Harvard Vanguard Battle Royale

[j-cannibal.livejournal.com]

I’ve been pouring over the healthcare posts in this community, in other LJ communities and on other rating websites, looking for a new PCP. Because I’m in need of some physical therapy as well, and I like the all-under-one-roof convenience, I’m leaning toward choosing someone at Harvard Vanguard in Davis. However, Yelpers had a lot of middling-to-negative comments regarding the center. I know there are members here who are fans though. I called today and they gave me a list of PCPs taking on new patients:

Dr. Angel
Dr. Hobbs (who seems to be the leading contender from previous posts)
Dr. Liu
Dr. Matei
Dr. Slavsky

Which one would you recommend? Or, would you tell me to go to the HV center in Harvard Square (Dr. Zorn, anyone?), which seems to have a much better reputation for service (again, according to Yelpers)? Convenience/time is also very important to me, so I don’t really want to travel farther afield.

[UPDATE]: I tabulated the votes, counting negative comments as -1 and positive comments as +1, and here are the standings:

Dr. Angel : 2
Dr. Hobbs: 4
Dr. Liu: 1
Dr. Matei: -4
Dr. Slavsky: 1

Not very scientific, I know. Since, with the exception of Dr. Hobbs every other doctor barely broke even between positive and negative comments (and the fact that the center as whole has a pretty shabby reputation for customer service), I’ve decided to shun HV altogether and go with the Marino Center. Thanks for all your input!

Comments

[lindalee.livejournal.com]

I liked Hobbs, but hated her nurse, and eventually gave up.

Matei didn't inspire me.

I know I need to pick someone, but I haven't really liked the options.

Good luck!

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I really would not trust Yelp on something this important, at least if my experience of the site is any indication. I'm looking for a PCP myself, thanks for the post.

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

I had Dr. Slavsky for a while; i was moved to her after my initial PCP passed on.

That experience was enough to drive me away from Harvard Vanguard entirely.

[ron_newman]

Could we talk about that in IM, some time very soon?

Probably a rare advocate for Dr. Slavsky

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

I have Dr. Slavsky, and I think she's all right. While cordial, she is not very friendly, and has virtually no bedside manner to speak of. Also, she often seems a bit rushed. However, she knows what she's doing, which is really all I ask from a PCP. I have my psychotherapist for hand-holding.

Dr Slavsky is my PCP too

[mamabunny72.livejournal.com]

... actually, when my PCP passed away, HVMA aut-assigned me to Dr. Hobbs, but in the interim, I had a same-day appt w/ Dr. Slavsky and she remembered me from an urgent care visit way back, and I thought "hey, she remembers me!" so I switched to Dr. Slavsky. I only se eher for my annual check-up, so the contact I have with her is adequate for me.

Re: Dr Slavsky is my PCP too

[enhf94.livejournal.com]

yeah, she was kind. What was her name again?


ObTopic: I like Liu.

Re: Probably a rare advocate for Dr. Slavsky

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

Really? I had the opposite experience. In my first physical with her, she told me that walking was "good for well being, but not any good for weight loss), despite the fact that I've lost upwards of 40-50 pounds twice before in my life by walking.

Also, after a car accident that left me with blinding headaches for a week straight, she told me I looked perfectly fine, and refused to request x-rays. I switched to another PCP right after that appointment.

Re: Probably a rare advocate for Dr. Slavsky

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Ah well. I'm sure every Dr. has her off days. I'm not in love with her, but she'll do.

[shu-al.livejournal.com]

In 100% agreement with this comment.

[midorionna.livejournal.com]

I have Dr. Matei, she's very no nonsense, and can come off as a little brusque, for example, remarking as she changed the size of speculum twice was a bit embarrassing, or telling me point blank to lose weight even though i'm in the mid-range of healthy.

personally i think you need to research and be your own advocate, using the doc as a tool to help you. so i like that Dr. Matei doesn't guild the lily (usually!)

HV Doctors

[sundaisy-summer.livejournal.com]

I saw Dr. Matei a few times and was NOT impressed. Her bedside manner was terrible. She refused to listen to me and kept making assumptions about me, yet she barely knew me and wouldn't let me get a word in edgewise! I've heard Dr. Hobbs IS better, but also hard to get in on her list.

I've seen a couple of the nurses there however and was quite pleased. They administered shots and whatnot a few times. They were very nice and always followed up very promptly whenever I called with questions or paperwork needs.

Re: HV Doctors

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Ugh, Dr Matei once refused to believe that I was sick, because it was obvious I was only tired because I was fat. And that I had early stage fibromyalgia, which she never explained beyond a throw-away comment.

I do like Dr. Hobbs very much.

[bluedaisy.livejournal.com]

Dr Hobbs is my doc, and she's great. She has a new nurse, whom I like less than Sean, but the new nurse is ok.

Dr Matei made me nervous---she didn't seem like she really knew what was going on. That may be because I saw her when she was relatively new to the practice, but I still would not vote for her.

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

have Dr. Angel. love him. He is willing to listen to me, even if it's on non-standard ideas. He may tell me I'm wrong, but listening with open mind & willing to push back seems the best of all possible worlds...

opposite experience with Angel

[winterhill.livejournal.com]

I have Dr. A as my primary, but I only see him when I have to. I LOVE Joan Handel, his nurse practitioner. Angel can be condescending and a little brusque, although the care itself is fine. If there are other options and you are looking for someone with a good bedside manner, I'd say keep looking.

Re: opposite experience with Angel

[cobweb.livejournal.com]

I did not like Joan Handel AT ALL. Several years ago I came in with a barrage of really unusual symptoms (i.e. numbness in my hands and feet, visual changes such as my eyes blacking out, terrible headaches). I was not able to see my doc, Dr. Berger, (who is no longer taking on new patients). Joan listened to NOTHING I said and told me I was having "panic attacks" and sent me home. Ummm yeah, I don't think so.

Eventually I did see Dr. Berger and many specialists and it was determined that I had a rare neurological condition. I don't expect that Joan should have know since only about 10,000 people in the US are effected but don't fucking tell me I'm having panic attacks just because I am a young woman.

Yeah I guess I'm still bitter...

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I saw Dr. Hobbs for more than two years and was never very impressed. I finally decided to switch to a different network of doctors after having routine bad experiences with HV's lab. You couldn't pay me to let anyone from there draw my blood again.

[j-cannibal.livejournal.com]

Where did you switch to, and are you happy with your new PCP/network?

[ron_newman]

What bad experience did you have with the lab?

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

I switched to MGH, and I'm more than happy with Dr. Barbara Penn, but I also have to travel to Bunker Hill to see her, so there's a trade off.

I remember the lab being a place with long waits in the waiting room and staff members that never so much as cracked a smile. For someone like me who doesn't like having blood drawn it just never felt like a nice place to be. The last straw was when a particularly unfriendly employee stuck a needle in my arm, apparently missed the vein, had to try again, told me I was overreacting when I complained about the pain, and then when I got to work I took the band-aid off my arm to discover a huge blood blister the size of a cherry tomato.

Maybe I'm just a wuss.

[ron_newman]

Hmm, I've never had any experience like that. Short wait, in and out, friendly people, no errors.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Huh, I've been going there for years, and I think their phlebotomists are great. Very friendly and competent.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I've had Dr. Hobbs for several years and I like her fine. I like that she's open to alternative medicines and knowledgeable about breastfeeding. I also like that I don't feel like I'm starting from scratch every time I see her -- she comes into the appointment knowing my history. Not that I think she actually remembers me ;) but she at least takes the time to glance through my file ahead of time.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

Dr. Matei is a bit cold and clinical, which I suppose is good, but she's just not terribly friendly or comforting.. it just was odd.

[wishful-knicker.livejournal.com]

Every doc I saw at Harvard Vanguard were really rushed, judgmental, and condescending-- I felt like I was inconveniencing them by telling them the meds I was already taking or asking about side effects to treatments..

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I have Dr. Angel; have seen him once, for a routine physical and to get a lengthy list of referrals for specialist care. He was nice, didn't have any problem giving me any of the referrals (including one, I should mention, that I called and asked for a month or two before I had ever met him, for someone way out of network - following up on some healthcare treatment from before I switched providers). Despite my long list of (relatively minor I hope) issues, he seemed open to discussing them and listening to me, although even so I felt like maybe there was more he could have done/asked; hard to put my finger on it to say what my exact complaint is, really.

Also, the nurse he recommended I see for my annual GYN exam was -wonderful-, one of the best people I've ever seen for that particular bit of fun, in case you are in need of those services. I'm blanking on her name at the moment, though.

[redcolumbine.livejournal.com]

I started with Dr. Slavsky and dropped her like a hot potato because she didn't even try to conceal the fact that she thought I was a complete idiot. I see Dr. Liu now. I like him - he's very thorough, pays attention to details, and takes the time to explain things clearly when I ask a question.

I've had multiple blood draws in the lab and never had so much as a bruise, and never more than a couple minutes' wait.

[green-limousine.livejournal.com]

i haven't seen anyone in davis sq, but i do go to the cambridge practice.

i started with dr. matthews, who rubbed me the wrong way, twice. i switched to dr. gorenberg and LOVED LOVED her. she was the best PCP a girl could ask for. then she transfered to the wellesley practice.

i now go to dr. weaver, who was great the two times i've been in to see her. she's on maternity leave now, but i think still accepting new patients when she returns.

i also saw the NP ann stewart, one day when no one else was available. she was great. i think i spent over an hour with her, while she was trying to diagnose and alleviate some of my asthma symptoms.

[j-cannibal.livejournal.com]

Dr. Weaver is who I wanted to see originally, but she actually isn't taking new patients, even when she gets back from her leave.

[alphacygni]

I had repeatedly bad experiences at the Davis Harvard Vanguard over the course of many years and multiple PCPs (funny that they kept leaving, hmmmm?), and finally ditched it completely. I now go to the Marino Center on Mass Ave nearish to Davis, and while it isn't perfect, it's several steps better than HV. And as far as physical therapy, I saw Scott McDonough there and he was fantastic.

My PCP there is McCaffrey, and she seemed fine the one time I saw her. I usually make appointments with the nurses because I can't do business hours. Also, she's been on leave for a while.

Dr. Angel

[sundaisy-summer.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I saw him once for a same-day non-emergency room emergency visit and he was great! Very friendly and kind. I prefer a woman unfortunately though for regular visits! But if you don't care, then he seems the nicest of the practice that I've seen.

[shu-al.livejournal.com]

Don't pick Slavsky. Just don't.

[gypsy882.livejournal.com]

Definitely going to agree with all who are not fans of Matei...I went to her once and she was just downright unpleasant and just made me uneasy in general. Not really good for someone who's scared of doctors in the first place. I never went back; in fact, I left Harvard Vanguard entirely and am super happy with my new doctor.

Good luck!

[j-cannibal.livejournal.com]

Who is your new doctor?

[gypsy882.livejournal.com]

I see Dr. Kunis, who's at Lahey Clinic in Arlington. I actually don't dread going to her because she's funny and friendly, yet totally competent and knowledgeable....woohoo!

[fuffer.livejournal.com]

I have Dr. Matei. She told me I should lose weight, too. I was surprised.

When I'm talking, I imagine she's thinking, "In Romania, we do not go to the doctor for these sort of problems."

I like her well enough, though. I like her no-nonsense approach. I've never had a doctor that didn't seem rushed, so maybe I have low expectations.

I saw Dr. Liu once when Dr. Matei wasn't available. He seems like someone who'd be more comfortable in a lab. He doesn't seem that comfortable with people.

[j-cannibal.livejournal.com]

Just some humorous speculation on my part...

Having spent some time in Romania earlier this year, I know that Doctors make the majority of their money from tips & donations--their patients tip them, sometimes thousands of dollars. Maybe Dr. Matei unconsciously resents the fact that she's not getting tipped. Or maybe since she doesn't have to rely on tips, she's decided she can do away with her bedside manner.

[julishka.livejournal.com]

while i don't have any specific dr. recommendations for davis, i would suggest that you take into consideration the hospital the doctor is affiliated with. ask yourself, if something serious were to happen to you, where would you want your care to take place? (or where would you NOT want to go?) then, look at the doctors that can get you there & choose from them.

[yebeldan.livejournal.com]

How in the world can anyone not like Dr. Mathews. She is so nice and kind I have been her patient about 8 years and only had 1 problem with her. This is just my opinion I know some people rub each other the wrong way.