Dr. Henry B Byrum Jr, MD

Several times I have been to Dr Byrum, and he is definately of the old school practice sort. He jots everything down in his little palm sized notebook as he talks to you. The diagnosic equipment in his practice is ancient, but I guess if it works....why not. My biggest problem is his lack of follow through, and that translates to his staff as well. If you’re expecting a letter of referral, plan on calling to remind them. If you’re expecting meds to be called in, plan on calling to remind them. If you need blood work, plan on calling to remind them to send you the paperwork. It wasn’t until I had an emergency that I really got upset, and it was because they dropped the ball. So, while everyone is nice there in the office, ultimately we are all there for medical purposes. To the Dr and his staff: Please step it up on your follow-through protocol.

Dr. Byrum is very knowledgeable, professional and compassionate. His nursing staff are caring and professional. They are the exception to what I have experienced.

Being a Passport insurance patient as well as a patient that has multiple health problems, this doctor is one of 3 doctors that seems to truely care about me as a patient and for a change has not been in the profession so,long that he just wheels you in and wheels you out.If you have Passport as your primary insurance, I should not have to explain how most physicians, doctors or specialists...do not give you or care about the quality of healthcare you receive from them since you are on "the system"! I have had only 3 physicians, one being Dr. Byrum. Also the pediatrician I chose to care for my daughters and my obgyn as well as my last PCP, who now only does emergency care. I am 32 yrs old and with having so many health problems and past surgeries that bagan when i was just 3 months away from my 18th birthday. I was referred by my boyfriend, to the doctors at Norton Commuity Fincastle. He sees Dr. Loewle but has good insurance. So, while very nervous about meeting yet, another doctor… that would probably not care( sadly but true because of only receiving half the money that they would get from from Passport compared to a regular insurance company) or worse yet, label and/or catogorized me. With this kind of insurance in MOST doctors eyes, you are only 1 step up from having no insurance.Anyway...The staff is wonderfull and excellent when it comes to being professional as well as very empathetic to your concerns. They treat you almost as if you were a family member. Extremely patient and kind! And on top of that, very punctual when it comes to getting paperwork faxed, calls to your insurance company, or previous doctors about records etc, they make it as easy on the patient as possible and everyone on the staff does their job and then some! Which however, with "our" ever changing healthcare, is what we need today and in our future...the way it should have been even in the years past! I know this is long but this team of physicians and staff needs a double thumbs up! Especially Whitney, in scheduling. For without an excellent staff, heading the physicans might lose patients! As soon as you walk in you feel at ease and they don't hand you a huge stack of paperwork to sit and fill out. Providing a very comfortable enviroment. The nurses that work for the doctors and medical assistants are very nice and seem concerned and empatheic, however, kinda rushed but i guess that is to be expected in a good and busy practice. Dr. Byrum was extremely patient with me while appearing to get a very accurate medical history...this is was not expected...for as I was prepared to answer just 3 or 4 questions and sent out...how wrong I was! He was friendly and spoke with a soft, genuine, kind, concerned, and professional tone and did not at all seem to be rushed to get on to the next patient. I guess I just assumed he would be rushed, as I didn't like it, but...that is what i had been used too when it comes to doctors and my Passport insurance. I think I actually mentioned to him that i wasn't used to someone taking an accurate medical history and not talking to me like I was an idiot, lol. I am very soft spoken too and he unlike anyone including my famliy has trouble hearing me. That also has made it hard for doctors to take me with any kind of seriousness or be concerning. Like all good, accurate and patient friendly doctors...he was booked all the way to April, and i was calling in December'09 to have him as my new PCP as of February'10. Well, thanks to the awesome staff and Whitney, just kept checking every now and then to see if there was a cancelation, so I could be seen earlier. The 1st try was in April, 2nd was May, then the 3rd try was the 25th of feb and finally got me in on the 1st of Feb. If you have to receive medical attention due to multiple problems alot...then you must understand that most offices do not go to this extent or jump through hoops to care for new or even their own patients. I don't think I gould give a number rating on this particular group of docors as the number would be off the charts. We need more medical care out there like the physicians and staff of Norton Fincastle practices! It has been the lack of concern, promptness, just guessing a diagnosis, labeling, catogorizing, caring, suggesting what ever the new fad disease or latest medical problem is, rather than spend those extra few minutes to figure out the problem, rushed diagnosing and professionalism, as well as empathetic medical treatment, that I had received with other doctors in the past...up until I met the fincastle group, that made me want to become a nurse...and I hope to be everything that they are and practice someday. :D With all of the current and upcoming medical problems that our present and our future bring us...WE need more doctors like this! After all that is what they go to school for...right??? To try to solve, treat and care for patients who depend on them to be given the best healthcare that can be provided. I would recommend Dr. Byrum and all other physicians in the Norton Fincastle group to anyone...especially those of you, that have had trouble in the past with getting the proper healthcare accurate exammaning and diagnosing that you or anyone else that you know or care about deserves. Lots of thumbs up!!!!! :D :D :D

Dr. Byrum has always made an effort to be patient-friendly yet maintain professionalism. I recommend him highly.