Anne C. Epstein, MD

"At first she appears like a great physician that collects the ' "Whole story" of an illness, but eventually there are no useful suggestions. She blamed my pain on unresolved mommy/daddy issues and told me unless I removed the boundaries my counselor and I had put in place to keep my emotional self safe, I would be in life long pain. A few months later a Rheumatologist diagnosed me with fibromyalgia, started mild meds, and I have felt 100x better for years now. They didn't have an online portal so I couldn't see my chart unless I wanted to pay $5 a page which is crazy and against patients rights. Seems fishy to me and makes me wonder what she is writing in my chart even more. Overall would NOT recommend this physician."

"In response to another post, Dr. Epstein most definitely does have a patient portal system. Dr. Epstein is the most thorough physician I have ever met. Even other physicians in town who studied under her in medical school describe her as the most detail-oriented physician/faculty. I have had other physicians (radiologist, orthopaedic surgeon, etc.) make mistakes which shocked Anne Epstein. She was appalled that a doctor would be so nonchalant when reading an X-ray that he failed to see a broken bone. I also find it very difficult to believe that a member of Dr. Epstein's staff would tell a patient that her test result was indicative of cancer. Only the doctor herself would have the authority to do that. As far as visits being tedious or stressful, that can be quite true. However, the reason is the extreme attention to even the most minute detail of your care. I do not go to a physician for a social experience. So, if your PCP is not getting to the cause of a problem, Dr. Epstein will do so. She will identify a problem, define it, and search for every possible cure. That is the kind of PCP I want on my side."

"Very thorough exams, takes her time with you and makes sure you understand everything. Best doctor overall."

"I was a patient of Dr. Epstein for a little over three years. My first impressions were very positive. Although I had never had a physical that lasted four hours, I thought she was being thorough. Over time, however, I realized that I was beginning to dread my interactions with her. A couple of years ago she made me do a blood test that is no longer used for women of my age, and then I received a call from her office—while I was out of state—that the result was abnormal and I needed to immediately see a doctor because I might have cancer. I lived in fear for two days until I was able to see an oncologist with 30+ years of experience who helped me feel reassured that I do not have cancer. He said the test she had ordered often produces false positives in premenopausal women, and referred me for genetic testing. As a result, I learned something very useful and potentially life-saving about my genetic predispositions. Dr. Epstein repeatedly dismissed the results of my genetic testing, lost them a couple of times, knew little about the particular finding of the genetic test, and also refused to believe that the blood test she had ordered was no longer used preventatively. She repeatedly requested a letter from the out-of-state oncologist who had told me the blood test is no longer used. A quick Google Scholar search easily confirms what he told me, but she doesn’t like it when patients read recently published medical research that contradicts what she says. Dr. Epstein finally dropped that issue and referred me to an appropriate specialist, based on my genetic testing results, but it was a difficult experience. I felt more and more uncomfortable in her presence. By the way, her staff (Bertha and Madeline) are just awesome—very kind and understanding. I remained Dr. Epstein’s patient for a while in part because I very much liked the professionalism of her staff. More recently, we had a disagreement over another blood test. There was an abnormal result, which appeared in red on her computer screen. She was of the opinion that it’s not really abnormal because it’s in a low range. I asked, “But doesn’t it appear in red?” She facepalmed, rolled her eyes, and then crossed her eyes. I was quite unpleasantly surprised by this reaction. Apparently, I wasn’t allowed to ask. I had already noticed that I, being the patient in the room, was discouraged to speak unless she spoke first. If I spoke, her response would be less than polite. Sometimes, she would type on her computer for 2-3 minutes without saying anything or making eye contact, and we would just sit there in silence. This is an awkward pattern of social interaction by any cultural standard. In the end, as I repeatedly thought about her facepalming and crossing her eyes because I had dared to ask a question, I decided it was time to find a new PCP. Dr. Epstein may be very thorough (though a bit over-reliant on diagnostic software), but her social interactions cross the line of respect and politeness. I should add that Dr. Epstein’s office has no working patient portal and does not accept debit or credit cards — only cash and checks. You also don’t get any appointment reminders via phone or text or email, or any means of 21st-century communication. Instead, you get an appointment card in the mail about one-two weeks in advance."

"I’ve never had a doctor as thorough and in-depth as Dr. Epstein. She listened to my every question and concern, and was certain she had all the necessary information. Her standard of care is unheard of. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Overall an excellent practice."