Dr. Laura Ann Johnson, MD

After our insurance changed, I had to switch providers. I selected Dr Johnson and oh boy what a mistake that’s been. As others have said, I’ve never had an exam that was so short and rushed. Last year I came to her with a concern about one of my breasts, SHE NEVER BOTHERED TO LOOK AT IT. Instead she simply said, it’s probably nothing, you’re perimenopausal, go get a mammogram. Got the mammogram. Fast forward a year, now things are looking and feeling stranger. After insisting that she look and listen to me, I went from a mammogram, to a biopsy, to now getting a diagnosis of cancer. Thank god the radiologist had made an appointment with a breast surgeon because that’s where I found out that I had cancer. Dr. Johnson’s office NEVER called to follow up even after I had left plenty of messages begging someone to please go over these results with me.

I have been getting an annual physical exam for close to 50 years and recently put her down as my primary physician; in my annual physical, I was dismayed al how little was done and how quickly it was over 5 - 10 minutes. I received my results in the mail and it made no sense to me. Perhaps the exam was, in my opinion and after 50 + years of these exams, was really a waste of my time as well as hers and the cost to my insurance provider; also, she may have thought that at my age it was not important to do more than just the minimum to satisfy an old man. I liked her personally and her friendliness, but I am going to find another physician who I hope will value my concerns and not write me off as "the walking dead". Her staff was excellent, my wait time was reasonable and it was easy to get an appointment. I just think Dr. Johnson just needs to spend more "quality time" with her patients. I am sure she is qualified but perhaps she sees too many patients in a day. Is that her choice or… the demands of the hospital?

I hadn't been for a general checkup in many years, maybe 10. I was surprised that my visit with Dr. Johnson was completed in less than 10 minutes. Every concern I touched on - nighttime acid reflux, mild joint pain, etc. - she immediately asked if I wanted a prescription. I try to avoid medications, and would have liked some discussion on other steps to try, possible side effects of medication or of continuing without them. Anything. But, there was none of that. I'm about 75 pounds overweight, which I realize, and she never mentioned the issues that might be causing as I age. I guess because I have good blood pressure, there were no concerns. Also, I had fasting blood work done, and when I got the results, I didn't really understand what I was looking at. I emailed her to ask if I could set another appointment to go over them, and received a couple lines back saying, "Your triglycerides are a little bit high-you should watch your diet closely (low-fat, low-cholesterol) and increase… the amount of exercise you get on a daily basis. Your other values are all normal." I don't know when I should re-test, I don't know what I should be doing to measure my fat and cholesterol intake, and what I should be aiming for. I can research that on the internet, but I expected to get that information from my doctor. Also, although she thinks my other values are normal, some of them seemed borderline high, according to the garbled information that came with the results, and again, I'm left uncertain as to what I'm supposed to do to get them closer to a healthy range. Dr. Johnson was very kind in person, but I really don't think she gave me good care. I won't be recommending her, or returning to her for further care.