Allergy, Asthma & Dermatology Associates, P.C.

As nice as dr price is… Waiting for 30 minutes or more every single time we go is not worth it.

About 2 months ago I had a pretty bad reaction to some food. I went to see my Dr. Long story short, She recommended Renee Anderson-​Cowell so I called and made an appointment with her a month in advance, one week before my «scheduled» appointment her office called me to cancel, so, I rescheduled another 3 – 4 weeks out and again a week before said appointment, her office called and canceled yet again. 2 in a roll, (No reason given) In my opinion this is totally unprofessional, you’re telling me your time is more important than mine. So, I listened and I am Moving on.

I had the misfortune of coming in contact with Renee Anderson-​Cowell.
Summary– Rude, dismissive, total scam to get me to blinding get injected by a mystery medication that might cost $ 2000 for the single set of injections. Told me to see a therapist instead.
The story:
I’ve had hives for 2 months straight for no reason. When I visited her I had already seen my regular doctor twice and had been on 4 different antihistamines and a steroid (prednisone) for 2.5 weeks.
She asked very few questions and cut me off multiple times when I tried explaining I have MANY allergies to MANY things (almost all fruits, half of veggies, multitudes of medications, etc. She didn’t seem interested in my medical history.
I also explained that my diet is already very limited, so I doubt it was food related. I’m already off gluten (diagnosed celiac disease, which she rolled her eyes at), strict vegan (so dairy isn’t a consideration), and gave her my list of food allergies along with their reactions. She didn’t want it. She asked me, painstakingly, sets of food and then interrogated me about the reactions. I said, «it’s all on my list, do you want that? we can save time» and she said no.
She then tested me for Green beans (not allergic to), Pinto Beans (not allergic to), Cats (which she was already blaming), and DAIRY. I told her there’s no need to test for dairy, as I don’t ingest it. She rolled her eyes.
They did the tests and all came back negative. She shrugged and wrote me a script for 4 more antihistamines and a food journal. MY BRAIN IS MY FOOD JOURNAL. When you’re as allergic to everything as I am, I know what will and will not send me into shock. And the hives were NOT FOOD related.
So I went home and did what she said. Take the pills, keep the journal.
3 weeks later I realized I should have been called for a followup, so I had to call THEM for my followup appointment.
At the followup she basically walked in, shrugged that she isn’t sure what’s happening, I did my own research, made suggestions, which she VERY quickly blew off with, «If you had that, I’d know.»
She gave me a diagnosis of Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (You’re allergic to something and we don’t know what it is) and told me it’s probably just stress and TO SEE A THERAPIST ABOUT IT.
I then got VERY frustrated and started crying. I’ve had hives that look like burns that are extremely painful and itchy for 2 months and have been doped up for 2 months straight on 8 antihistamines and saw NO improvement, and she’s telling me to see a THERAPIST?!?
She then noted, LOUDLY, «Oh see, there you go. You’re getting more hives when you’re crying. Told you it was mental. You should take my suggestion and just see a therapist. You’ll not allergic to anything.»
Then her eyes got all big and she said, «BE RIGHT BACK!!»
Then she came back disappointed saying she didn’t have the medication she was going to use in stock.
She then said I should go to St. Vincent’s tomorrow morning to get the medication. (which I had no clue, still, what it was).
I mentioned that it’s a pretty far drive, and that I’d like to know more about the medication. She ignored my question just to remark, «It’s only 6 miles away. Just drive there.»
Well thanks for deciding what’s far and what’s not. Perhaps if I had a doctor’s income I could afford just to drive across town for a medication I still knew nothing about.
I asked her to just tell me about the medication. She said, «I’ll have the nurse tell you.»
Nurse came back to tell me about the meds that doctor was going to just GIVE ME in the office, had she not been out of them.
Turns out they’re SO expensive that people apply for financial aid to get them.
2 shots a month, one in each arm, for 3 months, Xolair. Each set of injections costs somewhere between $ 500-​$ 2000 per treatment (EVERY TIME). No wonder she didn’t want to tell me! She was just going to give me these shots and bill me?!
So I said no. Then nurse asked if my «no» was was financial and then brought me the financial aid paperwork.
I filled that out 4 weeks ago and haven’t heard ANYTHING from the practice. No phone calls to check up on me, no phone calls about the financial aid I signed up for, and no mail regarding it either.
I’ve NEVER felt so dismissed by someone in my life.
Waste of my $ 80s of copays.
This woman shouldn’t be a doctor.

I came in one morning and had a pleasant allergy consultation with DR. Anderson — Cowell, we did a spot test and found i was allergic to a few thing i had never know about. She explained to me a few ways to reduce my symptoms and suggested to do a diet elimination test for two weeks. I honestly haven’t done it because iv been getting new work and moving and just not a good time. I plan on a catch up visit with her after i see a dermatologist (which is located in the same office!) so i’m excited to know that my skin problems are being handled not just internally but externally as well.

Can’t say I’m all that thrilled with this place. I had some biopsies done which were found to be malignant and in need of surgery to remove the cancers. The visit was quick and to the point and I didn’t have to wait but a few minutes to be seen by the doctor. All was good until I had to deal with their referral for the surgery on my leg.
They referred me to a doctor (Dr. Busby) who I did go to, however, wasn’t really impressed with his manner. After the consultation, I decided I didn’t want him to do my surgery.
I received several phone calls from Dermatology Associates and even a registered letter confirming that I had not had the surgeries done and indicated that this is a serious thing. The letter stated that I could eventually die if I let this go too long. It quite honestly made me feel like it was a bit of fear mongering. I felt a bit pressured to use their referral. They advised they had contacted Dr. Busby’s office and found I hadn’t scheduled an appointment with him for the surgery. I don’t know if they get kick backs or what but it just all seemed a little odd to me.