Associates In Family Practice, PA

I’ve been a patient here for about 2 years.
I had one doctor, who is no longer here and I absolutely LOVED her. She was easy to talk to about anything and I could ask her anything I wanted and she answered honestly and it felt like she genuinely cared for my health and well-​being.
When she left, I was assigned to the PA, Katherine Sirianni. She was very nice and knowledgable. However, I’ve had two bad experiences with her, and asked to switch to a new doctor as a result.
I was sick last December (2014), with what seemed like a cold, and I saw her and she prescribed fluids and bed rest. She told me to call her if I got worse. Two days later, I developed a fever and body aches, and called asking to come back in because I believed I had the flu. A nurse answered and Katherine told her to tell me that I didn’t have the flu and to just rest. I had the fever for 3 more days and just felt that she didn’t take my concern seriously. I’m also a teacher, so I figured I had the flu since my students had also been recently sick.
The next month, January 2015, I called again because I was having pains to what I thought was related to my cycle. I called asking to come in and told the nurse it felt like «PMS on steroids.» I was cramping, had gastro-​intestinal distress, and was having backaches. I was experiencing these issues for 2 weeks before I called. When the nurse told Katherine, Katherine told the nurse to tell me to take some ibuprofen and rest, as she cannot do anything for PMS.
So I called a week later and asked to come in and see a different doctor, as my symptoms had not gone away, and said that Katherine didn’t take me seriously. I was then assigned to Dr. Akinlade, who diagnosed me with the stomach flu, and said that it had been messing with my cycle. So obviously, I was annoyed with Katherine for blowing me off, and I actually had a significant illness.
Dr. Akinlade has been better with me, however she was not willing to listen to my concerns with birth control, as I was recently considering not using synthetic hormones to treat some issues I was having. She basically blew off my concerns with synthetic hormones, asking me if I «wanted» to get pregnant. I told her no, but that I wanted to explore other options. She didn’t offer me any and said I needed to continue using synthetic hormones.
I am actually in the process of now looking for a new doctor and will not be using Associates in Family Practice anymore.

I wrote this on the old Unilocal page over a year ago:
I have been a patient of this practice since I moved here over 10 years ago. Billing department is always on point, front desk can be a little lackluster but I also tend to go first thing in the morning (blame it on lack of coffee), Lab work area is really efficient and careful.
I started out seeing Dr. Johnson. He was amazing. He wanted to fix my problems and was open to alternative treatments (not just shoving different drugs on you).I was really sick on and off my whole life and no one had ever tried to correct it the way this office did. I had to go in for an emergency appointment more than once and it was never a big deal. I had to see many different doctors in the practice because of this and have never been disappointed. Everyone is thorough and nice. They care about their patients and it comes across in everything they do.
They have recommended me to the most amazing Specialist as well. I would not be as well off as I am if it wasn’t for the hard work and dedication of the Doctor’s and staff at this office. I truly owe them my life and well-​being!
This is my update form today:
I just wanted to say they have a WONDERFUL, Friendly new staff member that handles the front desk younger, cute, friendly (I wish I was great at names right now) But she is fantastic. The 2 older women are still a bit, how to put this nicely, inattentive and un-​welcoming. EVERYONE else in the office (Scheduling, nurse, lab and DR. are totally warm and inviting)
I see Katie all the time (I have to go once a month) She is always friendly, asks and answers the questions I have and tries to get to the root of the issues in a very friendly way. She knows my issues. She knows what I can and can’t do/​take and she always cares!
I have recommended 2 other co workers there and one stayed on the insurance just to make sure she could go see Katie. She is really THAT GOOD,
Only negative, They Do need to call or email and confirm appointments. I have had several missed by friends. (Most of use add to our phone calendars and set alarms but not everyone is as tech savvy and they should ask how we would like to be notified for labs and appointment updates).

I’m paying a $ 120 fee because I missed an appointment from this place, I didn’t not received a reminder call nor a confirmation call for the appointment, I own a business and all my customers get a confirmation call and email the day before the appointment! Don’t recommend using this clinic or be careful about missing appointments!

I became acquainted with Associates in Family Practice when I first moved to Maryland and a former college professor told me his son (who was in grade school at the time) is now a physician with a practice close-​by; talk about feeling old!
A few months later, I got miserably sick and needed to see a doctor right away; but because I was new in town, I hadn’t yet found new medical professionals. I remembered what my old professor said, so I called Associates in Family Practice on the morning when my head was spinning, I had a sky-​rocketing fever, my throat was in pain, etc. I told them it was an emergency and I needed to see someone that morning.
I was able to get in right away and saw Katherine Sirianni who immediately diagnosed my illness, wrote prescriptions, and sent me on my way. Within days I was better and for the next few weeks she followed up to make sure I was recovering properly. And although she is not an MD, she’s a physician’s assistant (PA), the care I’ve received from her equals (if not better) than any of my former MDs.
I have now been a patient at this practice for nearly two years. Katherine has been a very attentive and thorough primary care medical provider who has paid close watch on my health since the beginning. She not only reviews my medical history, but anticipates possible health changes moving forward and advises me on the best options for staying as fit and healthy as I possibly can.
The only reason I’m not giving Associates in Family Practice five stars is because their front office staff needs quite a bit of customer service training. Every time I’ve gone to the office, no matter who the person is who greets me, I always feel as if I’m doing THEM a favor by going there. As I said, it is only the front office staff — the scheduling, billing, and clinical staff have all been wonderful.