Dr. Joe Philip Rouse, MD

I think Dr Rouse is outstanding. He is efficient and very, very knowledgeable. I have always been highly satisified and I have been his patient for 11 years.

I have been a patient ever since he opened for practice. You always know where you stand. He is straight forward and does not hesitate to refer if it is needed. He is caring but does not hover. I cannot conceive going to another GP.

I'd heard Dr. Rouse was "direct" with no bedside manner, so I was ready for that. In fact, I wanted to like him. But my visit was just plain weird. Main issue is he talks at you, not to you, so he asks no general questions up front to understand your condition or concerns. I think he knows his stuff because he explained some things that were new to me, and he set up a referral promptly. But I never had 20 seconds to tell him the three things I was concerned about so we could get through them quickly. Instead, I had to interrupt him repeatedly to tell him what was going on. I even had to interrupt him to tell him he was checking me for the wrong cancer! Dr. Rouse told me he's computer illiterate and that's why he had to leave the room to go enter my info into a computer in another room that he admitted he's not good at using. I sat there for 10-15 minutes, not knowing if he'd come back. When he did return, I had to interrupt him again to tell him yes, there was another issue I… needed to discuss - a serious issue. He seemed genuinely annoyed at that. Finally, he ended the appt. abruptly, telling me I'd been there an excess amount of time. I almost laughed. Honestly don't think he realizes how much of the patient's time he wastes because he can't bring a computer into the room. Or how much time it might save to just ask up front why someone is there. Final straw: The next day I got a call from the doctor he referred me to for the scan I need. The paperwork Dr. Rouse sent them was confusing and listed both the correct cancer AND the wrong cancer again! Unbelievable. I'd say if you have one easy issue that doesn't need discussion, or you just need a referral he's probably a good choice. But if you're dealing with something serious or complex, find another doctor.

Dr Rouse is one of the MOST Uncaring Doctors I ever seen. I went to him with all Over Body pain Asked his if He could Due some blood tests for Lymes Disease or Thyroid Tests Because I am Over weight. Have a family History of Cancer,, CHF, COPD and other things To find Out Why I hurt all the time, Why I am Not sleeping, And Have stomach pain over my Liver. He came into the Room shook my hand. Said he would examine me he touched the back of my neck, between my shoulder blades, and above my hips Diagnosed Fibromyalgia and gave me samples never explained them or anything was in the room 10 minutes tops. His Nurse came in and was as rude as could be. I was told to come back in 2 weeks. On Return I told the doctor the meds made me sick and was told I have to take them 30 days before I could Know I would be sick from them. Made him mad so he put me on more samples and come back in 3 weeks same complaint told to take them anyway, He ordered a Colonscopy and I was never called about Results or… to Return to the office for Results. He is the worst Doctor I ever seen.

At his International Travel Immunizations Clinic, I was told from the start the clinic does not file insurance claims. I thought, "OK, I will self-file with my insurance co." I got travel vaccines along with some other past-due and needed vaccines as well. Hundreds of dollars later I found out from the hostile office assistant that the clinic does not have the standard diagnostic codes that insurers require. Seemed a simple request that a medical provider could answer. NOT! Had I known that going to this clinic would make it impossible for me to SELF-file with my insurance for the expensive additional vaccines, I would have gone elsewhere. Two weeks have passed since I sent the Dr. a friendly letter explaining the problem and asking kindly for the vaccine "diagnostic codes" so that I could file for my own self. No reply. Nada. Zip. I have since been told that it costs money for health care providers to get the publication of diagnostic codes for their area of practice. Looks… like not filing insurance claims is not the only place this doc/clinic corners....

Dr Rouse is very thorough and knowledgable. I get an appt easily and get treated with respect. I am confident that my doctor and his staff will answer all of my questions and will take care of my needs.

Dr. Rouse is retired military. His humor and bedside manner are a bit dry, and he's often very businesslike. His staff is very good, and they are very particular about making sure that everything is taken care of. They also work with a wide variety of insurance carriers, and I've seen them devote considerable time to figuring out how to get a patient the care they need, when the insurance company makes it overly complicated or difficult.

great care over many years for service

I have (had, I should say, finally switched) used Dr Rouse for about five years. My wife was also a patient of his. He is a good Dr, but his staff is horrible, unprofessional, rude, and lacks the ability to follow up on routine things. I had two large problems with them getting test results for rather scary issues and sitting on them, requiring me to call them several times to get results, and then getting attitude from them. Once, they actually had an office admin person, not a medical professional, call me to tell me my test results. She had no idea what she was talking about, couldnt answer any of my questions, I could hear someone in the background coaching her on what to say, then when I asked her to please have someone call me that could answer my questions she yelled "FINE!" and hung up the phone on me. The other issue was similar, and finally pushed me over the edge to just go get another Doctor.

I've been with Dr rouse for 25 yrs. he has always been kind and caring and takes time to visit and evaluate all aspects of an illness. He is usually on time except when there is an emergency at one of the hospitals. I have seen medicine promotionalists waiting to see him several times and they usually have to wait until he sees his patients first.