Frederick Primary Care Associates – Spring Ridge

I wish we could give stars!
I have been using fpca for my entire adult life and it is NOT what it once was! The office staff has become incredibly rude. I don’t know why the previous front desk staff left but they obviously don’t take lack of people skills into account when they hire new people.
About 2 months ago I received a message from the office that I needed to call ASAP to schedule a follow-​up visit (for what I had no idea) so I called and was told the next available appointment was 2 months away (how ASAP is that?!?). So the appointment was today and I arrived 10 minutes early, but was kept stranded in the waiting room 15 minutes past my scheduled appointment time. During that time a gentlemen came in for his appointment and treated very rudely by the desk staff when they informed him that because he was 5 minutes late for his appointment time he probably wouldn’t be able to be seen, but maybe the Dr will be nice and «squeeze him in». They then took him right back. While I continued to sit in the purgatory that is their waiting room. Perhaps I should have arrived late for my appointment rather than early and then I would have been seen in a timely manner. When I was finally taken back I had to wait another 30 minutes before the Dr bothered to come in. At this time she asked me why I was there today? I have no idea?!? THEY are the ones who said I needed the appointment!!! So in the end she just refilled a prescription that I was going to call in later this week. Then I was forced to deal with the desk staff again to request documentation for my employer as I cannot use sick time without documentation. Well 15 minutes later I still had not gotten the documentation from the desk staff. They were too busy discussing who wanted squash and who wanted zucchini from someone’s garden. At this point I had had it. 1 hour of my life wasted on this unprofessional establishment and I had to be on the other side of town in 15 minutes. I asked if they could check on the documentation again to which I got an irritated response about having to wait for the dr. Well I didn’t have another hour to sit around and wait for her again so I was forced to leave without the documentation required for my employer which means I will get docked pay. But it’s ok, because this appointment was VERY necessary and had to be made ASAP!!! Give me a break! This whole thing was just a way for them to bill my insurance and waste my time. I am currently in search of a new pcp who cares about their patients more than the money.

If I could give 0 stars, I would.
First I started my relationship with them last summer. I went in for a routine physical, and just to establish my relationship with them, in the event I get sick. I saw Beth Arnone, and I had to bring my 2 young children since I’m a teacher and do not have daycare in the summer hours. After her not showing any patience with the children, she looked at me and said with attitude «SO, did you get your tubes tied?» I could not believe her unprofessionalism and I should have left right away.
My husband did not get a chance to get a routine physical to establish a relationship and got sick last summer. He tried to be seen and the office staff gave him a complete run around, saying that he could only be seen for a new patient exam/​visit FIRST. It was weeks out. So we skipped this and he went to RightTime near Wegmans.
Then, knowing their practice of establishing a patient before seeing them sick, I tried doing this with my two children. This time they said I didn’t need to do it, just to bring them in when they got sick. Guess what. One of them got sick and I would have had to wait 3 weeks before the next well-​patient appointment so I could establish her as a patient. I asked the office manager to call me, I missed her call and she left a very rude message on my voicemail saying she was calling but had no idea why she was calling.
Fast forward to this week. My husband needed to be seen. He made an appointment, but told them he may have jury duty and may get called. He did get called in and had to reschedule the appointment. He rescheduled and unfortunately, due to a work obligation, had to call at 7:30am and cancel again. They called ME at work (not sure why ME) to tell me because he cancelled 2 visits, they will not see him as a patient at all. JURY DUTY. Should he have told the court he couldn’t come in because of this? I was irate over all of this, the lady on the phone didn’t seem to care as she just kept saying there was nothing she could do about it. Well, please do let someone know that CAN do something about this, because after all these strikes, we are completely and utterly done with this office. My husband took time out of his day, went over to the office and provided the written documentation from Frederick County for his civic responsibilities, yet was still turned away, to his face, saying there was nothing they could do. When he requested to speak to the office manager, she wouldn’t even come out. What’s the point of an office manager if they refuse to do their job?

I have been a patient there for a few years and it’s gone from good to bad quickly. RUDE RUDE office staff, NEVER EVER a return call, appts take awhile to get because my PCP only works 4 days a week (limited hours). They went to a new patient online system that was horrible! Requests for referrals go unanswered and require 2 – 3 follow-​up calls at best. Shirlie the office manager won’t even let you speak to your doctor if you have a complaint… talk about job security! I found a new doctor and a great practice that is so helpful and EFFICIENT it’s wonderful. I would steer real clear of this place!

Been using them as my PCP for way too many years. Every year it gets worse and they just try to find another way to charge me or my insurance more. Time to find another place to go!