Koch Donna M MD — Local services in Garfield

I am a new patient and made an appointment for a checkup for 3pm this past Monday and when I got there there was about 10 people waiting. I signed in and sat down and heard other patients that were waiting say they were there for over 2 hours! I waited roughly 45 minutes and then asked the woman at the front desk how long the wait was and she didn't know, she just said the doctor was running behind. She didn't check the sign in sheet or check to see how many patients were in front of me. Besides the fact, she could have called me before I even got there to tell me that they were super behind and asked me to reschedule but she didn't. So I told her that I wasn't sick (there was clearly sick patients waiting) and that my appointment was just for a check up, so I asked her if I could reschedule. She was nice and said no problem and thanked me for offering to reschedule. So I go in today for my 10am appointment and there was only one man there waiting and the doctor was in with a patient. While I was waiting two more patients came in. I asked the front desk how long the wait was and she said I would be next. I was finally brought in to see the nurse at 11am to check my height and weight. She was so nice! This was done and I was sent back to the waiting room. Now I realize that the doctor took in the patient who came in after me. I was getting irritated because I also had a dentist appointment scheduled and I didn't want to be late. I finally was brought into the patient room at 11:24. The paper on the bed wasn't changed and so I didn't sit on the table. Doctor Koch came in and asked me a few questions. Asked me why I was there, checked my temperature, and told me I would need blood work and a urine sample. I was with her for only a few minutes. She was nice but did seemed rushed and was very short. Also, no one took my blood pressure which I thought was weird. Especially because I told them I had a history of low blood pressure. So back to the front desk, I had to make a follow up appointment for the blood work results so I asked her what day would be best without a long wait. She told me that even if you make an appointment it's first come first serve.... so I asked what's the point of making an appointment then? I told her this wouldn't work for me and she got defensive and said we'll get used to it because that's the way it goes here. Then she said the doctor is worth the wait. I did make the appointment for 2pm (the follow up appointment) and hoping it's a better experience next time. I have read from other review sites that Dr. Koch is a great doctor. So if the wait is worth it I will update this review but until then 3 stars is...

Please please for the sake of your safety and sanity, do not listen to good reviews on here. I am convinced they hire or tell people to leave good reviews because if they don't, this doctors office might be shut down. Something is terribly, terribly wrong with this doctor and the girls that work at the front desk. I left a review a month ago and I'm back for more. I don't even leave reviews for ANYTHING but this is necessary. I can truly blame this doctors office for the fact that it has been 2 months and my foot is still badly injured. They refused to send the electronic referral to a foot specialist for me for weeks. They do not answer the phone. When they do, they're EXTREMELY RUDE. (OLIVIA !!!) I do not care anymore. My mother had to physically go into the office to get her to send the electronic referral for me to be able to visit a foot specialist (I didn't go because mentally I cannot handle one more conversation with the girl at the front desk and I do not trust myself). When she finally sends the referral, she doesn't include a reference number and now it has taken 2 more weeks and a very nasty phone call to receive that reference number. Without that number, I may be in charge of a $700 foot doctor bill. Even my foot specialist advised me that they have called the office numerous times to obtain the reference number and they DID NOT give it to them. I cannot stress how bad this office is. I honestly don't know why that doctor went into this profession. Its sickening to be so rude and unprofessional to vulnerable people, who go to a doctor to feel safe and comfortable. & as for the girls at the front desk, they don't deserve a job anywhere. That is terrible of me to say, but if they will treat any other human beings the way they have treated me, they do not deserve employment of any sort, in ANY customer service setting, ESPECIALLY in the medical field. I suffer from extreme anxiety issues and they have caused me more stress then anything or anyone ever has. DO NOT GO TO THIS DOCTOR PLEASE....

The staff are nice on the phone when they call you to remind you of you yearly check up, however once you arrive their demeanor is much different. The staff are very rude and nasty to the patients. They do not go by appointment although you are told to make one. It is a first come first serve. Unprofessional. Fr. Koch on the other hand is much worse, she picks and chooses who she will spend time listening too or explaining things to some patients ( mostly the polish patients) are the ones she is nice too and takes very long with I was there for my very first visit and when she was in with the same patient for 43 minutes. she then walked them out to the front desk to ensure her staff made the follow up appointment and schedule other tests for the patient. I thought wow how nice of her that’s great that she is very concerning to be sure her patient gets the care she deserves. I then was called for height weight and blood pressure. 30 minutes later I finally went in with the doctor. she asked why I was there and before I can finish she rudely cut me off looked my chart and walked out. Came back in 10 minutes later no explanation or apology just said your fat if you lose weight most of your issues would disappear. I was appalled over the blunt rude remark I couldn’t even say what I wanted because there would have been some furniture moving up in there lol . Anyway her comment was not going to fix my issue my symptoms where headache neck and back pain as I said she didn’t let me finish so I ended up in the hospital 2 days later with Meningitis.. the hospital called her and she just said have her make an appointment when she is...