Rochester Regional Health – Diabetes & Endocrinology

Dr. Q and the team here have been so great with me. Dealing with a new diagnosis has not been easy but they have answered all of my questions quickly and have taken the time to go through everything so I really understand each time I go in for an appointment.

I went to this place because last year I gained a lot of weight and lost everything that made me feel like a man. I gained 70lbs in 4 months w/o changing a thing in my diet or exercise. They didn't listen to me and I didn't feel like I mattered as a patient. A doctor came in and assumed everything about me ( even though he wasn't part of my care team ). He assumed I didn't exercise. He assumed I was diabetic. He assumed that it was my iron levels causing the issue. He refused to listen ( none of them listen ). The doctors at this place are so used to seeing diabetes so that's all they can see now. My blood sugar is perfect. my A1C is perfect. My Iron levels are good ( with the exception of my stored iron ). Something changed last year and the doctors didn't care enough to put 2+2 together to figure out what. I will never go back to that place.

I have to get a new prescription each month, and they usually ignore those requests from my pharmacy until I call myself to follow up. I’ve gone weeks without medication because they repeatedly failed to send the prescription—which has been exactly the same for the last three years—and the most recent request was denied outright with no explanation. This issue has been consistently happening for the three years I’ve gone to this clinic.

literally have to go to an entire different network because the receptionist yelled at me and belittled me that I didn’t know my diagnosis while making my appointment…. Like that’s why I’m here!!! I don’t know if it’s hormonal, or a thyroid issue…. That’s what you’re supposed to tell me?!?!? Also continuously used dietician and nutritionist interchangeably when they’re definitely different… so maybe the staff should be updated on the services they’re scheduling for so patients don’t get ripped off by being scheduled incorrectly.

While visiting Rochester due to a family emergency, I had 3 days left before flying home when I accidentally pulled out my last Tandem insulin pump infusion set. I called Rochester Regional Health - Diabetes & Endocrinology and explained I needed 1 infusion set to hold me over until Saturday when I was scheduled to fly home. I received a voicemail from Bonnie at Dr Tarris(? spelling) stating because I was not a patient, they could not help me. She had no suggestions for me. I called back asking to speak to Bonnie explaining I just wanted the name of a local nurse or representative for Tandem pumps. Bonnie refused to speak to me telling the woman who answered the phone to tell me she left me a voicemail that I couldn’t be helped because I was not a patient. The woman I spoke with said I needed to go to emergency. I tried to explain I was not in an emergency yet but she interrupt me telling me I need to go to emergency. (I was able to place the infusion set back in but it was no longer sticking to my skin but was being held on with medical tape.) I just needed the name of a local Tandem nurse who could probably help me. The woman said I was not a patient and could not be helped. When I explained again I just needed a name of a local Tandem nurse, the woman said she was going to hang up because she couldn’t help me. When I asked why she couldn’t help me with a name she asked if I wanted her to look up Tandem on the internet for me in a condescending voice. I told her I would find another way because I was not getting anywhere. I ended up calling Tandem in California who hours later put me in touch with a Tandem nurse in Atlanta who hours later found a Tandem nurse in Buffalo who offered to drive halfway to Rochester and meet me to provide me an infusion set. With the time wasted, I had to wait until the next day. If only I got the local name Thursday morning instead of 4:45pm Thursday evening. Thank you Tandem team (Kathleen and Nadine) for going out of your way to help me. It’s a shame Rochester Regional Health - Diabetes & Endocrinology couldn’t say “Let me get you the name of a local Tandem nurse who might be able to help you.” Instead I got “You’re not a patient of ours.” And “I’m going to hang up on you now.”