Dr. John Lawrence Howard, MD

Awful experience at Hampton Roads ENT. Dr. John Howard is by far, the most unprofessional doctor I have ever come in contact with. Front desk and medical staff seem to have no knowledge of actual services performed in their office. Called to make an appointment for my child, told the woman who answered the phone that I had talked to my insurance company and they had given me HRENT's number but I still wasn't sure if this was the right place to be calling for what I was looking for. I explained our situation to her and she assured me that I was indeed calling the right place. She asked very few questions...just personal and insurance info and if there was a referring doctor to which I replied NO. We got to the appointment 15 minutes early then waited 30 minutes to be taken to a room. Once again I went over everything with the doctor's assistant. The assistant even chatted with me about her own experience as a child and how much better she felt after having the same services we thought… my child would be evaluated for once we saw the doctor. That alone was extremely bizarre considering what happened once Howard arrived in the room. Another 30 minutes goes by, Dr Howard walks through the door with no introduction and emphatically states that they DO NOT provide the services my child needs there. He was defensive, condescending and rude. Kept making excuses for the front desk staff. Even had the audacity to say the terminology I used while making the appt was confusing for them and they actually do something similar there but it's by referral only. In his words, "The front desk staff aren't doctors so how would they know we don't provide that service here?" and "I would have made your appointment myself if I had talked to you over the phone!" Whaaaat???? But you just said those appts were by referral only and I had no referral. And apparently, the patient is required to have some type of medical experience when they call his office for an appt because otherwise you may confuse his staff and possibly even Dr Howard with your words! Make it make sense! The whole situation was embarrassing and troubling. Dr. Howard did a great job of making not only me, but my child feel as if we were somehow at fault for what had occurred. When we left my child asked if we had done something wrong because the doctor was upset with us. What a horrible man.

I was a new patient and was warmly greeted by the lady at the front desk, and on to the medical assistant, quickly followed by Dr Howard. He was engaging, efficient in his exam and thorough in explaining his findings.

The staff and office were very professional and courteous, but Dr. Howard is absolutely awful. I have only written good reviews on vitals.com before this doctor. He spent exactly three minutes with me, misdiagnosed me (family practice doctor figured out the real, easily treatable, illness), and was rushing me from the moment he entered the room. His "exam" consisted of looking in my ears, nose, and throat for literally a second each. Completely brushed me off and diagnosed me based on a one minute exam. I have never felt like I should get my money back from a doctor in my life until now. I was in his care for three minutes and he billed the insurance over $300 for his misdiagnosis and apathy. Terrible doctor to say the least.

He is so good with kids. An amazing dr. Only one who cares