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Austin Gastroenterology PA
Category: Health and Medical Doctors Doctors [Edit]
1111 W 34th StSte 200
Austin, TX 78705
Neighborhood: Bryker Woods
(512) 454-4588
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
About This Business:
Primary Care of Adults and Children, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, ADHD, All Acute and Chronic Disorders
13 reviews for Austin Gastroenterology PA
13 reviews in English
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Review from Larry H.
Austin, TX
9/29/2011
I had a good experience here, and the only deduction is for the wait to actually see the doctor. It was 45 minutes after my appointment time before his visit. It's a busy practice, and there are lots of variables that affect the wait time, but one should not have to wait that long.
However, Dr. Alcocer was great - polite, attentive, and thorough. If you can find a doctor who allows you to speak, it's a rare find, and Dr. Alcocer is certainly that. The flip side is that a patient should be as prepared as the doctor, and get to the point and describe symptoms clearly. -
Review from FY I.
Austin, TX
6/2/2011
The following sums up my personal experiences at the 34th St. location: Patient UNfriendly. They seemed to have an anti-patient attitude and relish it. Very rude, *snarky,* condescending staff with POMPOUS, cold, indifferent attitudes. As an acutely ill patient at the time, they treated me like a lowly form of life, undeserving of common courtesy or respect.
Every staff member I've interacted with there, from front desk on back, acted as if MD stands for Medical Deity and as if "patient" is a vastly inferior life form. The attitudes I experienced from the staff at A.G. (medical and non-medical) were self-aggrandizing to the max.
I had bad to awful experiences with the doctor I saw there and they do *not* allow patients to change doctors within their practice, which is something I've never heard of before. The doc you saw initially is the one you're stuck with, like it or lump it. It's their way or the highway. Sadly, no one at AG on 34th seems to care if they drive patients away with their awful anti-patient attitudes and draconian policies.
As a person with ill-health, I've been to many medical facilities and unfortunately AG on 34th St is a prime example of everything that can go wrong with big box, institutionalized, monopolizing, 'too big for their britches,' conveyer belt medicine.
Based on my experiences, it's well worth the effort to find a G.I. doc in a smaller, private practice not affiliated with A.G., who actually prioritizes patient quality of care and basic common courtesy towards the patient, even if it means a longer drive or going out of your way to do it. -
Review from Becky L.
Austin, TX
5/4/2009
My two stars are very generous. I do agree with the other yelp review that they are the mafia of GI doctors. They are centrally located, that gives them a star.
Cons: - very hard to make an appointment
- My doctor "S" was very rude, and talked down to me (since I am not a doctor I must not have a brain).
- I have heard good reviews about other doctors in the group, when I tried to change doctors with in the group (which is a no-no, so make sure you look into your doctor before making an appointment with just any guy), is still in the process of changing and takes around 2 weeks to get the "approval" to switch docs...
Very frustrating. I am in the search for a good gastro not in this group, I am tired of waiting for my "switch" of doctors! -
Review from Elissa R.
Austin, TX
3/11/2010
If you've got an appointment here, be prepared to schedule 2 hours out of your day so that you can wait in the waiting room for an hour and a half, then talk to a nurse for 10 minutes, wait another 15 for a doctor to see you, then talk to the absentminded doctor for 5 minutes before he writes you a prescription for something and tells you to come back in a month.
I don't feel welcome here. I feel like these doctors overbook their days and inevitably run long on previous appointments, so if you get here in the early afternoon you're SOL and have to wait and wait and wait. And since they're already running late, they spend a few minutes looking at your chart and talking at you before approving what the nurse suggested and jotted down as a course of "treatment."
For what it's worth, the prescription provided to me has been somewhat helpful, though not effective ENOUGH... but I think there's more to it than just taking a pill and hoping that it'll go away. I would like to explore more options, but I hate this place and can't stand to go back, waste my time, and feel like one in a herd of cattle.
EDITED to add: I ran out of my prescription and called the office to refill it. An automated message informed me that I needed to send a fax through my pharmacy to request a refill. I had my pharmacy request my refill TWICE via fax and it's been TWO MONTHS and no response. So I'm not taking any medication for my IBS anymore. And I'm definitely not going here again unless I need a colonoscopy or something (doubtful, for many years at least). -
Review from J M.
Austin, TX
7/1/2011
My first appt with Dr. Sperling was this week. The office staff were super friendly, so big plus there. After waiting 20 minutes, I met with both a PA and Dr. Sperling. They both asked a lot of questions, but I could tell they were in a hurry. While I was OK with their hurried demeanor, I can completely understand why some people might think them rude.
I am also still unsure if my initial diagnosis is accurate, but time and testing will tell... -
Review from T. Mateo W.
Austin, TX
11/17/2011
If you like being treated like a dirt and you have a huge amount of tolerance for incompetant nurses and staff then this is the place for you. Our doctor was an idiot along with his nurse. I have called the facility about 50 times in the past two months and I only spoke to a person twice. All we needed was a prescription refill, that was it, should have taken a nurse 5 minutes to call in. After waiting 5 days and running out of a medication to avoid a life threatening situation we FIRED them today. I don't want any other people to have the same experience that we had.
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Review from Goth m.
Austin, TX
10/6/2010
I just wrote up my review of Dr. K. Ellis who is a part of Austin Gastro. I have been a patient for over 5 years and put up with a lot. Some visits were great, but more and more it was like I was bothering them by coming in. Staff is rude, waits are incredibly long, and Dr. Ellis runs in and out so fast it's not funny. I think I only got as far as I did in treatment because I learned to speak up and flat out ask for an answer...
BUT - today was the last straw - I called in for an appt with Dr. Ellis for my chronic condition which just took a severe turn for the worse only to be told I COULD NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT with the Dr. only with the PA!
So enough of feeling fortunate and lucky that they will allow me the privilege of paying to sit in their waiting room and being treated poorly. I'm not sure where I'm going next, but it's time for a change. -
Review from Carmella M.
Austin, TX
7/16/2009
Dr Sperling Is the greatest doc ever I often have to take mother who is 74 years old to see him and his bedside manner is the greatest he explains every thing to her and is very patient with her ,I would bet my life with this doctor.
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Review from shannon p.
San Antonio, TX
1/23/2010
I agree with the previous reviewer about Dr. Hsu and the Austin Gastro office on James Casey. I have always had excellent experiences with both the staff and the physicians at this office. They go out of their way to try to get answers when I have questions. The wait time is always reasonable and the staff is helpful with scheduling procedures and explaining what the procedures will entail. The PA's that I have seen were very knowledgeable and gave me a lot of time on my visit.
I would definitely recommend this office to any of my friends who needed a gastroenterologist. -
Review from Alf F.
Austin, TX
3/25/2011
I would like to express my appreciation of Dr. Ellis and staff, after a timely accurate diagnosis and referral to U.T San Antonio Transplant Center I am in my tenth year of post transplant survival. Dr. Ellis and staff have continued to support my post transplant care and have proven to be a dedicated in all respects.
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Review from Lanth Y.
Austin, TX
7/27/2010
They are probably good doctors, knowledge wise. However, they will not spend one minute with the patient, but can certainly schedule a procedure to make money. It takes seeing three nurses to see a doctor here. If you fear some doctors care only about their pockets, and not the condition of the patient, well these guys manage to prove your worst fear. What a disgrace to the profession!
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Review from James C.
Falls Church, VA
9/15/2009
I agree with Becky's review. I did not like the doctor I saw (don't remember the reason), when I tried to book with another doctor I was told that was not possible. It is hard to find a GI doctor not affiliated with this group in Austin. This group acts like a monopoly. I hope state regulators will intervene and force them to change their behavior. I wonder if they charge higher fees to insurance companies because of lack of competition in Austin.
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Review from Tony T.
Austin, TX
5/29/2009
Dr. Frank is great. He is professional, smart and he explained everything very clearly before my procedure. He even called the next day to make sure I was doing well. Overall, I thought he did a great job for me and would recomend him without hesitation.
