South Boston Community Health Center

This office will violate your privacy and discontinue providing you a medication that they prescribed for 1+ years unless you consent to an invasion of your personal privacy and allow them to run an invasive drug panel. MY BODY, MY RIGHT! I’m not obligated to tell a doctor or inform them of what is in my body.

I just want to add that my primary care physician has been out on maternity leave so I’ve seen Laura Pepdjonovic, a Registered Nurse at SBCHC recently for a change in medication and another issue. She is also absolutely fantastic. She remembers my history and genuinely cares about my well-​being. I am really impressed by the care I receive at SBCHC.

Once I get in to see my doctor, she is great. But getting through to someone on the automated phone system is a nightmare. Most of the time, you have to leave your name and number and have them call you back because there is no one answering the phones. Very frustrating.

Worst doctor’s office have ever been to. I have seen four different doctors there since becoming a patient last fall because the doctors I’ve seen before are never available. Also, a doctor gave me two meds. She told me one was for before a migraine and one was for after. Figured that would be on the prescription bottle. Nope. So now I have a migraine I don’t know which to take. In addition, I have talked to THREE different doctors about a pain in my leg that wakes me up at night and NONE of them have done anything about it. I am seriously considering getting a new doctor! This is ridiculous!

Love this place! great Docs, great nurses, no need to go anywhere else. The doctors are from the BMC and if you know anything about hospitals in the Boston area you know they are a world famous trauma, heart, cancer, pediatric hospital that cares for everyone. I trust them with my families health and really what more can be said.

Went there with my daughter who had an earache hours before we boarded a plane for vacation. They fit me right in, diagnosed an ear infection (after irrigating her ears to get a better view) and sent us out the door with medication including drops for ear pain so she could numb her ears for the flight. We picked those up at their in-​house pharmacy on the way out the door. Fantastic service. Wonderful caring people. I would not go anywhere else!

Dr. Suru Lin is ok, but the nurses are appalling. they are actually very incompetent. they will call you back, but not note in your file that you called. this is problematic, because if you call your doctor he or she will not know what you are referring to. i had surgery and they wanted me to truck in across town still with stitches. i explained my issue, but they insisted that i come in. it was for a refill, not anything else. they are hesitant to give real, comprehensive care, and hold onto their own insecurities, just giving your the bare minimum. this is deleterious to your health, as the lack of full body coverage tends to miss the mind and body aspect. You can tell its community care from the lack of attention they give you. issues beyond the scope of their knowledge remain untouched and uncared for. totally and absolutely incompetent. I found that Dr. Suru Lin was at the center of this and let it all collapse. Her nurses are one thing, but oversight was another. it was like, when things got tough she said ‘you deal with him’ and they did, and this is why i left. a total absence of comprehensive care. Repeat phone calls were unanswered, and their nurses tended to not know why i was calling, and when talking to them did not understand the simplest of concepts. However, the low review is strictly for the horrible, ineffective doctors and nurses.
mental health is great. they provide many services. i went here for masshealth sign up and it was speedy; way faster than that billion page application. completely competent. they even have a direct link to masshealth via computer, so you get an answer in three to five days. SPEEDY. food panty IF YOU see a doctor within a year here. Psych is right across the street so you can see your therapist at SBCH and then go right across the street for medication management. So in this regard its worth the mental health piece.

It has been my experience that the staff at this facility are completely incompetent … I have been waiting for an ultrasound appointment since New Years Eve 2012 when I just got my health insurance … I made repeated phone calls for months & it was not until I complained to the director that they got me an appointment at then end of July 2013 … I now have no coverage & they turned me away for my appointment … Have been in the ER 2x’s since I spoke with the director & now its almost August & no ultrasound … I called the Director while I was at my ultrasound appointment then went to the director in person & they sent out an assistant to «handle me» … I do not trust my health in their hands they can not even make an appointment while you have insurance coverage … I am deciding as to how to proceed further to deal with their EXTREME NEGLIGENCE!!! Enter at your own risk!!!

I really love this place. I have a mom who is pushing 90 and really hates to go to the doctor. I finally got her to go to be seen at the South Boston health center for her high blood pressure. I told the provider ahead of time about her anxiety and they could not have been nicer and more understanding. Megan Daily, the Nurse Practitioner was wonderful. She took her time and was very gentle with her. The rest of the staff was great. When we left, we were able to pick up her prescription downstairs on our way out the door. They had sent the prescription down during our visit and we were out the door! Great place with great people who really care.

I stopped going here years ago and I wish it was sooner. Wait time is always forever and the drs pretty much rush you out and leave constantly. Are there really that many appointments at one time?

Oof. If I could give no stars, I seriously would.
I’ve been coming to SBCHC ever since I stopped going to my Pediatrician when I was like 16. I’ve had my little issues with it for years, but I keep coming back.
Well, with what happened on Monday, I am planning to look for another place to go. I called Monday morning for an appointment. I didn’t want one too late because I had to be at work by 5. So, the nurse set me up an appointment for 2:50. Perfect. That’s enough time for me to get in there, get a prescription, maybe eat before work, and head to work. Boy was I wrong.
I get there, check-​in takes forever because there was 2 people and they were dealing with difficult patients. One of them, later, became a problem to me again. I check in and go downstairs to wait. I got there kind of early, maybe 15 minutes early. I sat there, waited until 2:50 and noticed I still hadn’t been called in. I waited until 3:05, another 15 minutes, until I went up and said something. I told them I needed to be at work and that I can’t wait around much longer. The girl said that I would be going in next. WRONG. Two more people went in before me. I finally got called in. All the nurse did was take my vitals and made me piss in a cup. Then I had to wait out in the waiting room again. At this point it was about 4. I was FURIOUS. If I wanted my appointment to be so late, then I would’ve made it for later. I went up to the desk again and said, «Listen, I have to get going. I need to be at work real soon. I need to be checked out today.» One of the nurses finally got off her butt and did something about me not being seen. I was finally brought into a room at about 4:15. The doctor who I was seeing was with one of the difficult patients from check-​in. I don’t care who she was with. She should have seen me at my appointment time. Or at least pretty damn close to it. Not almost 2 hours later.
Now, while I was with the doctor, she seemed to be rushing me about my appointment. Definitely not okay. I just waited about 2 hours for her and she can’t give me maybe 20 minutes? 15 minutes?
I am just completely done with this place. Everything about it sucks. Literally. I would write more, but I think I would run out of space.
Just don’t go here. Find somewhere else. Even if you have to pay more money, just pay the extra amount.

Meghan Daley is amazing! You feel like she really cares about you when you go for an appointment, she gives you enough time, really listens, so easy to talk too and she is effecient! Excellent care with Meghan! I read below stuff about after hours and wait times! Keep in mind it is a community health center not an ER! The wait times in a community health clinic are never going to be ideal! If there is something really wrong after hours you should be using the ER not a health center!

My kids’ doctor is great, nurses are friendly, but if you have an issue after hours, beware! No call backs from the call service, even if the problem you describe could potentially be life-​threatening for your child. Parents will be left to the Internet or a judgement call to take a kid to the ER without input from their pediatrician. Sadly, we will need to find another after nearly three years here. Unacceptable. I was willing to put up with total lack of organization with regard to billing, record-​sending, etc. To have a good Dr. In our neighborhood, but I cannot jeopardize my children’s health.

2 really positive experiences…
First for a physical and annual pap exam– got an appointment within the week, doctor and nurse practitioner were thorough and efficient and diligent in getting past info from old doctors as this was my first visit. Doctor even followed up with a personal, handwritten note and a call a week later letting me know all of my blood tests from the physical were good. What more can you ask for from your community health care center?
Second– with the optometrist conveniently located almost directly across the street. Got an appointment the same week I called and during my lunch time too which was nice. The admin start were friendly and expedited the initial visit and I was in to see the eye doctor within 10 minutes of walking in the door. The appointment was finished within the hour, I got my glasses prescription and got fitted for new contacts and received trial lens to cover me til mine came in. Also, the eye doctor was very clear with me about the necessity of regular visits (I had been quite negligent– 6 years negligent :(and he was very effective in impressing on me the importance of good eye care. Sounds corny, I know, but tells me they really care about their patients and what they do.
Recommend Highly.

This is a review of the pediatric department, which really could not be better. The three pediatricians and nurse practitioner there have always been so thorough and helpful, they make you feel so cared for and the children feel so comfortable.
I love that you can always get an appointment for your child right away. i haven’t always had that experience at private pediatric offices which seems crazy when kids are involved. This health center is close to home and, even though I can afford to go to a private practice, I would never leave!

I believe the level satisfaction you feel regarding your experience with your PCP has a lot to do with your expectations. If you are going to the doctor because you have the flu and get upset about not getting the meds you think are right, well your not going to be happy with South Boston Community Health Center because they probably wont give you meds. Why you ask? Well because there are no meds to «cure» the flu (it is a virus). Chances are you will run to a private practice that will subscribe you a Zpac which does nothing to fight the flu and you will go home happier because you feel like your MD «did» something.
Ok I will stop preaching about what is wrong with the American patient, but my point here is that this is a place that the MDs will be kind and courteous and treat you for the problems and symptoms you have, not the ones you think you have after consulting WebMD before your apt.
This is a no frills place but the good part is you can easily get seen there in a timely manner with very little wait time and expect to be treated well. Because this is a community health center, there are certain things that are slightly lacking: I was referred for a MRI after my last visit and after the MRI my PCP never called me to give me the results as he said he would. But when I called I quickly got through and was given the results over the phone.
So you may have to be a little more proactive about your care but this is a place that you can get good quality healthcare by MDs and nurses who are courteous and respectful.

I should have checked Unilocal before I started going here.
I have been going to SBCHC (Family Medicine) for over a year now and have been there numerous times. Each time has been a little bit worse, and today was no exception.
I rarely see the same doctor but most of them are pretty nice. There is never really a long wait but somehow the doctors are always in a rush to get your appointment over with. It always seems like they are listening only for key words, never really giving you their full attention (even when there is no one else in the waiting room).
Today I went in to refill a Rx and because I have had flu symptoms. All she apparently heard was that I wanted a refill. The nurse came in, took my temp and ran out. So after 5min of refilling the Rx, the dr got up to go and I had to quickly ask her about returning to work. She said «Yes go ahead, you already took a day off.» When I asked about my temp, she clearly didn’t have it and had to go ask the nurse if she remembered what it was. She then poked her head in and said, you’re ok.
I got home and checked my temp: 101 F. I wish I could call my insurance company and tell them not to pay. Today was the last time I go to SBCHC.

Against my better judgment, I decided to return here for anxiety issues even though they gave me the wrong antibiotic for an infection last year which ended up making my UTI last for over a month. So I’m the idiot, really.
I’ve been battling anxiety and insomnia for over 15 years and 99% of that time I wasn’t on any sort of medication. I went to therapy to figure out some natural ways to lessen the severity of my panic attacks, I’m on a healthy diet and I hardly ever drink alcohol.
But when I started to have panic attacks at work that were causing me to be out of commission for almost 3 hours, I asked for some sort of benzodiazepine to have on hand to combat those panic attacks and I was treated like a pill fiend. My doctor went and got her superior who quizzed me on my panic attack symptoms all while sporting a placating nod.
They told me to double my dosage of the pill I take for insomnia and to keep a journal. For the next three days, I couldn’t wake up until 11am and had two panic attacks. I got a second opinion.
Bottom line, I’m lucky enough to be a successful adult with good insurance. If you are someone like me, then it’s worth going to a more expensive private practice doctor that isn’t conditioned to assume you’re a drug addict.

I will never return to this place after the most horrific experience of my life. Let me prelude this with the fact I am in no way joking or exaggerating my experience.
I made an appointment with Dr. Azzam Mehssen because I knew I had a severe sinus infection/​ear infection/​high fever/​flu. I am not one to be a baby and would not have gone if it wasn’t my need to get anti-​biotics so I could get out of bed/​breathe.
Ok so here’s what happens I get there early wait 30 minutes to be let into the exam room wait 20 minutes until Dr. Azzam Mehssen comes in. He sits down and says nothing to me and starts clicking away at his computer. He asks me about my sexual activity (I am married), when I don’t know dates and times about everything he gets angry with me yells at me to just give a date then goes silent.
I figure since I am here I can get two prescriptions filled as well so I don’t have to wait another hour again. I tell him my illness issues and that I need the prescription refills. I tell him that I just lost my mother because I figure he wants to know my reason for wanting something to help me sleep. It is at that point he snaps at me saying «This is supposed to be a quick appointment what do you think that means?» I tell him I don’t know I have never been asked if I want to sign up for a «quick appointment» rather I just made a doctor’s appointment. He then tells me I should have made an appointment with my primary care doctor if I want refills. I told him I don’t have a primary care doctor but have only seen one other doctor here once and when I called to make an appointment they said she left. He snidely says «Yes, she is still here, across that hallway right there». I tell him fine don’t fill my medicines, I just need to get medicine for me being sick. He tells me not to «be that way».
He then checks me out and I say I have an ear infection right? He says no (which turns out to be VERY wrong when I visit the ER later) and when I ask what is wrong he tells me to be quiet while he clicks away at the computer that he will explain later. Not a minute later he turns to me and says «Honestly how long do you expect a doctor to spend with a patient?» …keep in mind he has been in the room less than 10 minutes half of which he was on the computer… I then realize that he should not be treating me this way especially with my recent loss I don’t deserve this. I tell him «You know what nevermind I don’t need this» and walk out.
Later that day he has another doctor call to tell me I have medicine at CVS. I call and that is not true. I write the medical director a letter and she «investigates» and writes me a letter saying he will work on his behavior, but no apology.
NEVER going here again.

I went here to get checked out after a car accident to avoid the creepiness of the ER (seriously hate hospitals). I walked in during the late morning and they scheduled me an appointment to see a doctor later that afternoon. The new patient process was quick and easy, and my insurance situation was taken care of much quicker than it has been anywhere else ever, I think. At first they sent me into the wrong waiting area, but once that was cleared up I got right into the exam room. The doctor I saw was a bit creepy, but nice enough. There was a med student from BU that sat in for my exam who was asking me a bunch of questions which made me feel a little like a science experiment, but she also seemed genuinely concerned about my health, which was nice. I’m still not convinced I had a concussion like he said I did, but I got a prescription for some painkillers and was on my way to CVS within 40 minutes. I wouldn’t make this my regular doctor’s office, but I would go here again if I had to. Parking here can be really annoying. There is a free lot right up the street but it was full when I went.