American Family Care Madison — Local services in Madison

If I could give zero stars, I absolutely would. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t allow that.

BE WARNED: This place is a complete joke and a danger to patient health. The so-called “healthcare professionals” here seem far more interested in money and insurance billing than actually providing competent care.

I went in on Saturday with a bad cough, concerned that I had an upper respiratory infection. The provider was pleasant and told me she was sending prescriptions for steroids, antibiotics, and cough medicine. When I went to pick up my prescriptions, the antibiotics were missing. I assumed the pharmacy was just delayed—but after checking, they said no antibiotic order had ever been sent.

I immediately called American Family Care first thing Monday morning to get this sorted out. I explained everything—what the provider had told me and that the pharmacy never received the prescription. The woman on the phone was extremely rude and dismissive and said I’d have to wait until Friday when the original provider was back in the office. Seriously? I reminded her I was diagnosed with bronchitis and have pre-existing asthma—which makes this a serious, potentially dangerous issue. She said they’d call me back.

Hours went by with no call. I called again. Same rude woman answered and snapped, “I told you we’d call by the end of the day. We close at 7.” Well—7 PM came and went. No call.

The next morning (Tuesday) I called again, spoke to someone else who promised they’d call me right back. Nothing. I called again—and got the first rude woman who told me, “the provider doesn’t feel comfortable prescribing medication for someone she hasn’t seen.” Are you kidding me? I replied, “I understand that in general, but this is YOUR mistake. Why am I the one paying for this error, physically and financially? You failed to send the prescription on Saturday—I shouldn’t have to suffer for that.” She repeated there was nothing they could do.

I told her if this turns into pneumonia and I end up in the hospital, I’d sue for malpractice and hospital costs. After that, she finally let me speak to a supervisor. Unfortunately, the supervisor was just as rude and unhelpful—repeating the same scripted line about the provider not feeling comfortable prescribing meds to someone they “haven’t seen”—ignoring the fact that I WAS SEEN ON SATURDAY, and they simply didn’t send the prescription.

After work, I gave up on the phone and went back in person. The woman at the front desk was again rude and dismissive. I asked for the supervisor, and after charging me another copay—for their mistake—they finally let me see another provider.

As soon as this provider listened to my lungs, she heard wheezing and crackling and immediately ordered a chest X-ray. Sure enough—my so-called “acute bronchitis” had now progressed to full-blown pneumonia. Exactly what I feared.

This second provider was also cold, dismissive, and rushed—but at least she finally prescribed what I should have gotten in the first place. However, because they let my condition worsen, I now needed two antibiotics and additional medications—instead of one antibiotic on Saturday that could have prevented all of this.

This entire experience was a nightmare. American Family Care does not care about patients—only money, copays, and insurance billing. I wasted time, suffered for days, missed work, and paid twice—all because of their incompetence.

I will NEVER return to this facility, and I strongly warn anyone considering this place to stay far away.

Shame on you, American Family...

I had an appointment date to be at this facility. As a World Trade Center survivor I need to get check ups. This facility is signed up to be part of the WTC program to do workups for WTC survivors. I immediately realized that the front desk workers were not aware of the procedures. So, I contacted Ms.Nicole from WTC program who then contacted American Family Care MADISON, AL, and went through the process with them, faxed information, and spoke to the director directly. The director assured Miss Nicole that they are equipped with the equipments needed to do my medical checkup and that I will definitely be seen. (Side note) it took me this long to sign up for this program, because my mind rehashes 911 and I get extremely emotional and depressed and put the paperwork aside. I finally build up the nerve to finish the paperwork to get a check up. (back to review) The secretary filled out the information for my registration given to her by Ms.Nicole from WTC program. Everything seemed ok, I was taken into a room and was ready for my check up when someone came in and basically told me, I cannot be seen there, it's better for my doctor to do it because they do not have the equipment, and their facility do not do what is required. SO I WAS SENT AWAY WITHOUT BEING SEEN. I called back Ms. Nicole from WTC program she was not pleased at all with what she was hearing . She got on it right away and is trying to get me another appointment ASAP. The other facility that she contacted was so nice that their director said, they did not have an equipment that is needed, but because of what I have been through she will try her best to get it from somewhere else. Both the director from the other facility and Ms.Nicole apologized for what happened. I am thankful to Ms. Nicole. She made me feel comfortable to express my feelings, I was emotional to say the least, and she kept me calm and went through every step that she did and will continue to do. Thank you.

AFC Madison, in AL. did not act professionally and should not have accepted me if they couldn't perform. The director was told what's needed and she made that assurance and fell through.

I would put 0 stars but that's not an option.

UPDATE on AFC Madison. I did receive calls from everyone. Apologies were accepted and Nycole from AFC Madison said that she learned about the machine after receiving it so she was confident in using it and would love the opportunity for a do over. I was already scheduled for AFC Hampton so I went through with them and had a great experience. Thanks to all staff that reached out to me with apologies it made...

I woke up with continued pain in my shoulder and back. I had to leave work because the pain was so intense and I couldn’t catch my breath. I explained that I thought I was having muscular issues, however I was not examined for breathing or heartbeat just my arm lifted and some questions assuring me it was most likely a muscle strain. My back was prodded some however nothing was said until afterwards. I asked for an xray just in case but was assured it wouldn’t show anything if it was muscle/tendon strain. I pushed and finally Schonna Etheridge (the nurse practitioner taking care of me with a student with her) said fine but ordered some steroid shots. The person who took my xrays took ages to do so, was very kind but extended the pain since it took her ages to get an image. I was then informed ten minutes later “well good thing you pushed for an xray, you have pneumonia”. I was taken to the image, had zero idea what I was looking at, but informed my entire right lung was full. I was not offered/ordered an antibiotic shot afterwards which seemed weird, but I was given two antibiotics (neither at a very high milligram) and neither were the best for pneumonia, an inhaler, and cough syrup. As she shuffled me out the door she said “oh! I didn’t even check your breathing!” She then proceeded to check my breathing in the hall outside of the exit door then gave me a couple of breathing exercises to do. The whole experience was bizarre and subpar. I went to my personal doctor the following Tuesday (four days later after Veterans Day) and he was taken aback that I wasn’t sent to the hospital based off the xrays he ordered that day. I’m so disappointed that I wasn’t directed to go to the hospital at any point during my visit. I expressed that I’d been in pain off and on since Oct 30. She even said “well you didn’t tell me about any other symptoms!” when I expressed my surprise. I explained that the pain was the only symptom and that the symptoms had intensified the day I came to be checked (muscle pain and breathlessness). I could have really been in some serious trouble, and clearly I understand that my weird case is not her responsibility but I’m just flummoxed that I was not A) told to go to the hospital B) offered an antibiotic shot C) given woefully inadequate antibiotics. Her response to my diagnosis felt very unprofessional even going as far as not to give me a work note since I should be fine to go back work on that Tuesday, Nov 12. It’s Nov 19 and I’m still out of work recovering due to the severity of this pneumonia. I won’t be coming back because I can’t trust the reliability...