Pride Medical

Followed one of my doctors from a previous organization and got labs done at this place. The staff was friendly and qualify. Unfortunately the surprise came later when the bill arrived. I visited them to review options and see why it was five times more than what I paid previously. Some office ‘assistant’, Sam Hemphill didn’t take the time to check on my records or the bill I was referring to, to see if there was a mistake, instead he replied ‘We charge to the insurance whatever we want’. My insurance paid a big portion of it and still he said they offer payment plans, but didn’t explain anything about it. Also they billed my insurance with a name of a different Doctor that I never had the pleasure to meet, D. Morris, which caused a big confusion there too. So yes, for charging ‘whatever’ they want they sure can improve in customer service culture and education. It’s certainly not the way a medical organization should greet it’s patients as many of us have health concerns and the least we need is some administrative assistant talking to us as if we were the ‘help’.

I’ve been going here for over a year since I moved to Atlanta and they make me feel like family. Everyone is so helpful and they go above and beyond to make sure their patients get the care they need. Its always great to see businesses that cater to the lgbt community and really fight for us. The office is actually out of network with my insurance but because of the great service I decided to stick with them– which turned out to be a great decision. I am grateful to have found them.

i recently moved to atlanta and had a routine physical exam with dr. morris today.
dr. morris’ examination was thorough, thoughtful and complete. he has an excellent bedside manner and clear desire to be a motivated partner in maintaining my good health.
the staff is awesome — i was out of the waiting room and into an examination room within minutes after my arrival.
this was one of the best experiences i’ve had with an internist and one which gave me confidence as i create a new home and community in atlanta.

Enough good things cannot be said about this place. I’ve been going to Pride Medical since I moved to Atlanta in 1998. I have chronic bronchial asthma, and when I first moved here I would get bronchitis twice a year like clockwork. They always fit me in immediately. The first time I went, I saw Dr. Swartz who was/​is very nice. She explained the way that Pride worked, and how they don’t overbook appointments so that they can devote quality time to each patient.
I prefer male doctors so I ended up making Dr. Morris my regular physician. He is FANTASTIC. He always has time to make sure that you are doing the best you can, and he never, ever makes you feel like he’s rushed to move on to his next patient.
I’ve never had to wait in the general reception area for more than 10 minutes. Their billing is quick and easy. I really could go on for pages highlighting various things that make this practice phenomenal, but hopefully I’ve made my point. You would be doing yourself a disservice not to consider this practice for your medical needs.
It should be noted that while they do have a high % of HIV+ clientelle, that is not by any means their only patients.

Recent turn over is diminishing the once great experience of this company.
I am not sure what is going on, but… it’s sad to watch. The terrific amazing wonderful lady is gone from the front desk (oh she was a delight! yet her voice lives on on the voice mail (???). The therapist quit abruptly… the bitch nurse is now gone (Yeah!!! if you ever want to see a pain in the ass. whew…he was awful). The always bubbly Renee is gone. Call backs? Not happening.
Dr Morris is amazing but he is only as good as he understaffed/​trained and overwhelmed office is.
Best of luck Pride Medical– time will tell.

Another big PLUS to Add to Pride Medical– they have an on staff blood work person. I have had other doctors SEND me to somewhere to get blood work done (often a decent distance away PLUS parking fees PLUS traffic headaches). Pride Medical thinks enough of its patients to have a wonderful on-​staff person (working thru another company) to do all blood work there ON SITE). She comes in, knows everyone and is very comfortable) and has drawing my blood for years. We even ask about each others families and back grounds while she draws my blood. I also like knowing it is HER doing it (not some random stranger). She is also quick and painless– nothing worse than a rookie doing it– ouch!

Pride Medical ads are in all the local gay rags, & they advertise specializing in HIV treatment. I went there simply in search of a GP, & it was surreal! It’s unlike your typical dr. experience.
I never wait in the front room, & only once have I waited in the room more than 10 minutes. My dr. is Dr. Amy Swartz, & she’ll be my dr. until she retires or one of us dies — I’ll never go anywhere else. She used to be a dr. at a hospice, & her bedside manner shows it. She knows so much it amazes me every time. No matter what I bring up, she’s in the know. If she doesn’t have the details (which is rarely), she knows who to call or send you to to get them.
I suffer from 2 rare disorders, & Dr. Swartz was my GP throughout the trying-​to-​get-​diagnosed process. She held my hand through it, sending me to this & that specialist. She assured me on my check-​in visits we’d get to the bottom of it. She didn’t pull the pompous dr routine & act like she had the answers.
I went through neurologists like candy & she finally got frustrated when no one could diagnose me. She studied my radiology reports herself, looked up everything mentioned on the report, & called me at home to say she thought she found the answer. I went to a specialist in NY for this condition, & ended up having 3 brain & spinal surgeries.
NO other local doctors can compare to the work she put into helping me. Now after surgery, she facilitates & coordinates all my health care. Why? She’s taking care of me. What a concept! One I haven’t seen in medicine in a long time.
The entire staff at Pride is friendly, & you can tell they like working there. They’re great with your insurance, & laid back about billing you if you don’t have insurance. The nurses all make me laugh. No one ever rushes me.
I have to shut up now because I have to stop *somewhere*… Pride Medical is not a normal doctor’s office. Oh yeah, & they treat straight people too!