Dr. Howard Randall Mertz, MD

I made my appointment with Dr. Mertz in hopes that he would potentially have some new answers for me with all of the struggles I have had with GI issues over the years. When his nurse/assistant took my weight and blood pressure, I made a joking comment that my weight and blood pressure were higher than usual, and she rudely told me “well, we can’t please everyone.” Before coming into the room, I heard him talking loudly about my BMI. As soon as he came in the room and saw a notification pop up on my phone, he asked right away if I was recording him. I should have taken that as a red flag right away. We worked through the medications and tests that I have had over the years. He asked to see my most recent gastric emptying studying report, and right away he dismissed the report as hard to interpret. He told me he took an hour going over all of my previous records that were hundreds of pages from one doctor. There is no way those records were that long because I have a copy of all… of those records myself. He made a comment on my citalopram dosage and about how low it was, and I told him that I was working to taper to a lower dose because it can cause Serotonin Syndrome if taken with Zofran. His only suggestion that he had was a low dose antidepressant that may potentially help my symptoms. I made it very clear to him that I was currently working with a psychiatrist to fix my mental health medication regimen and that other providers worked to find other classes of medication to help with whatever ailment I went to go see them for (outside of GI), and he would not budge. I had to tell him over and over that I was not willing to bust on taking a new antidepressant. He had no remorse and no empathy. I got really upset at the end and I told him I felt like I had wasted my time coming in, and he told me in response that he felt as though he wasted over an hour looking at my records. He then drilled me on where I was going to go next. If you are looking for a GI with good bedside manor that is willing to work with you to find a good solution, he is not it at all.

Very thorough and attentive.

Dr. Mertz told me I had cancer. He has no bedside manner. He told me I had cancer as he wheeled me off to surgery leaving my family going to the waiting room. He rudely told me. It doesn't change the fact that I have cancer, but his bed side manner was not great. I would never see him again, nor refer anyone to him.

I like Dr. Mertz but their office is unorganized and when you get a message on your phone regarding possible alarming test results and you call back at 8 am the next morning, you expect a call back by the end of the day explaining the results... right? Nope, not there, cause if its a Friday morning that you call.. apparently you will be forced to wait an entire weekend before you get a call back (if I even get that call) so now I get to wait all weekend and stress out about these results. Horrible unprofessional-ism...and completely unethical. You call the answering service and they are useless. Not happy about this AT ALL. Will be switching dr's.

After waiting 3 wks for appt with dr Mertz, b/c he's the "best" GI in town, I was extremely angry with the way I was treated. They had the nerve to ask me to arrive 30 min early for appt, and I did, only to wait another 2 hrs in the waiting room past the scheduled time of my appiontment. From listening to other patients also waiting, this was the norm, not an exception, everyone had been waiting an exceptionally long time. The lady at reception acted like it was a major inconvenience to check me in and was even more rude when I asked if there was a reason for the delay. After 2.5 hrs waiting I was finally called back to a patient room where I waited another 30 min. I finally decided enough was enough and told the nurse I was leaving. She just shrugged her shoulders. No apology or explanation for the wait. Again, clearly this happened often. I'd rather go to the 3rd or 4th "best" dr in town and be treated with respect than to ever deal with these people again. I WOULD NOT recommend… this doctor to ANYONE.

Dr Mertz recommended a colonoscopy for me. The appointment was made very easily and at a convenient time. I was at the facility for 2 hours in total. The office staff are superb. The nursing staff are a little standoffish at the start but warm up during your visit. Very satisfactory and much more economical than other places I viewed.

Loved this doctor and everything that went with my procedure.

totally misdiagnosed cancer