Associates in Endocrinology

This has been the worst experience I have ever had with a doctor. I had to wait almost 3 months for an appointment and then my appointment was so rushed. It was like she was firing question after question at me without giving me a chance to even think about it. I left with my head spinning and several pages worth of blood work to get done. After getting the blood work done, I received my results and her diagnosis through the mail — yes, the mail. No one called me. No one explained anything to me. My pharmacy called to tell me I had a prescription ready before I had even seen any results. It’s one thing to send you something in the mail if it is telling you there is nothing wrong with you. It’s an entirely different thing to send you an actual diagnosis in the mail. I called the office on a Friday and the staff could not explain the diagnosis, which is understandable. They said Dr. Buonocore would call me Monday. When I still hadn’t heard back Wednesday I called again and this time the woman who answered the phone had such an attitude. Telling me she still didn’t have any answers for me. I don’t expect the woman who answers the phone to have answers for me. I DO expect the Dr. to call me back within a reasonable amount of time after diagnosing me and prescribing something. Thursday morning I get a call from the office from someone in scheduling trying to schedule a follow-​up for February! The reason I want to speak with the doctor before starting this medication is because I am so confused as to why she suspects I have PCOS. I have almost none of the symptoms, she did not order an ultrasound to try to look at my ovaries, and my blood work was basically normal minus a vitamin D deficiency. I took the results to my primary care doctor and he also has no idea why she suspects PCOS. I have been absolutely blown away by the lack of professionalism. How do you inform someone of a diagnoses through the mail?! It’s not like the letter was just telling me to take a vitamin D supplement, it was telling me she thinks I have something where there’s a high likelihood I will struggle to conceive. Do not walk, but RUN the other way from this doctor!

I’m really happy with Associates in Endocrinology’s Bethel Park office. I see them about every six months, and it’s always a positive experience for me. The office staff is friendly, and they work to accommodate my schedule and my needs.
I am especially happy with my doctor. She took my concerns seriously, and immediately ordered blood work. Then, she personally called me much sooner than I expected to explain the results, discuss medicine options, and explain an overall approach to managing my health.
This is an absolute first for me. I have struggled with a health problem for years, only to be basically shooed away by other doctors and told to «just do this» or «just do that.» She was the first to run tests and try to help treat the underlying cause instead of a specific symptoms. Seriously, this approach had changed my quality of life.
The one downside is that they apparently do not call to confirm appointments. I know many doctors do not, so I’m not detracting a star. After all, it’s my job to manage my own schedule. However, I missed an appointment because I wrote it down incorrectly in my calendar. I didn’t receive a call to let me know I missed. So, just be aware, if you’re a little on the flighty side with your calendar like I am, make extra sure you triple check the date and time of your appointment. I will say the person who rescheduled me answered my call right away, did not put me on hold, rescheduled my appointment at the first available time, and was overall really polite about the whole thing.

I relocated and was referred to this office by my previous endocrinologist because one of the doctors was a member of the same professional group. Unfortunately, the difference between the two offices is like night and day. If my previous doctor knew the care I was receiving, or lack thereof, he would be as disappointed as I am. Its been nine months and I have really tried to give this office the benefit of the doubt. And to think that I fought to get an appointment because I needed to be under the care of a new doctor asap for my relocation.
I have never, NEVER, called this office and NOT been put on hold for a minimum of at least 5 minutes. The norm is 10 minutes — I watch the timer on my phone so I know this is accurate. Sometimes I’ve even called and NO ONE has answered the phone! Other times (many times) I’ve been left on hold for over 10 minutes and hung up. The girl that answers the phone (I won’t say her name), answers and immediately says «Can I put you on hold». One time I said «No, you can’t! You’ve put me on hold for over 10 minutes two days in a row», and she snapped back that she was waiting on someone in the office and I’d have to hold.
So, if you have enough patience to sit around and wait on hold every time you call (esp if you are calling on your lunch hour), go ahead and try to get your test results. Good luck with that. I get routine bloodwork done every 6 weeks. I am on top of my own health. I know what the results should be. I know when there’s a problem and I know what needs to be done. Every time I call for my results, I am told that I need to wait for the doctor to review them. Seriously? I KNOW that when I am speaking to them, that they are LOOKING at my results in their computer. I am entitled to know the test results that I paid for. I like to know my results so that when my doctor (finally) calls me to discuss, I can already have my questions prepared. I am in a situation where my test results may or may not be cause for immediate action and 24 hours makes a huge difference.
I could elaborate on today’s last straw for me, but its more than anyone really needs to know. Its a shame because I really liked my doctor and I don’t know if this is just office policies getting in the way, or if these are policies put in place by the doctor. Either way, I had bloodwork done last Thursday. It is now Wednesday night of the following week and I still don’t know my test results after 3 phone calls. I would not recommend this office to anyone who wants to be involved in their own health. I have made an appointment with a new practice.