it after I was 20 minutes away, or have to be poked again the next day and miss work. I thought it was an off day, seeing as when I pulled up the fire alarm was going off, everyone was outside, and a fire truck was present (ended up being a false alarm? should have been my first red flag) So I understand being flustered, but upon reading these other reviews I'm not so sure. I know it's not all sunshine and rainbows for healthcare workers either, you're probably overworked and just trying to do your jobs and see patients in a timely manner, but you could do so with so much more patience, kindness, and better communication.

There are no words to express how I feel. My second review - I received a rather large bill for…read moreinfusion therapy, quite shocking to me, my insurance always covered it. After investigating it was discovered my insurance denied authorization and they provided the service anyway and billed me for it. After two scheduled appoints were cancelled, because it was discovered I as out of network. I tried to establish care with two new Rheumatologist, initial consult visits labs, x rays were ordered and I am told labs x rays negative for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is what Dr Baak diagnosed me with and what I was treated for. A period of 4 years. I do not have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was lead to believe I have an autoimmune disorder

UPDATED response to the office staff...they are quick to reply with an apology below.. but no…read moreresponse when you attempt to contact the office. This office even contacted the pharmacy and recalled refills that were already sent in. I just want to be seen and under care of a dr... but the office staff seems to block any contact?? looked at BBB.. did the same to another person who complained. I hope she also filed with the state medical board. I sent email with screenshot of response below saying, ok if this is a misunderstanding then let's move forward.. but has been crickets. no response. not even a hey.. we are looking into it. more people need to voice their opinions and stand up for your medical rights. no reason they should treat patients this way.... if it was their family member... they would be hot.. but its just a job to them and we are just revenue. find a dr office that cares. Since Dr. Baak's passing, the office has declined a lot in how they view you as a patient. I believe dr Baak ran his office with compassion... now it's not the same. I had an issue that stressed me out completely..and there was no compassion from anyone that I spoke with in the office. It was more combative and I was told if I don't like it, find another Rheumatologist. They know it takes months to get in as a new patient to a new Rhuem so we are at their mercy. It's disheartening. And I see from other reviews recently I am not the only one....... And my journey as stated in the response below is due to Claudia's rude combative call. You won't tolerate hate? Then fire Claudia. The hate came from your end. I stated we are at their mercy... and I updated my review because it was misleading stating we are at their mercy while trying to find one. Someone got defensive and called me and said they are RETRACTING my FMLA and closing my chart? Because I had a complaint. Not one was I hateful until you just made my next few months miserable because you can't handle a complaint. Well... FYI... I'm coping and pasting to every review platform I can find for this office. You try to sound sweet like I was the bad person... thankfully I record all my conversations and writings

This physician refused me medical care when I was at my sickest. She claimed not to take my…read moreinsurance after I had confirmed with her office manager that she did accept it prior to choosing my plan. She informed me that she "did not want to deal with difficult patients" at that point in her career, chastised me for trying to communicate with her over the patient portal, and included things in my charting notes that caused other rheumatologists to dismiss me. I nearly died within 6 months of her firing me as a patient. I wound up at the hospital where I stayed for 2 weeks and was diagnosed with lupus, a rheumatic condition. I would not trust this doctor. She seems very sweet until she isn't

If you are looking for a rheumatologist, keep looking. . You will see the doctor at most 2 times…read more After that you will only see the PAs. The PAs I saw I actually really liked. I was hospitalized and they called for consultation with Dr. Kamat and could never get her to call them back. (Probably because she didn't know me because she hadn't seen me herself in YEARS). Second opinions are not allowed!The staff at the office are just terrible and do not give a professional appearance. This office is only about the money, not true care for patients.

Mercy clinic is located in Ronnie's Plaza by the Cold Stone Creamery. Note: There is another…read moreclinic in the same plaza that is not affiliated with Mercy. A little confusing. Look for the clock tower to find Mercy. I saw Dr Cristian Sutter for the first time. He was detailed about gathering health history info and ordering appropriate tests. I like how the lab and specialist referrals are done directly through the computer system. It gives me confidence that nothing would fall through the cracks. Dr Sutter and his staff are low key and casually dressed. The walls and instruments looked clean, but the light in the exam room I was in was dirty and the exam rooms look sad and tired. The staff seem pleasant and competent, but as a whole, the clinic doesn't exude personality. I am comfortable with my medical care so I will be back..

Dr. Perini Shah is fabulous! She takes her time to explain everything, schedules necessary tests…read moreand her staff follows up promptly. Love this doctor!

The doctors and PAs are very knowledgeable and personable. They've been great. The admin staff and…read moreassistants are super hit or miss. I have had really wonderful service from them and as well as rude interactions. It's not enough to make me look elsewhere, but it does give me pause.

From the owner: We specialize in providing patients the Rheumatologic care they need.read more

Dr. Fortunato, is a wonderful family Doctor. He has been my Doctor since 2014 and my husband's…read moresince 2015. He is very thorough and is always checking in to make sure throughout the visit that he asks to see if there is anything else you may need bring up about your health. And actually listen to you while you explain things you're concern's about with your health.. His staff is aways so helpful and understanding also. And Dr. Fortunato does calls backs which is really nice. Call backs are always quick when messages have been left. I will be a patient until Dr Fortunato retires. Thanks Dr. Fortunato & staff.

What happened to this office? I left multiple voicemails for two weeks for an appointment only to…read morefind out the voicemail logger actually wasn't doing their job. Once I finally got ahold of someone, my appointment was three weeks out. That appointment got cancelled because the doctor had to go elsewhere. My VOICEMAIL notification of that was on Wednesday (appointment on Thursday). Yes, they called on Monday, but what does that matter if I don't answer and you don't leave me a voicemail? I've been in pain for months, probably gonna see about switching doctors if this is how hard it's going to be just to get seen. "We called on Monday." Yeah, thanks for that.