This office was pleasant enough during my previous visits, but when I was recently laid off and needed to pay cash for an appointment, the office staff were noticeably colder to me. My 5-minute visit with a nurse practitioner for a standard prescription refill was somehow an "expanded" $200 visit, and this time I wasn't given any refills on prescriptions for long-standing conditions that I normally receive refills for. I guess a temporary blip in my employment history means I don't merit the same care standards as I did before.
I won't be returning under my new insurance provider now that I know they only see patients as cash cows and are willing to hold people's prescriptions hostage in order to book multiple appointments. They also told my family member with Obamacare that he'd have to wait a year for an appointment, so I'd just prefer to find a provider that treats all people like people.
Dr. Aurand is a Godsend! She is kind, understanding, and knowledgeable. I'm overweight, but she focuses on my overall health instead of blaming everything on my weight. She's helped me get past the stigma and focus on what matters: being a healthy person, eating good food, and keeping my body moving.
I also deal with mental health challenges and former abuse, and her personality and respect of my boundaries are helping me to grow stronger and feel safe in her office when I've always distrusted doctors. Talk with her kindly and honestly, and she'll treat you with respect and dignity.
I recommend her to everyone, but especially those who've had traumatizing experiences with doctors in the past.
