Beth Israel Medical Group

Came in to urgent care for a stomach pains after visit in Asia. Waited more than 2 HOURS to finally get a doctor. I spent 45 min in the patient room also waiting, where I could see and overhear the staff in the back joking, standing around, and eating the PANERA lunch they received an hour prior. There were few patients waiting, so it seemed unnecessary that I had to wait 2 hours to see a doctor when they seemed to be lounging in the back area.
I called my insurance while I was at the office to avoid any surprise bills, yet still got surprise bills. First the office submitted a claim with a Dr FALLIS as out of network. My insurance called this out to me, since it resulted in a huge bill, so they had to resubmit. Still waiting for revised bill.
Also got a huge lab fee from Beth Israel Lab. The lab results were supposed to take a few days, no more than one week, but it took 3 weeks to get me the results about my stomach pains. The lab result literally just said «none» hand written on a piece of paper. Did not list out my tests or individual results. So unprofessional.
When I called the Lab about my bill and wait time, spoke to someone named HEATHER who was incredibly rude and condescending.
The experience was altogether terrible.
If you need urgent care, this is absolutely not urgent.
Unprofessional and careless. Patients were not a priority, Panera was.

I am horrified by how the front desk staff treats patients and how poorly they are organized. The staff is rude, they create unbelievably long wait times due to their own incompetency. I walked out and will never be back. As a nurse, I have never seen an office this poorly managed.

Like everyone else says, the doctors can be good, but the bureaucracy is a nightmare. I like my doctor, Robbins Gottlock, very much. And even the administrative staff, once you actually can speak to someone, is very nice. However, calling in, the phone hold is never less than 30 minutes. Currently I am on hold and have been for over two hours. Soviet-​era bureaucracy: it’s not just for health insurance calls anymore!!!

Used the zocdoc app and got and appointment. The doctor was not there I accepted to see another one. After ½ hour with all my forms filled out they realized I needed an x-ray…which is only available on week days, from 9 am to 4 pm.
I had to come back the next Monday at my lunch break. More than 2 hours waiting… people arriving after without any appointment were taken inside before.
The administrative ladies are so inefficient and absolutely not welcoming.

I didn’t want to write a negative review, because everyone who works here is very nice. My doctor is wonderful too.
The frustration, as a patient, is the lack of communication between staff and departments. Consistently, I have tried calling the offices to get disconnected (or hung up on). When you are awaiting your test results or to make an appointment, it is important to get through. I call and call and continue to get disconnected. What is happening?
Further, my appointments have gone missing from the system. I think a system upgrade is being implemented, but it’s harder to cope with when you can’t get through on the phone.
Another time, I waited an additional 20 minutes because the secretary did not verbally communicate my check in, and the doctor failed to see I was «ready» in the computer system.
Everyone I have spoken to at Beth Israel means well, but the agonies of health issues are even more emotionally taxing when dealing with this group.

I wish I had read these reviews before wasting my time, effort and money with this place and with Dr. Michael Via in particular. Similar to another reviewer, he has been deceptive in the tests he failed to run and never called me back after several attempts to get in touch. Firstly, he basically negotiated my medication with me, which was not at all reassuring, and ended up giving me much too high of a dose. Secondly, he told me that he had run the blood tests to verify dosage, but in actuality, he did not run the requisite tests (which have since verified that he gave me too much medication). He lied to me! After having met with him for blood work and a check up, he told me to call back in a week. I have called back 7 times and have still not gotten a response from him. I do not want to schedule another appointment to follow up with the missing lab results and waste further time and money (not to mention, the last time I went there I came down with strep soon thereafter), but he should be told first hand that this is abusive and hazardous behavior. I strongly do not recommend Dr. Via.

I think my experience may have been an anomaly.
I am an insured, healthy, 28 year old who made an appointment with Dr. Rice through Zoc Doc.
That said, I read all the horrendous reviews on Unilocal after I booked and immediately felt nervous about my visit. So, in order to prevent billing issues, administrative laziness, and confusion, I arrived to my 11:15AM appointment 30 minutes early.
It was a Thursday morning, so the waiting room was relatively empty. Upon entering I received immediate attention from the admins, and was handed a clipboard with a lot of paperwork. Filling in everything as neatly and diligently as I could, I returned the forms, along with insurance card, and experienced no other issues. I don’t have to pay a co-​pay for my annual visit, and the admin staff seemed to recognize my plan.
I was called in to see Dr. Rice at 11:15, on the dot. Upon entering the room, my vitals were taken by a very pleasant Filipino nurse, who was funny and gentle with temp and blood pressure procedures.
At this point, I did wait an additional 20 minutes until Dr. Rice came in to the room. 20 minutes is a long time, but I’ve waited longer – so not a huge deal for me.
When she came in, she was warm and friendly and seemed interested in my family health history. Since there wasn’t anything seriously wrong with me, the physical took only 5 – 10 minutes, and then the Filipino nurse re-​entered the room to take my blood.
After I gave my blood sample, the nurse told me that I needed to call my insurance company and ask them what lab is in my network. I thought this was very nice thing for her to do, considering she didn’t HAVE to do it. She even regaled horror stories of other patients stuck with a $ 1200 bill because the blood was sent to Mount Sinai and not to Lap Corp, or Quest Diagnostics. I quickly called my insurance while waiting for the doctor to return.
Dr. Rice returned, once more, to ask if I have any other questions or concerns. I didn’t.
I guess we’ll see how long it takes to receive my results (Dr. Rice noted 8 – 10 days, since they had to send it to Lab Corp) and we’ll see if I get any invoices in the next few days.

Awful. Like stepping back in time.
Remember when HMOs first started and dr’s offices treated patients like garbage because they knew you had no choice? That’s what this place is like! It’s very nostalgic, like riding the roller coaster at Coney Island!
2 pm appointment. Arrived at 1:50. Sat there like a potted plant for 25 minutes then asked when I would be seen. Incredibly unpleasant woman at the desk grumbled and gestured impatiently to her colleague, «Ask HER.» Colleague hadn’t started inputting my med info but started then. She asked her unpleasant colleague what the co pay was on my insurance. Colleague said she didn’t know and said, «SHE should know,» gesturing at me. I don’t know my co pay, I rarely go to the doctor. I said, nevermind, I’ll just leave. Went back to get the unpleasant lady’s name for the letter I’d write. I said, «You are incredibly unpleasant.» She said, «Speak to my manager.» Manager answered the co pay question and said, we’ll get you in right away. Then she added, «You really should know your co pay because the staff can’t be expected to.» What?! This is their business and they are sitting in front of a computer and they can’t find the co pay for the insurance plan for all NYS employees. Unreal. I said I’d find another dr and me and my strep throat went on our way.

DOCS Beth Israel Medical Group is very disorganized. The hours advertised never match the actual hours on the 34^th street location. And the 23^rd street location has the same problem. I once spent hours going to one, closed, and then the other, also closed, when the hours online and on the phone said they were open. When I come in to the walk in, they ask if I have an appointment. When I call to make an appointment, they say I need to walk in. The staff is often rude as well, which is a reflection of poor management. I used to visit my grandmother at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, which was much better. I am so disappointed by this NYC location.

Stay away from this place. Read the other negative reviews and pay heed. Not necessarily because of the doctors. Mine was there and just retired. I liked him. It’s the staff that is terrible. They put in my insurance wrong three times. I loved my doctor here and even wrote him a letter to say his staff was letting him down. They lost blood tests, sent my physical results to the wrong address three years in a row even after I called them to correct it the first time. My wife just went there again and a young female doctor who will remain nameless diagnosed her with osteoporosis. She was limping very badly and needed a cane. She’s in great shape and I’ve NEVER seen her like that. The Doctor wanted to put her on Boniva and told her to come back in a year! In a week she saw a sport medicine guy who diagnosed her with a torn meniscus and sent her to PT. She’s doing fine now. The staff there put through my insurance twice on the wrong one even after I called them. I spoke to another doctor specialist after they left I tracked them down to still see them and asked them why they left and they said because of the staff. They won’t do a minute of work beyond what they’re asked. The last straw was when my pharmacist called them for a prescription for a shot for my doctor to send. She came back from the phone (this was very unusual for her) and said they were very impolite to her on the phone. I later called my Doctor and got him to send it. There are so many other places to go then here. It’s a shame because some of the doctors here are good. I hardly ever write negative reviews. I’m mister nice guy on Unilocal.I hope the higher ups read these Unilocal reviews because it isn’t just me but I don’t know what they can do if they can’t fire these office staff people and I might add lax nurses. On my last physical the nurse just asked me my height and weight because she was in a hurry or too lazy to do it herself. I did love my doctor here but I don’t know what they can do but fire all the staff which they probably can’t. One tip: when you’re calling a Doctor if the person answering the phone is strange, rude or short with you that’s a bad sign. I cancelled a visit with a new Doctor at another practice and when I called to cancel I realized the person who was taking my original vital info had written down the wrong birthdate. I’ve since found a better place and doctor. You can too.

I’ve been coming here for years, and let me just say — I love my doctor. She is wonderful. But the administration here flat out SUCKS. I was prescribed an injectable prescription that I had to go pick up at a pharmacy. I come back another day, the administration insists that now I have to SEE A DOCTOR to have them inject it. ANOTHER COPAY for a prescription they already wrote and had been filled! I don’t need a doctor if it’s already been prescribed, I need a NURSE. So what you’re telling me is that not only is it ok to double bill me for the same script — but you’re also going to charge my insurance company out the wazoo for the visit! Doesn’t that just scream insurance fraud?
I love my doctor, but I’m going to have to look into a different one at this point. The administration here is shady as it gets.

The doctor is good but the administrative is the WORST!
It was fine for the first two times, and then when it came to specialists, it went to crap!
I had an appointment at10:45, and got here right on time and waited in the waiting room. Saw the doctor call in another patient. So I went to the receptionist and asked, she said I was next.
20 minutes later, doctor came out, called in a second one. The receptionist said she had no idea. I had to work! For Christ’s sake!
Then a third one was called in. When i asked the receptionist they told me the doc only see patients by appointments. So what? The doc himself was late for work over an hour? What kind of f hospital is this?
Also I had to pay the copay for a follow up visit, which is really ridiculous. Not coming back for sure

Came in for a physical and to check out an injury.
I had a minor wait to see a doctor. She was pleasant but seemed rushed.
Physical also felt rushed, and could’ve been more thorough[1]. She assessed my injury, then quickly referred me to a specialist upstairs, where I had to wait more. My «appointment» with the specialist was also short. To be fair, he’s a specialist, and he probably could analyze x-​rays like mine in his sleep. My combined bill, after insurance, didn’t help and makes it unlikely that I’ll return here.
If I’m going to be fleeced, I’d rather get a massage during it[2].
[1] Insert perverted jokes here.
[2] Okay, that sounds perverted by itself.

I went into the Beth Israel clinic on West 23^rd street on a saturday night in need of medical attention and treatment as I was in pain and discomfort and tried everything over the counter. The only doctor working was an Asian younger woman who was by far the rudest, most selfish, and most careless doctor Ive ever encountered in my life. She examined me but would not listen to everything I was explaining to me as I had to repeat myself to her questions constantly, I knew what I had ailing me and knew what worked in the past treatment wise which had me feeling better overnight but this awfu bedside-​manner doctor didn’t care what I had to say as she made up her mind that I would get no treatment that night and would only be given a full panel of tests that would not give results for at least 3 days at which then i could be given medicine. I was desperate for medicine or anything to make the discomfort go away but this lady thought she could save the world by denying me immediate treatment. I do believe I read and was informed that the first priority in medical attention is to treat the patient immediately to prevent the spread of any possible viruses or illnesses that a person may have.
I googled on my phone my symptoms and read to her that it was more than obvious and certain what it was that I had as I had 4 out of 5 of the symptoms listed online. But she just looked at me and said, «Im not a drug dispenser!» Ok what?! I was not asking for pain pills or any addicting medicines, I was begging for antibiotics and drugs that would begin to stop an infection that had me in there on a saturday night! I never once raised my voice. I only read to her facts, explained to her what worked in the past, made it clear I was not agreeing on her unprofessional and self-​serving decision and did not know what to say to help her see that I could not go another 3 days feeling the way I did. I was in such disbelief that this obviously homophobic doctor either did not care for her patients current state of well being or likely did not care to help gay men in general at al! All I said in a normal tone voice was «This is not right» and she looked at me with disgust and said «Look do you want these tests or not?!» I replied, «I need treatment tonight, please!» She opened the door and walked out on me leaving me there with no tests and no treatment. I said, «Where are you going?» She yelled across the clinic something I could not understand and I just sat there with no idea what just happened and realized I had just wasted my night walking into this clinic for medical attention to be treated like a lab rat by the worlds worst doctor and Beth Israel’s biggest mistake and choice for a weekend fill-​in doctor. If good caring and non-​discriminating medical attention is what you need, do NOT go to Beth Israel!

Worst experience at a medical center. Waited an hour and a half before leaving. Would recommend this to no one needing medical attention.

Went to the walk in clinic because I was having a hard time breathing. Doctor walks into the room, barely touched or examined me and told me I had a blood clot in my lungs and needed to go to the ER ASAP. I was told I should trust him based on his many years of experience. Long story short after leaving freaked out, I went to NYU’s urgent care center and found out I have asthma and NOT a blood clot. This Doctor was horrible!!!

AWFUL. avoid.
Besides their billing being the worst (they continuously bill an insurance I had a year ago) their medical practice is not good.
Administrative staff are rude, short and tell you that they are too busy to help or cannot help.
I came here on a Saturday around 2 pm and they were closed. I was literally standing outside where it says Open 7 days a week 8am-​8pm and they were closed. I called and the operator had no idea what I was talking about.
I need to get a prescription refilled, but I desperately don’t want to go back. I am looking for another doctor to help me.

Please only go to BIMC if you want their billing department to continually misbill you outrageous amounts. Their billing practices are criminal and abusive. Every time I receive a bill from them I have to call them and tell them my current insurance info. Each time they promise me it’s updated and yet the next time I visit my doctor, I see another outrageous bill that was submitted to my OLD insurance company from 3 years ago.
AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. They’re not worth it.

Ugh… Didn’t have a good experience here. I went to Dr. Allen a few months ago and wasn’t overly impressed. Went for a physical which was rushed through even though I was a first time patient. She was nice enough but I didn’t get the sense that she cared about much more than getting to her next patient. My wait time was also fairly long.
I went recently to get my physical report because I needed it to go visit a school. The front desk had me sitting waiting for it for over an hour only to find that someone didn’t fax it in so they didn’t have access to it… or some BS like that. They weren’t nice and seemed to forget I was there. I called them the next day to get the form faxed and was on the phone for an hour being passed to different people to be told they’ll call me back. They didn’t call me back and didn’t help me get the form when I called them back. They kept saying to make an appt with the doctor to get the form… I don’t have time to wait in their waiting room for an hour to get a physical form. Needless to say, I never got the physical form and won’t be returning to the office. Reception room from hell!

I felt a lump on the side of my throat and it was definitely swollen and painful. My first assumption was that this might be a side effect of two past allergic reactions last week that caused my throat to close on me. Either way, I decided to pay a visit to check out whatever was going on with my throat.
Dr. Rice was incredibly patient and pleasant. She listened to my allergy stories about last week and even prescribed me an epi-​pen pack for my safety with an allergist referral. She took one look at the back of my throat and told me I had tonsillitis. All of this was accomplished within 10mins. Talk about speedy doctor visits!
Wait time was also no more than 10−15mins which includes the paper work for a first time patient such as myself. Extremely satisfied with the quick appointments and will return again for future health checkups.