eMedical Associates

This office is very unethical and they charge fraudulent charges to your insurance company. I followed a doctor over there that my son had been going to for a very long time she is a wonderful doctor but unfortunately she left the practice very quickly I begin to wonder now if it was because she realize that the practice was unethical and they were filing fraudulent claims. Again that is my personal opinion I’m not saying that that is exactly why she left but I begin to wonder. My son went in for a physical which we do not pay a co-​pay for. This appointment was back in June in September I received a bill that said second notice regarding a past due balance for a co-​pay for that visit which I never got a first bill. I called asked to speak to the bill person Rose and never received a call back. At the end of September I received another bill saying third notice again never received a first bill and called once again. Left A message with an individual in the office on Tuesday and never received a return phone call once again I therefore called back today and spoke to an individual. I explained that I only went there once for a physical because the doctor that I went there to see left and I change doctors because I had no reason to stay at that practice. I said I do not pay a co-​pay for a physical and she said that the physical was charged along with an office visit. Um why was an office visit charged when he only had a physical they tried to say they don’t know why but that is what the doctors notes said that something was discussed outside of the physical. I stated there was nothing discussed with the doctor outside the physical there was no questions asked there’s no problems my child had at that visit at all that the only thing that was done was a routine physical. She said I’m sorry ma’am but that’s what the doctors note say and that’s what was charged. She said I would have to take it up at the doctor I was like how am I supposed to take it up with the doctor if you do not have the doctors forwarding information and you cannot get in touch with that doctor anymore because she no longer works there? She then hung up on me so I called my insurance company to inform them about this fraudulent charge. The insurance company then called the doctors office they tried to claim that they don’t know what was said in the visit and that the mother was not in the room so they could’ve talked about something else. That’s a lie because I was in the room the whole entire time. The insurance company guy then called with me on three way we discussed it again I explained that the only thing that was done in the visit was a routine physical she refused to adjust the charge that again I’m disputing because I never received the services. She then said that she refused to continue to talk to me about this and that I just needed to pay the bill. She tried to tell me that the only one that could have access to the records was that doctor and nobody else could have access to those records or change anything. I am sending a letter to my insurance company disputing the claim for this office visit because I never received an office visit with this doctors office. This doctors office is very rude unethical unprofessional and they charge fraudulent charges. They said that they did an audit after That doctor had left and that they had to Bill several other people because supposedly they were billed wrong and they were owed money. I find this very hard to believe I believe they are committing fraud. I think they were upset that they lost the doctor and they probably lost several patients and therefore they’re just trying to make up whatever money that they can. Never never never go to this doctors office you will be charged things that you never received and they will not make it right or investigate it or fix it. They also will hang up on you and won’t return phone calls.

Upon obtaining different health insurance through our employer, my husband and I had to find a new doctor in our area quickly. My entire family utilized the services at this office (on and off) for approximately 1 month beginning in July 2015. This place is a complete mess. There is a lack of professionalism and communication amongst the medical staff. Their «medical director» Dr. Joan Ifarinde is a joke and I strongly question her medical licence and education. She is unprofessional and asks patients very inappropriate questions. Her level of medical knowledge is lacking and her communication skills are very poor. She forgot to run lab work on me and called in an incorrect rx for my husband THREE TIMES. A nurse practitioner misdiagnosed my daughter who was sick with a fever. Upon obtaining a second opinion the next day, we discovered the issue and it was addressed quickly by another, more experienced doctor at a different local practice. Even attempting to get medical records from this place (upon leaving) was difficult. That’s when the red flags really started going up for me. The front desk receptionist (Rose) claimed that a doctor who unexpectedly quit took the records with her and they have «NO IDEA WHERE THE RECORDS ARE». (Upon further investigation, I discovered this was a complete lie). When I pointed out the various HIPAA violations and overall violations of patients’ rights involved with this, they miraculously found the records– which they claimed were in a giant stack in the office and were never filed. Throughout this process, the receptionist forgot to put my call on hold and I heard her crying to someone else in the office saying «I can’t keep dealing with all these angry patients, what are we supposed to tell them? «
I know this sounds crazy, but this truly happened. And it was not just my family’s records, but other patients as well. This is a completely unethical and unorganized practice. It is owned by some guy named Alfred Ifarinde (I’m assuming in relation to Dr. Joan) and there is one more location in Swainsboro. After speaking with other physicians in the area, I’ve learned that countless patients have been experiencing the same issues and have had their records held hostage as well. Please take my advice and do not risk going here, especially with a child. I have already begun the process of filing a formal complaint against their practice with the state.