Prescott Family Medical Centre - Prescott, Ontario

Jenny T-hill

Dr G Bhatt had been my doctor since 1975! I always loved him and have been with Prescott Family Medical as long as I can remember. There are some incredible staff. They have kept me there. But I am sad to say there is a huge disconnect happening and patients are feeling it. It has gotten so very busy. The poor staff on the phones have to hear the worst of us, as patients explain our needs. It creates needless tension between patients and hard working staff.

I saw a nurse practitioner about a medical issue and suggested medication I had heard about. The nurse practitioner said it was terrible and not a good medication for me. 2 months later, I saw the doctor about a different issue - the doctor pushed aside the current issue, and instead was suggesting the medication that the nurse practitioner said was not good. Both my own doctors, the exact same health problem, but the suggested medications are conflicting - complete opposites. Im more confused after my appointments.

*We are told we have to request refills at our pharmacy. We always do this. If the doctor who prescribed the medication has left the practise, or is away too long, prescriptions are simply not being refilled, just set aside with no communication with the patient, or pharmacy. If a refill request comes in and can’t be refilled. Communication needs to follow. After waiting 2 weeks, I called and they claimed they never received the request. The pharmacy sent the request again and gave us enough medication to cover two weeks. Its been another 12 days and I called again. Today I was told the doctor has left the practise. we needed an appointment with
another doctor before we could have a prescription. This would have been nice to know a few weeks earlier as the meds run out again.

Canadian Roxee

Edit May 2023
From 5 stars to 1.
Definitely miss Dr Kellam's kind, gentle, understanding and caring approach.
I agree with another reviewer about prescription renewals, never had issues before but wow, such a waste of time now.
If you're dealing with ANY type of mental health issue or even physical ones, I HIGHLY suggest NOT booking with Ron Andersen. I've never felt so belittled, unimportant, unheard and made to feel like what I'm dealing with is of no importance at all. I've seen him twice and wanted to walk out both times. Might go to Dr Cook but at this point, I'm pretty much done with this office.

Previous review:
I've been going to Dr. Kellam since I moved in the area in 2003. The staff is incredible and they will get you in pretty quickly when there are urgent matters going on. Having the lab for bloodwork right beside is extremely convenient and the nurse there is fantastic. The NP are usually very quick at seeing you for when you don't need to see your doctor. I'm very happy to have​ my doctor in this centre. Dr. Kellam and his team have always been extremely lovely and polite.

Juliet Hodgkinson

I tried to get a meet and greet with dr f. I travelled and risked having a kidney stone attack to get there. He was cruel, not empathetic and when I questioned anything he said he sent me a letter saying he won’t be my doctor because he didn’t like that I had said is there anyone else I can see after I left crying due to his harsh tone and failure to understand my medical situation, apparently, you aren’t allowed to ask to see a compassionate doctor if one you see treats you like garbage.although I am happy he’s not my doctor as a grown man shouldn’t cause a grown woman to cry, I think it’s wrong to deny me medical care just due to something I said to try and make sure I could have the best possible outcome for myself snd my health which I deserve as an adult.

Mike Lawless

My hope with writing this Google review is it helps others speak out about the sincere lack of professionalism from Ron Andersen and Dr. Cooke, and to know others are not alone in sharing feelings of being unheard, and mistreated by their medical judgment.

I was a patient at Prescott Family Medical Centre for 15+ years, and have never felt more let down by the medical care I've received by Ron Andersen, and Dr. Cooke after enduring complications from a hernia surgery.

Months after my surgery, after being told I could resume normal life activities by my hernia physician, I felt a pop and immediately felt a bulge and pain. I spent countless hours in Emerg, and received 2 ultrasounds. Subsequently, I had multiple appointments with Ron Andersen, questioning what the issue was with my hernia repair. At separate appointments, he humoured my self diagnosis of having seroma, and offered to drain it. Secondly, I mentioned to Ron Andersen the possibility of a stitch that had been blown out, and he denied that thought. Thirdly, he diagnosed me with chronic pain, neglecting to exhaust possible treatment options to try and figure out what was wrong with the pain I was feeling in my hernia site; instead offering me opioids to control my pain (not to mention in a time when we're living in an opioid crisis). Knowing my body best, I refused to take Ron Andersen's treatment offerings and took it upon myself to to research what would be best. I was able to find doctor in Kingston who specializes in more extensive hernia repair surgery. At my next appointment with Ron Andersen, I requested to be referred and my request was immediately dismissed and denied, as Ron Andersen felt another ultrasound report would prove whether the referral was warranted. Humouring Ron, I initially agreed to the ultrasound but after serious thought I decided to not waste anymore time with ultrasounds and called back to speak with the receptionist and demanded to be referred. Also, in complete frustration after having felt unheard, and cared for inadequately for a period of months, I informed the receptionist staff I was going to contact CPSO to report of how I was being treated. After I had made that comment, I was immediately referred to the specialist in Kingston.

After finally seeing the specialist in Kingston where I was heard, cared for, and treated with empathy, they believed that I had a stitch dislodged, and I was finally given treatment options that were never remotely mentioned by neither Ron Andersen, or Dr. Cooke.

What makes this story even worse, that after advocating for myself with each appointment with Ron Andersen, and stating I was going to contact CPSO, I was then terminated as a patient from Prescott Family Health Center (at a time when it is very difficult to get a new family physician). I came to find out I was terminated as a patient of Dr. Cooke, not by Dr. Cooke directly, but months later after my last interaction with the office, by my pharmacist when I was trying to re-fill a prescription.

It saddens me that this is the outcome of my 15+ year relationship with my family physician's office. I have lost all trust, confidence and respect for the care Prescott Family Health Team has provided me with respect to my hernia.

Chris Parent

I’ve been going to Dr. bhatt for years, even when his father was running the clinic. Nothing but professionalism and respect from this teams work.

Kassie

Dr. F has been my doctor since Dr Gunvant Bhatt passed away and i can say i’ve never felt so un heard and disregarded as a patient ever in my life until he became my doctor. i’ve been to him numerous times for mental health and physical pains such as chest pains, my mental health he basically disregarded the entire thing and basically made me feel as if i’m a causing him a problem for having mental health problems and that it’s all not real, and when i went to him for some very serious painful travelling chest pains i have when i breathe he told me to take advil, didn’t even want to take an x-ray to be sure i’m okay, and keep in mind i’m 18 i shouldn’t be having these kinds of pains. i hate going to the doctor anymore because anytime i do i get told i’m fine and to take advil. i will be looking for a new doctor.

klazin guy

The office has new hours that have not bin adjusted but it closes earlier now (call and find out new hours)
Its a good office and it says family doctor, which means you can't just drop in if your doctor does not reside there at all. Call and ask if theres a practitioner accepting new patients... they have a blood lab. Xtra sanitary measures And always clean bathrooms

.theirs one Im not a fan of but he does his job and he does it right so overall. Its worth it ...

Robin Shire

I love my doctor. Dr. Kellam does his best to listen to his patients and help even the most challenging ones...yes that would be me...I dont take medication as prescribed but still expect him to pull off a miracle..he is a saint for putting up with me all these years..thanks is never enough but all I have to offer.