Blair gastro now us digestive refused to perform a scope after repeated calls of severe progressing pain. Stated emergency procedure was unwarranted leaving us to belief they didnt value of the patient. Also stated that it was policy not to perform a scope until stress test etc was done first and cleared by cardiologist. Eventhough the cardiologist cleared the patient to have it done before his tested us digestive still refused. This has lead me to believe they do not respect the decision made by the cardiologist that ordered the stress test in the first place. How very sad such decrease in care. read more

Now that Blair gastro is under new ownership the patient experience doesn't matter. They will not send faxes to other doctors. You must push them and demand it. Several times. It's exhausting and unprofessional. Please do not rely on staff to do this on their own. Fair warning!!!!! read more

My appointment for Blair Gastro was on June 24, 2021, and I saw Dr. Bouassaf. First, when I arrived, the staff members made me feel totally comfortable, and promptly checked me in. I waited maybe 5 minutes before they called me back to see the doctor. After getting vitals checked and other info, I waited maybe another 5 minutes before Dr. Bouassaf joined me. I can't state to you what a relief it was to have a physician that totally could talk to me on my level and describe what was going to happen and actually explain my CT Scan that was performed on me at UPMC Altoona in May when I went to the ER. The ER Dr should have been the one to interpret the results, but he just sent me home. Dr. Bouassaf got me to describe my symptoms in a way that no other doctor has succeeded because I usually feel pressed when I'm meeting with a doctor and I tangle up my words. He made me feel as though he honestly paid attention to me and wanted what was best. He showed very calmly the procedures he felt I needed to have done and proposed I have a MRI at another facility. I highly recommend Blair Gastro and this is where I will go for all my Gastroenterology needs. read more

US Digestive Health - Dr. Bouassaf - Gastroenterologist Near Me - Altoona, Pennsylvania

Great Doctors but the staff does not know what the left hand is doing from the right. Alot of mix-up from phone calls to phone calls. Only criticism. read more

I had a great first experience. The everyone I dealt with were very friendly and knowledgeable. Thanks for a great experience. read more

The people are great but the new phone system is terrible. You can't get a live person on the phone. My wife left a message with a return number on every extension and never heard back, she was on hold for hours today and did not get a live person. read more

Dr. Kerstetter is an excellent and very caring Dr. who made me drive one and a half hours to receive his care. Today, I received marvelous care from him and his crew. Thank you, Terry, Chris, and Erica. I feel great, and thank you for being there for us! read more

I have been going to Blair Gastro for a few years. Only once did I have a problem, it was getting the IV, the nurse was very rude it hurt, she told me to be a grown-up, she might have been having a bad day, we all have them. Another nurse came over and corrected my IV, so it all worked out. But all in all, I have been treated great, I really have no complaints, kind friendly staff. Wonderful Doctors, PA's and nurses. I would recommend them. Also, the wait is long to get and appointment, but not for emergencies. read more

Dr. Patel, the PA's and the Office Staff are always professional, kind and knowledgeable. They take time to listen, which is rare in todays world. I have been a patient for a few years. As a surgeon, Dr. Patel is the best. He is very reassuring and follows up with you after surgery. read more

Today was my first experience with Blair Gastro and it was great. Everything was on time and everyone seemed very competent. The doctor met with me just moments after going into the room and listened to what I had to say, made multiple suggestions of things that I could try even before my procedure. Everyone was very polite and informative. I hope the rest of my interactions go this well. read more

Dr Bouassaf was very friendly and shared a plethora of information with me pertaining to the results from my upper GI endoscopy. He is very personable and made me feel at ease during all of my visits! read more

The whole staff was fantastic, they worked in complete harmony together, made the visit less stressful with their great attitude and efficiency. Nothing like a smile to make you at ease. They thoroughly explained everything as they went about their routine. read more

I started out with one doctor, then I had the same doctor for the next two appts., then I had a different doctor for the 4th appt and even a different doctor at my 5th appt. So I had to explain my symptoms / problems to each doctor at each appt. from the beginning. One doctor said I did not need a colonoscopy, the next doctor said I do need a colonoscopy.... so which doctor is right? One doctor said to try Linzess, then the next doctor gave me a script to help with the nausea which caused constipation, so the next doctor said to take Miralax. So I take Linzess to help me "go", I take a nause medicine that constipates me so then I take Miralax. Doesn't make sense to me! All in all, after five appts. I'm not further ahead than I was at my first appt. Very frustrating. read more

Dr. Patel is a very caring and knowledgeable doctor. When I first came to see him I was in very bad shape. He always remembers me when I come in for appointments. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a gastrointestinal doctor. read more

If you use Highmark insurance, the first 'paperwork' visit, they will charge you a copay even if you're having a preventative colonoscopy. They say the appointment or office visit is a Pennsylvania requirement. It isn't a problem if they notify you ahead of time, but they don't tell you until after the fact. Spoke with a financial lady today and she said that there isn't a charge with UPMC insurance. So I guess I am saying that if you have Highmark insurance, prepare yourself ahead of time for hidden fees. read more

My experiences were very pleasant. They put me at ease for my colonoscopy and were very thorough about explaining everything. They were all very nice as well. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Patel and appreciate the way he treats me. He takes the time to answer all questions, explains complicated things in a way that's easy to understand. He is caring and patient. I couldn't recommend him and the practice more. read more

I have had two colonoscopies and one endoscopy at this facility. The staff are courteous and professional. The facility is clean. The communication is clear. The procedures are done efficiently. Dr Patel is very caring as well as professional. I have no reservations about recommending him or the group.. read more

I've been a patient at Blair Gastro for many many years the doctors and PAs are very professional and they care about their clients however the last time I was there they ordered a blood test that was not covered by my insurance nor did they inform me that it was not covered by my insurance that was a $337 cost. It is not professional to charge people for bloodwork they may or may not be able to pay for read more

You have to wait 3 months to get in they call you and tell you there's a change in my doctors schedule and now we're into February. It's a shame I like Dr. Patel. But I guess theirs so big now the little person doesn't matter. read more

I agree with the other person who posted a review on here. Unfortunately, this was the place my primary care physician's office sent me to, so this is where I went for my colonoscopy. Now I wish I hadn't. I found the staff pleasant enough, until I went into the room for the procedure and met the anesthesiologist. She put propofol in my IV and it immediately began to burn - not just a little, but the "my arm is on fire" kind of burn. I asked her to stop because she was hurting me, and I asked her why it hurt when I had had propofol previously (in Pittsburgh for another procedure) and that hadn't hurt, and all she said was, "Deep breaths". She didn't stop, in fact she pushed it in faster. Had I not passed out soon after I probably would have attempted to leave. And this was in the presence of the doctor and 2 nurses - not one of them said anything. After I came to, I asked one of the nurses why it burned. She mumbled something about me being too sensitive! The doctor came to see me before I left, handed me a piece of paper telling that explained cancerous polyps, told me they had found polyps and removed them, and that I would hear back in a week if they were cancerous or not. That was mid-December. Neither my pcp nor I has heard anything yet. When I got home, I recalled that, in Pittsburgh, when the anesthesiologist administered propofol, he put lidocaine in the line first so it wouldn't burn. So THAT'S why it burned - the anesthesiologist at Blair Gastro didn't bother to put lidocaine in the line before administering the propofol! Sadistic, lazy, or ignorant? Who knows but I did fill out their patient satisfaction survey they sent me the next day, and I did explain what happened and that I would NEVER go there again, would tell others not to, and would file a complaint with the board of anesthesiologists. I told my primary care doctor and he said he would no longer refer patients to them. So they lost a lot of business, as they deserve to. Go to Pittsburgh if you can. Most medical professionals in Altoona are incompetent and uncaring, and Blair Gastro is a perfect example of that. read more

I came with issues. The dr tried some things, which had been tried in the past, which didn't help. We proceeded with Colonoscopy. Everyone was very helpful and supportive, but test was inconclusive, and no real plan forward. I feel like I came home after that horrible prep and no sleep, to no solution, or not even a plan. Not sure what it was all for. I also don't know where to go from here. They were nice, but didn't help. read more

Dr Kerstetter and staff are great. I got the care I needed with prompt results.

Procedures are nothing special and wasn't looking for special so they hit that mark. Now the billing is worse than a ued car salesman. What they charged me was triple what was told it would be and three months post Procedure still getting $300 charges. Seriously the price of a NEW car at this point. STAY AWAY!!! read more

My husband was referred to Dr. Alkhafaji by our family doctor because he has had what is diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome for years. My husband had lost 75lbs over a period of 3 or 4 months and this person's "diagnosis" was that, "sometimes people's bodies feel like losing weight." Only the fact that we were too polite kept us from giving this man a piece of our minds. We cannot say enough bad things about this person who masquerades as a doctor. Personally, I wish my body would suddenly "decide" to lose weight, but I'm not so moronic to believe any such thing can happen. Stay far away from this man and if you have to avoid scheduling an appointment at this entire practice, then so be it, they deserve it for allowing this person to walk their halls. read more

I was told to report to the center at 730 this morning and that my procedure would start at 8AM. They placed the monitors on me and setup the IV and I looked at the clock on the way into the procedure room and it was 8AM on the dot. When I woke up in recovery and asked them the time it was 825AM. The staff, the nurse and the anesthetist were all awesome. Dr. Patel is a great doctor. Thanks to everyone. read more

January of 2018 I started having sharp pains in my back. A couple of times I went to the ER and they did CT for kidney stones. Always came back negative. I went to the VA to see if they could help. After having a gall bladder scan, CT, and an Ultrasound of the area associated with the liver, kidneys, and gall bladder, the VA could not find nothing wrong with me. In late March, I went to Blair Gastro. They set up another CT quickly. By April, I quit eating, the pain became severe, and I lost 25 lbs.. The results came back on my liver that showed a mass. Dr. Bailey called me at 4:30 in the afternoon to give me the results. When I told him about the weight loss and other symptoms, he said I needed to go to the ER now. After being admitted and having a liver biopsy done, it was discovered that I had E.Coli on my liver. Had it not been for Dr. Bailey and Blair Gastro, I do not know if I would be here today. I have read the other reviews. All hospitals and Dr. offices are a money making trap so that is a non-issue. That is the way our society is anymore. The staff was kind, courteous, and very helpful. Maybe some people who write reviews should look in the mirror and solve the problems that are staring back at them before blaming a doctor's office for their problems. read more

While everyone I interacted with was great and very patient, friendly, etc., the entire process felt like a money grab of sorts. And after talking to friends in town, that seems to be the reputation. At my first appointment, there was no physical examination whatsoever. The doctor (who again, was very nice) came in with a laptop, sat and talked, decided a procedure was the way to go and that was it. The colonoscopy prep drink cost $100 WITH insurance (!) which I definitely was not prepared for. I have yet to find a single person who has ever had to pay anywhere CLOSE to that for prep when going to other practices. A choice of prep options might have been useful to take in to account peoples' financial situation. Then, before the procedure even happened, a followup appointment was scheduled - 2 months out. When I asked the purpose, I was told it was "just to see how you were doing...." Yet if something was found, the doctor would contact me much sooner. I ended up canceling the follow up, because I wasn't interested in paying another copay just to sit and chat, as happened with the initial appointment. During the procedure, I was required to take a pregnancy test when it is physically impossible for me to be pregnant. Yet another bill, I'm sure. Thankfully the procedure was uneventful and I was sent home with a clean bill of health. The people are great, but there's a feeling that since they're one of the only games in town, they can do what they want and people have to pay. Some greater consideration for various financial situations would be helpful. read more

This is a practice in the dark ages. No 'cutting-edge' medical services to be had here. And definitely not that patient-friendly, based on the interaction I had with the secretary answering the phone. Go elsewhere. I called to schedule an appointment for the new laxative-free CT colonoscopy. I spoke with an Anita who had no real idea what I was talking about. I explained to her that this is the newest, safest, most comfortable colonoscopy available to patients. I asked if the doctors here were up-to-date on this new technique and all I really got from her was a generic answer of 'Well, I'm sure they are.' Then immediately after that she told me that if it's that new that they wouldn't be offering it to patients. She mentioned the old way of doing colonoscopies, that requires you to be sedated and have a tube inserted deep into your colon, but I told her I was uncomfortable with this method because of the risk of having your colon perforated during the procedure. My worries and concerns - she couldn't have cared less about. I tried to be proactive with her and asked when they would be offering this newer, safer technique and she didn't think they would ever offer it. Again, in the dark ages. So there you go, not a place on the cutting-edge of gastroenterological health care. It probably would be best to go to Pittsburgh, Hershey or Philly to have this test done by doctors who stay up with the latest techniques for patient comfort. read more

THEY DON'T RETURN YOUR CALLS!!! I have had 4 banding for hemorrhoids done and Still Have Hemorrhoids, with no end in sight! I can't get a straight answer from Dr or Phys Asst(s)-and when I wanted to see the Dr, I only got a Phys Asst. My concerns fall on deaf ears; definitely an assembly-line atmosphere, 'let's see how many people we can get in and out, more $ to be made' Not patient-friendly, Especially on the Phone!!! Oh, and I never did get any PIN number or other information for 'registering' with these people. If they would only take the time to listen to the patient (BTW I work in healthcare field, and am not as stupid as they tried to make me feel) read more

Dr. Kerstetter was kind and professional. He found the cause of my extreme stomach pain and got me on the path to being healed. Everyone in the office was friendly and they answered all my questions. Monchi's assumation that the day after its being aired on the news that this new procedure was going to be available everywhere was naive. read more

My husband had all the systems of colon cancer,,HE HAD TO ask for a colonoscopy and then was told he was fine. Imagine 4 months later he has stage four colon cancer. The tumor in his transverse colon was covering two thirds of the opening. Two years later he is still suffering through chemo, why because someone did not do his job. The cancer in his liver is as big as a mans two fist together. Needless to say I am sure the dr did not test my husband. It seems to me they just want the money. They really don't care about ones health read more

The first time I was went I was sent by my primary care physician. I had just sat down and started to fill out the paperwork like anytime you go in for the first time somewhere when they called me back. No time to fill anything out. They had to go through each question with me to put it into their system for a file on me instead of welcoming me and getting me comfortable. The time I spent with the doctor was terrible. He barely ever looked at me and hardly said anything to me. It was uncomfortable and awkward. He would ask a question and then sit and type and click on his computer - "Hello!? What are you thinking? What are you typing? What's going on??" - Were my constant thoughts the whole time I was there. I did most of the talking and asked some questions myself, which he seemed to just give a simple answer to. Almost like he didn't care. When I went to pay I was told I had to get blood work done. Something we never discussed and something I didn't want done. The second time I went back I had to try and fill out the paperwork on your history AGAIN. Which they didn't give enough time of course. I wasn't seen by the doctor himself but by his assistant. She talked so fast that my head was spinning. First off, I'm new to everything I'm getting treated for. I don't know much about it or how it's treated. Second, I'm a patient not a doctor. She kept using a lot of terms and words I had never heard of and didn't explain them. It seemed like she was in a race talking as fast as she could to get through my appointment. I had to constantly keep interrupting her and asking what she was talking about, try and get it through my head and remember it while she continued to keep talking fast. By the end of the appointment which I think took a total of about 7 minutes, I was completely confused. I had no idea what we had talked about or what was going to happen next. When I went to pay I was told I had to get blood work done again. I had the receptionist get the assistant again so I could talk to her to which she replied "Yes I told you about it. Don't you remember?" She made me go into her office again to tell me I was getting blood work. I was so frustrated I actually cried. She unexpectedly handed me a tissue and kept telling me "I'm sorry," with no emotion in her voice. Every time she said it, it sounded the same. I doubt she meant it. When I got my bill for the blood, it was $450.00. I was shocked. I made some calls and found out the doctor had deemed it "experimental" so my insurance can't help cover it. Needless to say I will never ever go back there again. They rush you through everything because they want to fit in as many patients as they can. It's all a money making scheme. Do not go here. read more

I have to say that I was not looking forward to having a colonoscopy, but my experience at Blair Gastroenterology was as good as I could ask for. read more