Abrams Public Health Center - Tucson, Arizona

Type-One

Dr. Matthew Hintzman was very attentive and answered all of my questions. I did not feel rushed like I have experienced at other clinics. The nurse and staff were also very friendly and professional.

Overall a very pleasant experience every time I go in for a check-up at El Rio.

D M

DO NOT I repeat DO NOT let Dr. Hadley or any other dr. talk you into going to their "pain management " that's in house. I was in between pain clinic and i let them talk me into going to the in house pain management so i could get back on my meds. Dr. Hadley RESCHEDULED 2 times on me! FINALLY saw me on the third appointment! Meanwhile, I had to get filler scripts that didn't even last to the next week, causing me to use up my insurance allowance for that medicine for the month. To which she tells me, " oh, well since you can't get this for the next 30DAYS!!!!! I want to try something else and let's see how that works!"
So, basically, she rescheduled me to purposefully run out my insurance allowance for my pain meds so she could give me something else that we don't even know if that'll work or not! SPOILER ALERT: THEY DIDN'T WORK!!!! Then she lies and tells me she's gonna put in for a stronger dose, but few times a day, but instead cuts my prescription in half! Making it even harder to perform my necessary duties at work. So currently my QUALITY OF LIFE IS EVEN WORST NOW, THAN IT WAS BEFORE SHE GOT INVOLVED!

Stephen Felando

This facility (like the vast majority in the USA) does everything in its power to be "cost effective" rather than address patients symptoms and concerns and prioritizes their well-being

Dr Karyn Kohlman, the Program Director of El Rio Health is a downright irresponsible human being and should not be an authoritative decision maker for El Rio Health or any other medical facility.

Here is why:

Though I exhibit every single symptom of Lyme Disease besides the notorious 'bulls eye rash'
Dr. Lai and Dr. Kohlman used their big doctor brains to explain to my peanut sized head explicitly that it's IMPOSSIBLE that I have Lyme disease because I haven't recently traveled to Massachusetts ...

Now I am not extensively knowledgable about Lyme disease so I did not have enough information to immediately push back on this completely flawed logic but literally ONE google search after my appointment puts every part of her thought process in to SERIOUS questioning

I grew up the majority of my life in Northern California, an environment (which you can verify with google,) Ticks AND Lyme Disease ARE EXTREMELY PREVALENT and a place where I FREQUENTLY worked outdoors...

The timeline of my symptoms directly aligns with my history in Northern California

Still, she completely ruled out Lyme's Disease by making a thoroughly FALSE assumption that I've never lived or grown up in an environment where Ticks and Lyme disease are typically found or prevalent

Now, we are in Tucson AZ, a place where ticks CANNOT survive, so it actually makes sense why Dr Kohlman initially was hesitant to think that this could indeed be Lyme disease, but this is just lazy assumption making on her part which is EXTREMELY dangerous

To immediately rule out Lyme's disease with one follow up question; "have you been to Massachusetts recently?"

Is completely insane and not a scientific approach to this matter whatsoever. It does not even cover half of the states where Ticks and Lyme disease frequent, nor is it by any means a conclusive factor that is required factor to dismiss Lyme disease as a diagnosis

Not to mention when I ask Dr Kolman and Dr Lai if either of them have a better idea of what is causing these symptoms they both are COMPLETELY SILENT and have no response to the question:

Do either of you have a better step forward to identify my symptoms or bring me closer to a diagnosis that makes more sense than Lyme's disease at this juncture

When I asked why they wouldn't give me the referral Dr Karyn Kolman the Program Director at El Rio told me to my face

"It's about cost efficiency"

Dr Lai: "Are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for the test?"

Me: I won't have to I have medicaid

Dr. Kohlman: SOMEBODY HAS TO

Me : I don't care. I would pay for it out of pocket if I must
I need to identify the causes of my symptoms

*COMPLETE SILENCE*

Now apparently they both somehow concluded that it was more probable that my symptoms were being caused by Neurological issues.

I explained that multiple doctors and a neuroscientist at the Tucson Center for Neurological Sciences both had expressed their doubt that it could be neurological after performing my EMG and brain MRI to effectively rule out MS and ALS as the cause

I had a similar experience with Dr. Kyle Bohan at this very same location, who denied me a referral for a test for TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) because after conducting a strength test, according to Dr. Bohan, he did not believe the issues I'm facing are NOT neurological and therefore WOULDN'T REFER ME

In other words, the DIRECT OPPOSITE conclusion Dr Karolyn came to, each both spending less than 5-10 minutes to make their extremely infallible final conclusion on the matter

Dr Kyle Bohan did not reply to a single detailed messages about my health concerns in the follow up and has not replied still MONTHS LATER

So in conclusion the doctors at this facility have actively prevented me from getting the treatment I need and deserve and should not be licensed

UPDATE: THE IGM/IGG LAB TEST I ASKED FOR WHICH DR.LAI CLAIMED COST HUNDREDS IS ONLY 159$

Suzanne Elliott

Wonderful place to get boosters. No screens or music, no appointment necessary, fast processing by friendly staff, injections usually (but not always) painless. Rooms very basic, with simple plastic chairs and linoleum floors, but clean and with plenty of natural light from large windows. Very low-stress environment overall. I bring my 90-year-old mom, who gets confused and agitated easily, and she's fine here.

Jeffrey Richards

Great place to vaccinate your kids for COVID. Always way fast - the nurses wear masks and since it's not really a clinic the waiting room isn't full of sick people. Easy access, free parking.

Kelly L

Went here for covid booster. No social distancing practiced. We all waited in chairs lined up 2 by 2 and were 22 inches apart. After the shot we sat in chairs that were mere inches apart lined up against the wall. People were friendly and helpful, however healthcare worker was in a hurry as her shift was ending and was very aggressive when administering the covid shot. The healthcare professional administering my husband's vaccine did a much better job. Overall not a horrible place but I won't return.

Cristina FrancoCarrillo

Awesome booster #2 experience. Signs were posted, easy walk in and booster given immediately!

Kristina grijalva

Extremely unprofessional waited two hours to be seen. Seen by three different people could not even get an answer had to go to the front desk for an actual dr to walk in.