Dr. Deborah Ann Ballard

In a regretted rush before making my first and only appointment, instead of seeking online reviews about Dr. Ballard or any doctors at Duke Integrative Medicine, I had decided she must be sufficiently reputable, being affiliated with Duke. I was sorely mistaken. Ballard missed pertinent information in my medical history and made many erroneous and presumptuous assumptions instead of listening actively or asking appropriate, probative questions. Conversely, the specialists I'd recently consulted were thoroughly competent in familiarizing themselves with the same MyChart history while also striking a lovely balance between being professional and personable, learned and friendly. Among other infractions, Ballard imposed on me unbidden advice about how my grief therapist should stop delving into my past (an unfounded, erroneous assumption) and instead start developing plans with me to create a happy future (which we were already doing). Also, Ballard told me my chest x-ray from three… months earlier showed concerning issues, which is contrary to what my top-notch primary doctor and otolaryngologist had shared with me. Ballard wanted me to get yet another chest x-ray so she could determine what she should look for when requesting a more probative CT scan. (We already had a recent chest x-ray, and I doubted my health insurance company would blithely finance another one so soon.) Ballard also proceeded to order blood tests that had already been conducted within the last two months. I had to point it out to her and then have her cancel those orders. In addition to these and other presumptuous remarks and behaviors, I found her extremely self-centered and completely without bedside manner in both her initial greeting and departing remarks, the latter of which was remarkably cold and unceremonious. Worse yet, as part of her initial greeting, when she was keenly focused on accentuating her title as "doctor," she remarked that I certainly had quite a few things going on in a manner that made me feel like she was chastising me. The overall experience was worse than a waste of time; it was harmful. To quote a fictitious radio psychiatrist, "...and with a grateful shudder, I swore I'd never return to Nightmare Inn."

If the medical community had a red light district, this doctor would be the first one standing on the corner. She has prostituted her profession and accepts payoffs from companies and their attorneys to find "no problem" with their employees Workers Comp injuries. Really, she is a deplorable human being, and is unfortunately coveted by the Kentucky Labor Board Dept of Workers Claims (Workers Comp). Whatever lies she pens on her bogus medical examination reports, is considered "gold" by the Workers Comp administrative law judges (political appointees- not real judges). The public expects corrupt, sleazy attorneys now and then, but to see this doctor and ALJ's of the Kentucky Workers Comp system collude and cheat patients out of medical care, is disgusting. Read all the other reviews you find on her, and if your company sends you to her, so your work injury can be "treated" - you should lawyer up in a hurry. She will lie, remove previous facts about your medical history from her… report and then send it back to your company's attorney and their lawyer. And the scumbags Administrative Law Judges in Frankfort Kentucky will ignore everything else in order to cheat you out of your work injury coverage. What Kentucky Workers Comp and Dr. Ballard do to patients is criminal. She's a liar and a criminal.

She is worthless---a total waste of my time and money.I had an infection in my mouth and she told me to "pull oil". A real doctor prescribed a medication that cleared it up quickly.

I saw Dr. Ballard twice and I did not feel confident that she could help me with my digestive system issues. I am getting advanced care with a specialist now, however, I felt she did not have the time to offer quality time to my needs. The staff was not very freindly and I did not feel at ease in her office.

Dr. Ballard takes the time to really listen to you and is not so tightly scheduled that you feel rushed. She is willing to be your partner, not your dictator, which is so unusual in Western physicians. She believes in holistic care and is not a med pusher, which I really like. She is super smart and very personable. I feel very lucky to be treated by such a skilled and caring doctor.

they had a computer issue the day i was there or my wait would not have been 40 minutes. My old dr if you made an apt at 3 you may get in to see her at 6 and this was EVERY TIME, i liked her but not a 3 hr wait everytime you went to see her had to leave really like Dr. Ballard very personable.