Dr James J. Hershon, MD

I'm not sure what the experience was of the other commenter on Dr. Hershon. I saw him after having consulted another pulmonologist who was unable to help me, and found him smart and concerned, and good at follow-up.

I saw Dr. Hershon for my second appointment a few days ago. I'd had an initial visit when I chose him as my pulmonologist several months back. At the time my reaction was "Meh," but he really didn't do anything except take a history.This time I went in with some specific--and serious--issues. My asthma medication is suddenly not as effective as it should be, and I'm getting out of breath upon very little exertion. Scary!Also, I've gained some weight since being issued a CPAP machine for sleep apnea, so I strongly suspect the machine needs a setting adjustment. When I called to make this appointment, I was told that Dr. Hershon could determine my new CPAP setting at the visit and write a prescription for the equipment provider to make the adjustment.(Background: I'm about 80 lbs. overweight. I've been trying to lose the weight for quite a while with little success.)So I urgently needed:- help in breathing better ASAP!- a scrip for a CPAP adjustment.What did I get? A condescending… lecture about how I need to lose weight.The only "help" I received was the name and number of a colleague who conducts medically supervised weight-loss plans. I couldn't help but wonder if kickbacks are involved for any patient referrals.At one point, when I informed Dr. Hershon that I was quite aware that I needed to lose weight, thankyouverymuch, and had been trying without much luck, he looked at me and asked with all seriousness:"Have you tried diets?"Puh-leaze.Oh, and the CPAP adjustment. He was unable to test me for the new setting then and there, and when I told him his office staff had informed me otherwise, there was no apology whatsoever for the misinformation. All he did was hand me a slip authorizing yet another appointment at the sleep lab next door, for which I'd have to take yet more time off work and shell out the expensive copayment.Near the end of the appointment:Me: So I'm here with acute breathing problems, and you're telling me that I need to lose weight.Dr. Hershon: That's right.Me: I've already told you that I'm fully aware of that and I'm trying. So with that, and the asthma medications I'm on from my allergist, and the CPAP which probably needs this adjustment, is there ANYTHING else that you, a lung doctor, can suggest to help me breathe better until I manage to lose this weight?Dr. Hershon: No.So . . . rating for chairside manner? A big fat (no pun intended) ZERO.Rating for medical expertise? I wouldn't know. He did absolutely nothing to address the problems I came in for.Goodbye, Dr. Hershon. I'll take myself and my lungs to a doctor who can actually HELP me.