Dr. Edward Gage Merzig, MD

He has x-ray equipment in his office so be prepared to have MANY x-rays taken. If you refuse these x-rays you will be dropped as a patient immediately

Intitally Dr Merzig camehighly recommneded to me by friends. They both have RA andare very happy with him. Apparently, things have changed. It seems that there are no realset hours of operation. I was told that there were monday hours, and arrived formy appointment greetedby a dark office with a receptionst telling me "we are not open today, it says here you cancelled this appointment". I did not cancel the appointment, so I set another one in June. Mind you this is now a month and a half from my 2nd appointment with him. I am in excruciating pain. I have no clear diagnosis, no meds and now I have to wait 3 more weeks to get in again. I have called 4 times and left messages for him, and he has not returned one single phone call. He did not order all the proper tests and made me as my PCP to order a test, rather than him do it himself, delaying that test a week. The x ray technician was rude and seemed incompetent while she was taking xrays of my knees and back. I was… walking with a walker at the time and could not lay oin my back like shewanted me to do, and she paced and mumbled like a crazy person. I suggested that she take the film while I stand, and she mumbled again and said "fine". She was not able to get a film of my back. It is not ok to have someone who does not know how to use the equipment or how to interact with humans doing a job like that. The reception staff is rude and both I have met are ding-dongs. Overall, I would avoid this doctor.

This doctor is condescending and downright rude during appointments. He does not take time to answer questions about my condition or drugs he is prescribing me, and seemed irritated if I asked to be educated on the big-time immuno-suppressing samples of Humira he wanted to inject me with. He demanded to see me every 6 weeks for a newly-diagnosed arthritis condition, and after spending nearly $2300.00 of my own money on labs and appointments with him, he seems to find every excuse not to refill my prescription. He put me on a RX called Arava for my damaged joints and said not to miss a single dose, but when I need a refill of the medication, he makes me get a liver function test. This is understandable, but when he calls to say my liver is fine and I can continue the med, he doesn't give me a new prescription. It is maddening. Then I have to ply phone tag for 9 days with his front desk. He seems offended and concerned with punishing me for asking questions about his diagnosis, and… doesn't mind if I'm suffering while he slooooowly waits for lab results. I have no confidence that this doctor is concerned AT ALL with my health or care. His office seems to have no set hours of operation, and his 2 front desk employees are completely incompetent and rude. They say they will call right back, then don't. Totally unprofessional. Do not waste your time or money here. They have an office on Everett Rd in Albany, Ny. Avoid it.

I would highly recommend Dr. Merzig, he is very detailed and cares about his patients. I was impressed with the ease of scheduling appointments and literally zero wait time.

Great Doctor!! Diagnosed my problem quickly. Very, very thorough and very professional. Explained things to me so I could understand. When I questioned a drug because I didn't know anything about it, he replied that he would NEVER prescribe anything he thought would hurt a patient, that he 'had to sleep at night,' so he would not prescribe anything recklessly. Love him! People seem to judge him on his personality (he is quiet and very professional), but he DOES have a good personality and he KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING and that's most important to me! He has a patient for life - me!!

At the recommendation of my orthopedic dr, I saw Dr. Merzig for 9 months for rheumatoid arthritis, and pain continued. I was told that meds took 6-12 months before I would see results. After 9 months I went to a new orthopedic dr and found I had 2 severely torn meniscus in each knee and needed surgery. Also found that it was Osteoarthritis and not rheumatiod arthritis. If I was diagnosised correctly, I could have saved myself 9 months of pain and further damage.

He was arrogant at times. I saw that his diagnosis was wrong from medical records. Did not listen clearly to what I was saying to past history and symptoms.

I've had approximately 12-15 appointments with him since 2007. Go to him if you like your doctors to be as unpredictable and moody as a pregnant woman. Some of his actions/decisions truly left me scratching my head! It's easy to see why he has a sole practice--he can't play nice with others. I've changed to a new large group of rheumatologists after 3 years. Finally, there's competition in the Albany area!!! YAY!

I barely get time to sit down in the waiting room. They seems to schedule appointments so that there is practically no wait time. It's refreshing!

Thorough, meticulous attention to detail, copious notes organized on laptop for retrieval at each visit, systematic individualized treatment approach, insists on patience and adequate time trial for treatments (some take months to determine effectiveness)where others may give up too soon and quit before the medication "kicks in". Practices the antithesis of scatter-shot treatment. This is for those who need a life long approach - no quick fix as for treating strep. Accepts that patients may have disease in absence of positive blood indicators and treats and makes decisions based on extensive comprehensive physical and lab evaluations. Always on schedule. I can now perform everyday tasks as I could not before when working with other doctors.