Saint Luke's Primary Care-East

My family and I have been patients of Dr. Ausmus for 30 years. We loved him, but we grew to hate St. Luke's primary care. The bureaucracy is impenetrable. Patients can't schedule an appointment without waiting months - even in an emergency. The Central Scheduling handles all patient communication, but knows nothing about medical care; they simply insist that it will take 5 or more months to get an appointment, even in an emergency. And, their Urgent Care office is notoriously horrible; even St. Luke's doctors recommend going elsewhere.Since Mike retired it has become infinitely worse. We received a letter telling us we'd been 'reassigned' to another doctor. However, that was not true. When we called to make an appointment for an urgent issue, we were told we'd need a new patient appointment in 9 months. Due to cancellations, it has been more than a year, and our kids still haven't seen a doctor. Choose another practice. This one will leave you hanging.

You can't call in and talk to anyone. No one to answer simple questions. When you do get to the office you have to fill out stuff in a kiosk. People behind the counter don't even answer phones. You call in and go through over 15 different Dr. Menus and still can't talk to anyone even when you get to your Dr. Very frustrating when their policy is to not ever talk to you. I've been trying half the day right now to contact the office. Impossible to contact anyone .

Shame on St. Lukes. I waited 5 months for my scheduled appointment with Crystal Brown-Vredenburg, then the doctor canceled just days before. Then they wanted to reschedule for next year. Next year??? I thought they were joking. I asked then what assurances I would have if I rescheduled the appointment. St. Lukes's said there is no guarantee any of their doctors will keep an appointment. How is this ethical behavior in the medical profession? Very disappointed.