Sunflower Family Medicine

Wait time is not long. She is very pragmatic, answers questions and she concentrates on what is doable.

Dr. Brown is very knowledgeable. However, the staff at this facility fall way short on communication. I saw the doctor on/or about 30 September and had labs done on 6 October, I called on 20 October to get lab results and was told my testosterone level was fine but when I asked about my PSA, the individual I spoke to said it was 6.0. Of course I asked if that was correct and then she put me on hold and came back on the line telling me they would have to call me back.

I finally got a call back on 30 October telling me my PSA was .04. So for basically 10 days, I worried about my results. Totaly unacceptable!. We even got a letter about 10 days ago from Memorial Health acknowledging problems with Sunflower on their communication but nothing has really changed.

When I went in today to get my lab results on 3 Nov I was told that they couldn't give them to me.I then said that I was done with the doctor/service and I would go elsewhere and was only given a phone number to call to get my records and that they couldn't give them to me. F A I L! I'm done with Sunflower and any provider under Memorial Healthcare here in Colorado Springs!

W O R S T experience ever!

She is willing to take the time to talk to me. She spends time trying to figure out what the problem is. Scheduling is very easy.

unknown

Things are better now that they are under the Memorial umbrella.

I like that she spends time with me, she gives me good advise, she is open to alternative medication and modalities, and I like her staff. I am very happy that I have her.

..

She was very nice and will continue to meet with her!

I last saw Dr Brown for my on-going thyroid issue. We discussed life style,
and benefits of plant-based eating, and he was familiar with the
benefits and lifestyle. He took time to discuss the approach with me,
and did not just drop in and decide to increase my medication dosage.
I've seen him for other things as well, and appreciate the time and
attention he gives to his patients. It's almost an and quot;old fashionedand quot;
approach where he has time to see somebody and listen to their concerns,
and takes time to do so. I'm very glad I have a Doc I can trust.

They are family oriented and I like that they are Osteopaths.

Things went well. I saw NP Mary Kuwana all three times. When I went to make my appointments, Mary was sometimes booked up to 2 weeks in advance, but that wasn't a problem for me. When I had morning appointments, I was seen on time; for my one afternoon appointment, I was seen 20 minutes late, but I have found that to be typical for most afternoon medical/dental appointments so I wasnt bothered. I also did need to get there early as they requested, to fill out the new patient and later the well-woman exam paperwork.

I found everyone I dealt with pleasant and helpful, from the front desk staff, to Mary's medical assistant Sarah, to Sue in billing, to Mary herself. They all answered my questions either immediately or, if I had left phone messages, within 24 hours. Mary sat down to talk with me about my concerns and my results, when she had them, during our sessions. For instance, Mary went over what each of my blood test numbers meant with me, even though her staff had previously called to tell me the general results. Mary discussed what the mole removal and biopsy procedure would entail ahead of time and cautioned me to check my insurance coverage before this (and other routine procedures) so I wouldn't be surprised by the bill. I did call Sunshine's billing person, Sue, to get an estimate on the mole removal costs ahead of time and her cost estimate ended up being accurate. The mole removal went smoothly, biopsy results came back quickly and my skin appears to be healing up with no visible scarring so far. For the well woman exam, Mary talked me through the different parts of it as we went through it and everything went easily. I think Mary communicated a lot and she had some good suggestions for me. The only thing I did not expect, was that they do not do blood testing in-house, not even for a routine annual cholesterol screening, but they gave me written authorization to get it done and a list of several possible labs to go to. (It did go easily, quickly and professionally when I got the blood test done at the outside lab.) My mammagram was also done (very quickly and easily) at an outside lab, but I did expect that. Everything else they did in-house: Pap tests, overall physical exams, routine vaccinations, blood pressure checks, and mole removal.

July initial consult: positive; September nurse-practitioner visit: positive. Annual checkup: positive. The waiting room is pleasant as are the examining rooms. The staff is on top of things as far as I can tell--it's reassuring to have a human
being answer when you call, rather than a long menu and a long wait for someone to pick up. The phone menu gets you to a voice-mail box for renewing prescriptions that works; or to the medical assistant for your provider, who often just picks up. Better than my previous internist's larger practice: Sunflower is affiliated with Memorial, that one with Penrose-St. Francis, so neither of them is entirely on its own--but this practice seems more manageable and nicer to work with.

So far I am happy both with the office and my physician.

The office was a little behind due to the fact that they just learned one of their physicians had strep throat and couldn't see any of her patients that day or the next day so they were moving patients around and rescheduling who they could. This delay was understandable. I can't imagine having to move around and reschedule, or even trying to fit in patients of another physician's into your already booked schedule. The staff was friendly and helpful and apologetic for the wait. This was a special circumstance so I didn't give them too much grief about the slight wait. I've been going to Sunflower Family Medicine for about five years now and have never had any issues. Dr. Gina Bamberger is my primary care provider and she's always great and very helpful and a great listener. But the other physicians are great too and that's what I believe makes this place so great. Even if my primary care provider isn't available, I feel comfortable and trust in the other physicians to see whoever is available if I'm in an emergency situation.

.

She is okay.  She doesn't respond well to when I call her.  The staff never calls me back and that is my only problem with them.  She is very good when I can see her; but the problem is that when I call them for an appointment or call them about the test I have done, then they never call me back.  I have called them twice for something, and they have never called me back.  They are not good about returning phone calls.  Dr. Bamberger may not know that because she is not usually the one that has to call me back, but it is usually her staff.  She has great bedside manners.

Making an appointment with Sunflower is not easy as the main doctors, who are the ones worth going to (Dr. Bamberger and Dr. Carter) rarely work. It is not worth going to see the PA as they change all of the time. Once in, you will sit for awhile. Bamberger and Carter do a nice job, and since they are DOs, you feel like your getting a full look over and not just someone treating the symptoms. If you need follow up information, need to submit test results, or need to get a copy of your file, good luck! The office management is awful! They don't call back in a timely manner, they often don't have your chart, etc. If you are the world's most patient person, it is worth going to see Carter, but the headaches of their lack of office management are hard to overlook.

I saw a physician at this practice for deep fatigue for nearly a year, which was never appropriately treated; but within one month of seeing a new doctor, I was diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency and have never been better. Ironically, I would not have seen the new and better doctor if Sunflower had not 'fired me' as a patient for not agreeing that the cause of my fatigue was depression. They abruptly terminated me for noncompliance, refusing me the chance to have a meeting with my doctor to learn why; I was only told that I had not filled a prescription for an anti-depressant and did not have other advised tests. The staff person who relayed this to me seemed more worried that they would be caught in a file audit for not finding the reason for my problem; it seemed that I was a failure as a patient and they did not want the liability. The failure was their own incompetence. I asked to review my medical record and found it riddled with inaccuracies - stating I had not taken tests that I had, but the staff refused to look at evidence of my compliance. I am so glad now that I left Sunflower Family Practice to see my current doctor who is 200% better as a diagnostician and communicator. I was always cordial and my physician never revealed any dissatisfaction with me until the rude and sudden dismissal. I even asked a health advocate to approach them for me to learn why they did not want me, and she was refused as well. They could not get it right, and they were inexcusably dismissive and indifferent to my questions. Good riddance!

From the first time I went to see Dr. Bamberger, I knew I had found the ideal primary physician.  She had been referred to me by my primary physician in Denver when I moved here to Colorado Springs.  She takes the time to get to know you, understand your medical history, and (imagine this), actually listens!  I have been suffering with some health issues, and she has been very helpful and kind.  I even recommended Dr. Bamberger to my daughter, which shows how much confidence I have in her.  The staff is friendly and quick to respond.  All in all, I have been extremely pleased with the treatment I have received.

unknown

very bad!!!!