Dr. Walter A Balon, MD

I enjoyed having him as my PCP for over ten years, until he retired. He's a good man, and thorough.

Have to wait over 1 1/2 hours every time.

The appointment took 6 weeks to get in. But the exam was the typical rush through questions, breath in and out, do blood pressure, get basic history for first exam. When I got the bill, found out that they coded the bill so that it would not be covered under my insurance as a routine annual physical -- so that I had to pay about $200! Also, non of the routine blood tests such as metabolites or lipid screen were covered, another $75. When I complained they would not change the billing. An expensive lesson to make sure that in the future the physician will agree up front to code the bill to pass through the insurance as covered preventive care.

that I should switch physicians. I was a patient of Dr. Balon for approximately two years. I'm very glad I am no longer seeing him. He seemed very preoccupied and his office staff was very unhappy.

Dr. Balon has been my personal doctor for20 years---As I have gotten older--I have experienced heart problems and other health issues. Dr Balon is very poor in giving advice or monitoring my health. I firmly believe my heart attack I had 2 years ago---should have been prevented--if Dr. Balon had taken "preventative steps". My family has a long history of heart problems on both my mother and father's side. Dr. Balon seems to have too many patients and too little time for each....a poor combination. My wife and myself are now looking for a new personal doctor---hate to do that after 20 years---but we are very concerned about the "poor service" we are getting. One additional comment---his nurse really needs a class in "listening and careing" I feel like a piece of meat at the zoo after talking with her on the phone...