Dr. Melanie Kates, MD

I'm 72 years old and Dr Melanie Kates has been my primary care physician for about five years. I believe I am receivng the best primary care that I've had in my life. Dr. Kates is well organized and shows a determination to fully understand my health, follows through to conclusions when there are questions, and I believe I'm benefiting from her years of experience and practice. She and I are both very direct, to the point and professional in our discussions. I generally see her at six-month intervals; before I leave the office, she has already thought ahead to my next appointment and placed orders for lab tests. I get the tests done two or three weeks ahead of my next visit and that visit starts off with up to date data from the lab.

She is extremely cold and unfriendly and has no respect for the patient's knowledge of their own health and wellbeing; she dismisses your health concerns and input before you're able to get a sentence out. She prescribes questionable medications that are not indicated for the ailment that you are suffering from, which calls into question her ability to follow best-practices. You owe it to yourself to find a doctor who practices patient-centered care.

I have had zero prior experience with primary care physicians and health insurance. Had not been to the doctor in over a decade. I was very nervous, but also excited to finally feel like I was taking control of my life and not letting the medical industry scare me away from getting the care I need. She felt cold and impersonal to me. I understand that health care workers are being heavily relied upon in these times, but Dr. Kates made me feel helpless and confused. She diagnosed me with a certain hernia all while typing away and not looking at me. Did not explain much about the diagnosis and then told me to come back in a month after I did blood work and she was gone. I went to the lab only to see that she had ordered 16 tests she never told me about (neglecting to mention a lot of them had 12 hour fasting periods). She was cold and indifferent and if my next visit goes poorly I will be leaving her care.

I gave Dr. Kates several chances as I had hoped we had just not started off on the right foot. Despite being young and healthy with zero complaints, I felt that Dr. Kates was digging way too deeply to find something wrong with me. She doesn't have the best bedside manner which can be forgiven but I was very turned off by being misdiagnosed for more than one issue. I won't be going back.

This "doctor" annihilated my life when I was transferred to her, and she didn't "believe" in the medications I was taking. Thankfully, I'm seeing an actual doctor now. Someone who practices medicine, and not faith healing. I would leave well enough alone, except she did the exact same thing, with the exact same words, to someone very dear to me. We'll all recover, but Melanie was a major roadblock.

I have a complicated medical history and when I first met her, she had thoroughly read my history and was very informed about my condition. This almost never happens. She's smart and thoughtful. She listens. I trust her. Satisfied patient.

She has poor patient interaction skills and spends all her time reading and tapping into the computer. Doesn’t listen and is big on recommending vitamins when what you need is blood work and scans. I left.

Not a friendly, warm, caring doctor from my experience. Wanted to take complete control and change everything my previous doctor, who retired, recommended. Didn’t care about my opinion or feedback. Needless to say after the first visit I changed doctors ! Not a good first impression on a potential patient .

New to the area - trying to identify new local physician. Don't find her warm,engaging or empathetic. Looked at chart and was somewhat critical of prior physician care. Not a great way to start a new patient relationship. Could spend more time talking with and looking at patients versus typing the whole time you are sitting with her for the appt. No connection which is important for me with my primary care physician.