Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Blairsville's Online Review Report Card

Beware - Dishonest Billing Office Practices. Spouse went for a colonoscopy/endoscopy and as he was being prepped I was told we had to pay $500 right then or they couldn't proceed with the procedure, said we hadn't met our deductible yet. Fine, I wasn't 100% sure if he had though I thought he was close since all this medical stuff had occurred with him very recently. After the prep he had to endure I didn't want him to be turned away. After the procedure I find out from my insurance co (not this business) that we shouldn't have been charged the $500 because they were paying 100%. He had met his deductible late the last month. So I start calling to request the overpayment back on the procedure. They say we can't because there are still claims unpaid, etc..mind you the procedure payment from insurance has already reached them. My insurance rep called them herself and they said they had indeed gotten the $ for the procedure, but they had to receive the payment for the facility before they could release the money, and then it wouldn't happen automatically, we would have to call to request it. They don't "do refunds automatically. So, they would have kept my money had the insurance rep not told me I had overpaid??? The facility charge had nothing to do with procedure charge since they were billed separately and under a different company name as my insurance rep told them, but they said it was their policy. So we decided to just be patient and let that check get there, and then I would request it back. Done and over...right??? I called back, the check has been received for the facility so I said " well, then I would like to request the $500 credit back on his account". The billing office employee who is never pleasant and acts like you are inconveniencing her each time you call says “that’s not possible because he has an outstanding bill that has to be paid". What??? It was for the 15 minute telemedicine visit he had as a follow-up about the medication. So I say “if he stays a patient there we will never get the credit back” and she said” as long as there is a claim, no”. She denied they all had told me each time that after the facility check arrived that they would send it back. Never mentioning if he had another visit that made it null and void all over again. So now the situation is escalated, and I'm trying to talk to managers, owners etc, sending letters, faxes, and so on trying to make contact with the person that will make this right. As I told her I would post reviews all over media platforms and take the actions needed, legal and otherwise, to get this resolved. By the way this is actually illegal activity and I've already looked up the Federal mandate. Let's make this right and move forward. The ball's in your court Atlanta Gastro, the ball's in your court. ~ Sosensky

I saw Dr. Keeel for a quick 1st time meeting to discuss an upcoming surgical procedure. I found him and the all girl all star staff to be quite professional and engaging. I'm very confident with all of them. This is the Blairsville GA location.

I arrived early for my 2:00 appointment as requested. Then I sat in the exam room for over an hour waiting for Dale Holly to pop in. He never did. I left. Completely unacceptable. The front desk staff was professional and refunded my copay. I'll never return.

Experience with two issues and three docs from this huge group. First, over ten years ago with David Brandenberg.  Questioned, because of advice and issues whether I had Celiac. Went to him for an ENDOSCOPY, the diagnostic protocol for Celiac. Week later I was in a store when he called me and told me that there wasNO PROBLEM WITH MY COLON!  He did the wrong test!Fast forward to this past two years. I really like Dr. Wehbi. He seems caring, but after having two colonoscopies, two endoscopies and a pill cam, I'm still bleeding internally and weak, needing iron infusions and a transfusion just to have a test.  There may be a doc in this group other than who I have seen, who has a better scope, or a different method, but they have not told me his name. And because of a coding decision Dr. Wehbi made, I am going to have a major financial problem. I am planning to go to Emory. I need help.  And it isn't happening here.

I found this doctor online cause I had been experience stomach issues and I WISH I would've read the reviews before hand. I waited for an hour before talking to a doctor! The rooms were also unkept and likely going through construction. I did not have 2 hours to waste at the doctor and I don't think you all do either.

The doctor is the rudest lady I know if I could give negative stars I would. She wouldn’t listen kept cutting me off asking what I was there for.Mind you my Dad just passed away from esophageal cancer and I was diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus and I have seizures the medication they prescribed me she said could kill me if I have a seizure and told me I had to take it didn’t care for my well being or anything I had to ask shouldn’t be in business.

My son had an appointment with Dr. Virginia Catrilli today. I had accompanied him to ask questions regarding symptoms I had observed. When I began describing to her these symptoms, she immediately cut me off and said that was not her practice. I was simply trying to see if it might be his blood sugar due to his recent diagnosis from another gastroenterologist office. I watched my husband pass away from esophageal cancer. It is an absolutely horrible way to go. My son now has Barrett’s which is pre cancerous to esophageal cancer. Forgive me if I am worried and need to ask questions.....I have been through this before and by the time we got answers it was too late. I believe she had formed an opinion before we even arrived. No.....my husband did not smoke or drink and no my son does not smoke or drink nor has he ever done drugs which are usually associated with this cancer. I would not recommend this doctor to anyone.

I guess I should've read the reviews before booking my appointment; 45 mins after my scheduled appointment time, I had still not seen the doctor. I have very little tolerance for this situation. Ms Pat, (the nurse I assume) asked me to be patient as she was just finishing with a patient and there were only 2 more ahead of me. Two more ahead of me and I was already 45 mins past my appointment time; come on, that's ridiculous. She went on to explain Dr Johnson likes to take time with her patients. While I VERY much appreciate that, scheduling protocols should be adjusted to accommodate this versus assuming they can just waste time of working professionals. What is communicated to me when this happens is the staffs' time and billing is more valuable than the time of a paying customer. Until more of us walk out, they will continue to overbook and waste your valuable time. And to not provide parking validation for patients is lame. The office manager was not there during my appointment time. The staff I interacted with to voice my displeasure with were very professional. Special thanks to Julian for expediting my exit by getting my copayment refunded and parking validated.

I can't speak for the complete membership of doctors at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates. I am not shocked at the reviews since I am an advocate for patients that complain about how they are treated in medical facilities. However, I am going to give this association's member Dr. Ngozi Okoro five stars. If you are in need of a gastroenterologist I suggest you go to her. She is through, professional, personal and just plain amazing! She is not your ordinary doctor. She is a step above the rest! Here is my full opinion of this particular doctor. Dr. Ngozi Okoro is so amazing! I am more than impressed with her broad knowledge she shares with me for my good health. Also, her personal and professional approach is very balanced. Dr. Ngozi Okoro communication skills are superb! She is not pushy or arrogant with her suggestions for me to improve my health. Also, when she makes a diagnose she makes it clear it is her best medical conclusion and she has done everything, not just one thing, to come to that conclusion.  She breaks her diagnose down so I am real clear what procedures I can have and will use graphs/charts to show me how the procedure works. She always makes sure I don't leave with any of my questions unanswered. She doesn't speak down or over me. She speaks to me. Her most important characteristic, in my opinion, Dr. Ngozi Okoro listens! She hears what I'm saying but more important she hears what I mean. Dr. Ngozi Okoro administrative discipline is impressive.  She records every important detail of our discussion so if I forget when I visit next time she can remind me of what medicines I was or is taking or what physical conditions I brought to her attention that I was concerned about at my previous visits. Her precise note taking gives me great confidence in her decisions and advice to me.  I am a person that takes notice of everything that takes place in a medical facility to include medical-private and social conversations that are in ear shot of others and sanitary conditions of a medical office.  There is nothing worse than hearing a medical clerk, regardless of their position, discussing or even mentioning someone's medical reason for being in the office, out loud to the client, over the phone or during conversation with another employee. Her employees have never, while I was there, violated that privacy right of a patient.   Her office personnel runs the medical office with the highest professionalism.  It is clean (many doctor's offices are not) and her office is comfortable. They treat you like a human being and not like a number. Every staff member greets you with a smile, respect and never displays an attitude of  arrogance.  I believe you will always feel respected and heard using Dr. Okoro services. Her staff is a great reflection of Dr. Ngozi Okoro's ethics and personality.

My son (25 years old) was referred to Dr. Pore' at the Johns Creek location after spending 6 hours in the Emory Johns Creek Hospital ER with sever stomach pain and vomiting blood.  The ER doc ran blood work and had a CT scan done.  Everything looked okay.   the ER doc consulted with Dr. Pore, who was e Gastro Dr on call, and he advised that my son could go home and he wanted to see him in his office the next day (a Friday) for a follow up. I called at 8:30 am on Friday, 12/15 and the receptionist stayed that Dr. Pore' was in procedures all day and he was not seeing patients in the office, she asked if his medial assistant could call me to set something up.  The med assistant called me back at 10:45 am and advised that the dr could not see him until the following Tuesday, 12/19.  I told her the situation and hte sense of urgency that we had with his symptoms and that Dr. Pore' wanted him to be seen that Friday after being in the ER until 1 am, I asked if there was another doctor that had availabilty to see him ( since there practice is soooo large).  She put me on hold and asked another Dr.'s medical assistant and came back and said yes, Dr. Dimple Raina could see him at 1:30 pm that Friday.  I was very grateful and we proceeded to the Johns Creek location at 1:00ish to complete paperwork for his 1:30 appt.  My son and husband were told that their office was NOT an Urgent Care and they had to go back to the hospital.  Remind you, I called and made an appointment for 1:30 with Dr. Dimple Raina at the Johns Creek location.   They were at the johns creek location.  A man who did not identify himself stated that they were not going to see my son.  they had consulted with Dr. Pore' and he advised that my son should go back to the Emory Johns Creek Hospital ER and have him admitted and Dr. Pore' would then go see him.  they treated us like we were dirt.  We have perfectly good Cigna PPO insurance and they directed us out of their office with a very large security guard and said Dr. Dimple Raina would not see our son or speak to us.  I think she was scared of her shadow.... I will NEVER recommend or go to an Atlanta Gastro dr ever!!! I called another gastro doc that have 2 dr's in their practice at 3:00 on Friday and she got him in at 9:30 am Monday.  thank you !  I have never been refused to be seen by a doctor when you have a schedueld appointment.  SHAME ON ATLANTA GASTROENTROLOGY