Pignanelli Eduardo L, MD – Amsterdam Medical Practice

I’m very happy with the service of this clinic. Dr. Pignanelli was very attentive and extremely helpful with the issues I had. The office staff followed up very fast, I really appreciate them worry so much about my health. The most important thing was that I was able to get all my studies done in the same place. The doctor must be very famous because there was a bit of a wait time but it’s was well worth it. Finally I have to say that the way the clinic looks. It’s not like any other clinic I have ever seen anywhere. Very beautiful and classy.

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER!!! Worst front desk I have ever had to deal with. Transfer you all over the place and don’t answer your question when they FINALLY pick up.

The most incompetent office I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing.
The wait time is beyond ridiculous, approaching that of a free clinic or emergency room. I had a scheduled appointment the other day and waited for 2 hours with 30 other people in the waiting room with no announcement or apology about the wait from staff to the waiting room patients. I finally gave up and left as I have experienced this long wait time no matter what day or time I come in. I originally thought that maybe all the elderly people sitting and standing in the waiting room were there to get warm and watch TV. They are actually waiting for the Dr., though.
Some of the M.A.s are not the most competent. These ladies are very kind and sweet, but need to get their money back from whatever training program they went to. They seem not to be supervised (and personally I think the office employs so many less skilled workers so they can avoid paying a nurse’s salary). The M.A. placing my EKG leads did it completely wrong, which caused an abnormal reading that no one read, and resulted in me having to miss work another morning to come back for an echo. Another M.A. told me at the intake that I needed a physical, none was done (I don’t know what was charged though), and she did not even take my vitals.
I went for an ear infection, and mentioned neck pain and a pulsating in abdomen. Admittedly a lot for one visit. For whatever reason, the focus was on my past, resolved health issues instead of my ears. I got complete bloodwork, EKG, echo, nerve testing, an abdominal US, liver US, lower abdominal US, transvaginal US (all coincidentally in house) and was sent out for an MRI, chest xray, CT neck, and other womens’ health tests that I did request (dexa and mammo and they added a breast US and genetic testing). I was sent to a ridiculous excuse for an office called Washington Heights Imaging (you can find them on G+ since they are not on Unilocal). Multiple referrals were given: GYN, ENT, orthopedist and a D.O. in gastroenterology that has no experience with my past (resolved and symptomless) GI issue. I was told I needed to go to the in house GYN, and when I pressed the issue and said I knew that I did not need a referral for a yearly gyn exam, the staff person finally let it drop and I went to my own choice of gynecologist. One of the M.A.s actually had the nerve to remark about all these referrals «well one hand washes the other». Excuse me? I could care a less. No one is washing my hand.
I appreciate all the testing, um, I guess, but it would be nice if someone paid attention to the exam itself. I was with Dr. P for 5 minutes, tops. After the *third* follow up visit, I had to insist that he actually look in my ears. «send her out for lavage». So no nurse there can irrigate a patient’s ears? I need to go for an ENT for this? Is there even a nurse at the office? Of course, he had a referral for a different ENT than mine. I had to insist that the referral be changed to my ENT. Also at the third visit, I was given some paper to sign stating that if I ever was admitted to the hospital, I only wanted Dr. P to treat me. What?
I also have doubts about the skills of the in house ultrasound techs. One report came back that I have no ovaries, which I actually do, and were seen on the last transvaginal US from Lenox. Wut?
The ultimate in incompetence was the day I was called in for my neck CT results (instead of having them read on the phone or sent): «Everything is fine» said the Dr dismissively in his 2 min visit that I had taken all day off work for. On my way out I ask for the report at the desk. I was given an MRI (!) head (!), for a male (!), birth date totally different and 20 years off (!), and nothing like my name (!). Not even close in either the first or last name. They had scanned the wrong report in my chart, the Dr did not catch it since he runs from room to room trying to get the most people in and out as fast as possible, and the M.A. not only did not see it but **physically gave me another patient’s confidential test results**. Nice one. Actually, my CT neck was abnormal, so if I had not done the job of the office staff and actually looked at it, I potentially could have had a problem that went untreated.
Taken by themselves these are small things that I would let slide, except for the comedy of errors with my test results. Taken in total it looks like the office has turned into a money mill. When I went to this Dr years ago, I thought him and his P.A. were great. They were way behind schedule every single time, but thorough and competent. It’s a shame.

I had quite different experience at this practice. I was met with warmth and care as I brought my elderly mother (who does not speak English) here and Dr. Pignanelli showed nothing but compassion and care for her. Thankfully, after running tests her diabetes has been regulated (which was not before). Great place. Waited a bit but that is the price you pay for seeing such a fantastic doctor.

This doctor might be very knowledgeable of his trade, but has lost sight of what the medical profession means. He is no longer invested in his patient and rather has become a money hungry machine. Spends less than two minutes on his patients and orders a ton of unnecessary tests so that he can make the extra cash, as these test are perform right there in his office.