Cortland Family Practice Health Center - Family Health Network of Central New York, Inc. - Cortland (NY)

1 /5 Isabel Torres: Was a patient here for around 10 years, decided to stay after Dr. Ahmad left (bless him) This place has hit rock bottom. I was constantly told to lose weight at each of my appointments, but when I tried to tell them I was working on it and seeing no results and wanted to try medication, they refused saying I didn’t try hard enough and told me my insurance wouldn’t cover it anyway. Then they referred me to a diet clinic that doesn’t even take my insurance! My psych provider then sent them a certified letter regarding his concerns over my high blood pressure, and they never spoke to him or even called to let me know that they were referring me to yet another diet clinic. You know, instead of setting up an appointment or getting me a prescription for high blood pressure medication?? These people were obsessed with my weight but when it came to any actual health concerns they were radio silent. They didn’t even respect my other provider enough to grace him with a response. That’s not even mentioning the fact that the nurses here are often extremely rude. It’s like they’re actively hostile to their patients for some reason. Anyone still going here needs to get out ASAP, anyone looking to change practices to here needs to run far away. You are literally not going to receive the care you need here, go somewhere else. I finally did and I never knew how easy it could be to meet my health goals when I could find a provider that actually cared about my wellbeing.

1 /5 FLEDGE 444: My experience here has been completely awful across the board. Im in the process now of finding a new health care provider because having to jump through hoops to get my prescriptions filled has become ridiculous. Theres a list of other issues Ive had there but I will spare you the details. One of the nurse practitioners there is very inappropriate and has zero manners. "Horrible" is the only word that comes to mind with this place.

1 /5 Mikayla: WORST is doctors office I have ever been to. My son‘s pediatrician recently moved to this office. This was my first and only experience at the office. My sons appointment was at 8:30. He only had to get one shot. I was the first and only person there. After 40 minutes of waiting in the waiting room, I asked the front desk what was taking so long. They told me they were confused as to why I was waiting so long as well and went to look for a nurse, couldn’t find anyone. Finally, after waiting over an hour, the nurse called us back and when I made a comment about being the only one there and having to wait over an hour first thing in the morning, she never once apologized for my wait time and told me she was the only one there (as in any drs or nurses). My son’s next appointment isn’t for another 10 months and weekly I get automatic calls saying the appointment has been changed or canceled. I can NEVER get anyone on the phone. Not happy at all with this office.

1 /5 Barbara Cahill: I was at patient for years at the Cortland, NY office of Family Health Network. My health care provider was Nikkie S. Strauf N.P. In mid-November I started to experience some major health issues and I repeatedly attempted to get a “sick appointment” with Nikkie. After I was unable to get an appointment to see her I sent her several messages through my patient portal. The only response I got was from a nurse telling me I needed to schedule an appointment with Nikkie. I responded that I was unable to get an appointment and would like to talk to NIkkie personally. I never received a message back via the patient portal. Due to the fact that I was unable to get in contact with my primary healthcare provider I had to go to the Emergency Department looking for help. From late November to mid-December I had to go to the ER 3 separate times for help. One of the ER physicians contacted FHN and by phone requested an appointment for me, which they also ignored. Two more Emergency Department requests for me to see my primary fell on deaf ears. As of today, I still have not seen or been contacted by this office. This level of indifference displayed by a medical provider for a patient is absolutely disgusting as well as dangerous. I am sharing my story of medical abuse and neglect to hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else. This is truly repulsive to see someone who chose to care for others abandon a patient when they need care the most.

1 /5 Michelle82603: Where do I even begin? First and foremost you have to at least put one star, but this place is in the negatives. I came here back in Dec 2023 with some medical issues. I was seen by Dr. Lukawski. I was given a urine test before seeing him. He walks in the room saying I have a bladder infection. Great, we know what it is. I was a little caught off guard as I was having zero symptoms of any type of UTI except for my kidneys hurting a little. So, naturally I wanted to have a conversation about it. As I start asking questions, I stated to him that my kidneys hurt. His reply? "No they dont, you dont even know where your kidneys are." Um, ok. Any way, he said "You can take this medicine or not." So I say ok Ill take it. He just gets up and walks out of the room. Said NOTHING. So, Im sitting there for several minutes wondering are we done with the appointment? So I peek my head out the door and look around. He is at the end of the hall at the counter talking to what Im assuming is a nurse. I ask if we are done. They both come down to the door to the room I was in. He proceeds to tell me they cannot let me leave. (Because I mentioned I passed out a week prior.) They are both physically standing in the doorway not letting me leave. Obviously I let them know they cannot physically keep me there. And unless they were willing to drive me and my car home, I am leaving. By this time I am absolutely mortified at this "doctors" behavior and they way he talked to me I am in full blown tears. He even told me they wont be doing any bloodwork that was ordered as there is no time for it. It was the end of the day. Anyway, luckily as Im bawling my eyes out walking down the hallway to leave, a friend of mine who works there asked what was wrong. I let her know and she pulled me to a room and ordered the bloodwork done. Fast forward to some days later. I am taking this medication he prescribed. I am having some crazy allergic reaction to it. I call in to speak to a nurse. I explained in detail what was going on. My throat is swelling up, heart rate going berserk, within 2 hours of taking EVERY dose, crazy things are happening, a whole mess of crazy symptoms. I tell this nurse (Julie or Julia) that I am having a serious allergic reaction and that when I take Benadryl it helps the throat swelling but not all of the other symptoms. She says to me, "Oh, thats not an allergic reaction, you have high blood pressure (never in my life have I ever), or it could be hormonal." I also told her my kidneys still hurt and I was told to sit in my car with the heated seats on. I thanked her for her time and got off the phone. WEEKS later I get a "follow up" phone call from them checking to see how I am doing. What the hell kind of place is this??