Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates

I have been visiting this office for years for annual eye check up and really no issues. This last time the front deck ladies were rude with no hello to me or an elderly couple next to me. In fact the receptionist told the couple that "she wasn't ready and still setting up". they only needed to sign the clipboard to put their name on it. The receptionist could have shown them clipboard. You don't need to be my best friend but a simple hello or welcome or good morning when ask to come to the front desk would be nice. When I commented that experience to the doctor he said "well there's nothing we can really do about that." What , wait ? You cannot do anything about it? Now I have tried to call first thing at 8 am to schedule an appointment, no one picked up and I left a message. No one called me back now its day 2 and 8am again no answer and told to left a message. Is no one working there to schedule appointments? Changing eye office now!!!!!! Update it’s now day 2 and it’s 3pm and still no call back from the office.

This office was amazing and so helpful! I saw Dr. Smearman and his med student, I believe Sarah was her name, and they were both amazing!! Every step was explained, I was called exactly at my appointment time and felt like I was listened to about my issues. I was also able to get an appointment fairly quickly after other places couldn’t see me for months.

I visited the bel air office & optical department. Staff & office were very nice. Unfortunately I had a very difficult time with communication to & from the optical department. I ordered 2 pairs of glasses. After 3 weeks of hearing nothing regarding when my glasses would be ready I tried to call for the information. I called everyday for a week. I would reach the Elkton optical department when I called they would then transfer me to the bel air office. Either my transfer yielded a busy signal or I could leave a message. I left several messages never receiving a return call. I finally had to drive to the bel air office to find out what was going on with my eye glass order which had now been place a month ago. Once there I was told no messages had been received and that this has been an ongoing problem for the optical department that has not been resolved for some time. I am not likely to return to this office since I've not experienced this type of poor communication elsewhere, nor have I waited a month for new glasses.

The doctors are great however the front desk is not. I have been calling to get my grandmother in, who is a patient there for a procedure that is needed. I have been told that her insurance is no longer in network with them. When speaking with the front desk, I asked if we could still have her seen there and we will be more than happy to self pay. The front desk person then told me that we cannot do that because of the insurance. I explained to her again that we would be self pay. She said that it was not an option. Not understanding why because the S&P would get getting our money in cash. Front desk was not very pleasant nor helpful.

The care I received was adequate but expensive. They have an outside group, athena health, doing their billing for them. I can not afford to pay an almost $400 bill all at once and have tried to make regular small payments and tried to contact this athena health to discuss. They are only open 8-4 Monday to Friday (when people have their own jobs to attend to), making it difficult if not impossible to reach them. I would call and sit on hold only to be told to leave a message, which is then not returned. I had to cancel a follow-up appointment with the doctor because of the expense and fear of adding to the debt. Seems this doctor's practice is just another one interested primarily in how much money they can get out of their patients and how fast.