I have been going to Internal Medicine Associates of Rockdale for approximately 2.5 years. Recently during my last appointment they asked me to sign the notice of privacy practices which gives the doctors consent to release my medical information to anyone they choose to. After reading over their practices, they note the ways they may or may not use your medical information.

In their notice, it indicates that “you have the right to request that we restrict how we use protected health information about you and your treatment….” and they are not required to agree to this request but if reasonable, they would honor this agreement.

I have always requested to sign this form on a limited basis asking that doctors only share my information with my insurance carrier and any governmental agency if required by law. To date, all of the doctors have honored my request except Internal Medicine Associates of Rockdale. They would not see me unless I signed this form giving them blanket authorization to release my medical information.

Needless to say, I did not sign the form as I did not have any warm and fuzzy feeling about this office anyway so I requested my medical records. They told me it would take a week to prepare the records and asked if I wanted them mailed or if I wanted to pick them up. I told them I did not want my medical records mailed; again, I did not want my medical records in the hands of a stranger (the post office.) I asked them to call me and I would pick them up. With no regard for my request, they mailed the medical records anyway.

Just to note some additional reasons why I am in search of a new doctor: What medical office in this day and age do not give you a courtesy call to advise you of your appointment. I was scheduled an appointment almost one month out as the doctor was booked and vacationing this particular month. I thought that the appointment was on a Thursday but it was really on a Tuesday. Needless to say, I missed the appointment. I will give the office credit, they did not charge me for a missed appointment but I was disappointed that they would not even provide a courtesy call, especially when the appointment was scheduled one month earlier. I scheduled a 2nd appointment and again no courtesy call. This just isn’t a courtesy that is extended to their patients.

When I go to the office, there is always a long wait which I can never quite understand as the lobby is usually empty.

Finally, I do not find the staff to be very friendly or accommodating. They don’t even greet you when you walk in the door!

With this being said, there are plenty of doctors who would treat me as a valued patient with dignity and respect and I am off to find one! I should note, this is the office on Highway 138 in Conyers, I cannot speak for the other locations.