Austin Dermcare

I do not recommend this dermatologist office at all. I’ve been here maybe 4 – 5 times and although you have an appointment you are stuck in the waiting room anywhere from 10 – 30 minutes before you are seen. I just walked out after being scheduled at 9 am and arriving at 8:53. Poorly run office and no respect for patients time. I will not come back.

Excellent experience. Staff was courteous and professional. Doctor was highly competent. The concern I had about a mole was not one thing to worry about but the doctor identified a small basal cell carcinoma on my face that I had not noticed before. Early intervention is key. Thank you!

I highly recommend Dr. Shaefer. I have to him for various concerns over the years and each issue was resolved successfully. I have been very pleased with his treatment and demeanor.

Rachel Miller is the kindest and in my opinion one of the BEST providers at Austin Dermcare. She is extremely intelligent and has provided me and my daughter with compassionate care. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking a sensitive and knowledgeable provider!

The doctors & nurses are great! The office staff? Not so great. I wish they would try to be a little nicer when checking you out.

Rachel Miller is the ONLY individual I trust with my skin care. She is knowledgeable and always takes time to explain exactly how treatments/​medication will work. I have been a patient of hers since 2007 and am a huge fan!
She understands the importance of early prevention for aging and sun damage. Skin cancer is very common in my family, and she always takes the time to look at any small freckle or mark that is concerning to me. She’s thorough and always kind while listening to any absurd new anti-​aging treatment I have read in a magazine/​blog/​clearly scientific publication.

DO NOT GO SEE RACHEL MILLER IF YOU ARE PRONE TO MELASMA. She is not well educated on the subject. I developed melasma right under her nose, seeing her every month for several months, and she never realized she was making the problem worse.
I went to her because of acne, but I also expressed my concerns about the hyperpigmentation developing on my face. She advised me to go on birth control. Each time I saw her I expressed concerns about the brown spots on my cheeks getting worse and worse. Miller never had anything to say back about my concerns; we just knew the acne was clearing up.
Now I know what happened — being on the birth control pills was exacerbating my melasma. I can’t believe someone who works in a dermatologist’s office wouldn’t know about the connection between birth control and melasma. Each month I saw Miller she never seemed concerned about my developing melasma, and I continued on birth control. I wish I could go back in time and REFUSE to go on the pill. Once I realized her ignorance on the subject I stopped going to this dermatologist’s office. The patient should not know more than the professional!

The doctors are great! The office staff? AWFUL! Working with the office staff at this place is like appearing before «The Soup Nazi» in Seinfeld. Don’t you dare ask any questions. Don’t deviate at all from what they want. Don’t even think about telling them that the appointment time they suggested won’t work for you. And, heaven forbid, you ask them to take 2 extra seconds to print you a receipt. If you do any of this you will be subjected to eye-​rolling, sighing, and dirty looks. If all you care about is having a good doctor then this place will work for you. But, if it matters to you to not be treated by the office staff like a second-​class citizen who is an imposition then don’t come here.

If I didn’t have to wait 30 minutes every time I go, I’d give them 5 stars. I’ve seen Drs Shaefer, Miller, and Roark and all are wonderful. Once you get in a room with them, the appointment is quick, but I’ve wasted so much time in the waiting room. I don’t understand how the appointment scheduling can be so mis-​managed.

I have been going to Austin Dermcare for years. Unfortunately, my wonderful parents happened to give me genes prone to all sorts of fun skin conditions (acne, psoriasis, lots of moles and a family history of skin cancer, cysts that get infected frequently and need surgical removal…). As a result, I have managed to see each one of the practitioners. I primarily go to Rachel Miller. The practitioners actually listen, and actually care. They are very genuine in their concern. As a result, I have had much success lately with improved skin! (acne is gone, psoriasis is managed and barely there, suspicious moles removed…).
Today was a perfect example of why I trust them. I had a terrible pain and nausea from a cyst throughout the weekend. I tried my primary care doctor first, but they couldn’t get me in today. I tried to explain my complete pain, and the receptionist had almost no interest and simply scheduled an appointment for the next day. Feeling like I couldn’t wait that long and wanting to avoid an expense urgent care visit, I tried Austin Dermcare. They also initially said they were totally booked. However, upon my explanation of what was happening, put me through to the nurse line, and I was called back within a half an hour and got an appointment today. I saw Rachel, and after she did her magic on the cyst, it was recommended that I get a surgery consult this week for this thing. She emphasized that if I wasn’t able to get a consult quickly, to call her and she would help to get me in quick. As a result, I am in a lot less pain, and feel confident that I’m in good hands. (although I’m not looking forward to the surgery, no matter how minor).
I also have had cysts on my scalp removed by Dr. Hart and Dr. Prosise, and they were both wonderful, and fun to talk to during the whole thing!

The doctors are fine, but the staff is lacking. They booked me for the wrong appointment! Here’s what happened. I had an appointment for a mole removal which was booked a month ago during a previous visit/​consultation. I called the morning of my surgery appointment (since I had not received a call reminding me nor confirming), I asked to confirm my appointment and what I need to do to prepare for the procedure. The lady I spoke with confirmed it was that day, and told me I could take some Advil to prepare, but no Tylenol.
When I arrived at the office, I filled out the insurance update form and was then called into the office. The assistant/​nurse looked at my chart and basically, asked me why I was there and what I need from the doctor. What? I told them I’m here for my mole removal. Turns out, whoever booked me before, did not book me for a mole removal surgery appointment at all. The nurse/​assistant blamed the receptionist for this error and told me I’d have to reschedule because the doctor can’t fit in the surgery to her schedule. Now I have to go back 2 weeks later! It would have been fine if the staff informed me of this when I called earlier that morning but as I mentioned, when I called in and the lady even told me what I need to prep for my surgery. Clearly she did not check the appointment details, or just straight out neglected to inform me that they did not have me down for surgery. Annoying and a complete waste of time.

I always have a great experience and care here.

Dr. Rachel Miller is awesome and removed 2 sizable moles from my face and made me beautiful again. They healed great and there are no signs of scarring. The staff was professional and quite pleasant. The wait time was also quite short, which was nice as well.

Dr Schaefer – very pleasant, but he failed to explain that I would have a lifelong white circular scar on my cheek after his treatment for a basal cell removal. He told me my Blue Cross insurance wouldn’t pay the additional $ 200 to do the procedure correctly. If I had known (it’s called «informed consent»), I would have paid the difference. Another dermalogist, who is doing a basal cell removal on a much less noticeable place on my face, told me about the various types of procedures. I received the worst type from Dr Schaeffer.
The office staff is hurried and rude while they make you wait. They are the Soviet Union, with no fear that patients can take their business elsewhere. Take your business elsewhere. Don’t go to Austin Dermacare.

Hit and miss. I’ve been going to Austin Dermcare for over a decade, primarily for acne and eczema. My husband recently went to get moles checked out.
Hubby saw Dr. Roark and liked him pretty well. He felt it was a thorough exam and was happy with the visit.
I’ve usually seen Rachel Miller, PA, and I’ve never had complaints. (To be honest, I kinda felt like seeing her was a formality between me and my Retin A prescription.) Recently, though, I went in to check whether any of my freckles, moles, etc. were anything to worry about. She looked things over and said she didn’t see anything she was worried about. Then as we were wrapping up, I mentioned that there was a light spot next to my nose that was one of the things that had prompted my visit. She quickly agreed that it was a more likely candidate as potentially cancerous and biopsied it. She was very nice and reassuring. Turns out, the bugger is a skin cancer, so she referred me to Dr. Emily Procise – also part of Austin Dermcare– who does the Mohs surgery. (Mohs is the current preferred method for cancers on the face, as it leaves the least scarring.)
And… nothing. They were supposed to call to schedule surgery. After 3 – 4 days, I called and after much being put on hold and transferred, was told that her nurses would call me to schedule. And now it’s been another 3 – 4 business days. Now, maybe that’s normal. But I’m fed up with calling, being put on hold, talking to receptionist #1, being put on hold again, and then being send to a 2^nd person who then isn’t too helpful and doesn’t get the damn thing scheduled. Their office is just too big and I don’t think their customer service and phone system is friendly at all to patients. I’ll be switching my family to a smaller practice. (Heard good things about Dr. Sander.)

I’ve been to better dermatologist offices…
My overall experience with Dr. Schaefer has been OK, although he does seem a bit vague and «quick to the point» when it comes to prescribing things. If I’m going to be taking a medication or using a topical cream/​gel/​etc., I’d much rather hear too many precautions rather than not enough.
My main concern is with the staff, and the number of times I’ve been asked to reschedule, or had to call them because some important piece of information was left off of my prescription and the pharmacy was not able to fill it (in one case, my name had not been written on the prescription…).
I’d suggest another office.

I’ve had very good experiences with Dr. Roark and Dr. Prosise. They’ve been competent and pleasant working with my daughters, ages twelve and eight.
That being said, I agree that the office staff could use some «smile training. »

I have been going to Austin Dermcare since 2003 when they were located off of Medical Arts near the UT campus. My main doctor is Dr. Hart, but I have seen Dr. Schaefer and the PA, Rachel Miller.
I have been seen there for everything from a skin biopsy to a greasy spot on my scalp to having nodules under my skin removed. Dr. Hart is very nice, patient, thorough, and every time I have had a procedure done, she explains exactly what she is doing. The nurses who I have worked with have also been friendly and informative.
What I loathe about this office is that it’s a huge conglomerate-​like situation. When you call, you get a receptionist who asks who you’re calling for so she can transfer you to that doctor’s receptionist. When you arrive, there are two windows, and if you’re new, you don’t know which one to go to at first. The office staff members aren’t terribly friendly and seem to be put out if they have to explain you’re at the wrong window. Even checking out and paying at the end seems to be all process with no human connection. Also, sometimes I can hear through the walls while I wait my turn in my exam room. Not nearly as bad as their last location, but it still makes me wonder if people can hear me so I try to talk quietly during my appointments.
Of the three physicians I’ve seen, I would recommend Dr. Hart over the others. She’s the main reason I continue to go to Austin Dermcare despite the cold nature of the office itself. The PA prescribed medication to me after I told her that my husband and I were trying to get pregnant. When I asked if this medication would be detrimental to the process or to an unborn baby, she said that I needed to ask my pharmacist, or I could just stop taking it once I found out I was pregnant. Of course the pharmacist told me that only my doctor could tell me whether or not a medication was safe for an unborn baby, and I wasn’t about to take the medication until I found out I was pregnant. I’ve only seen Dr. Schaefer once and he seemed very knowledgeable and personable. I would see him again if Dr. Hart was unavailable.

As a life-​long eczema patient, I’ve been in/​out of dermatology clinics all my life. After moving to Austin, it took a while to find a clinic that I liked. After several disappointing experiences, I was referred to Austin Dermcare. The staff is excellent, and very accommodating. If I call needing a last minute appointment, they usually do their very best to fit me in, or notify me of cancellations. I’ve seen Dr. Roark, and Rachel Miller, PA, both of which are excellent. they always give samples and I was given a discount card for a new eczema cream that is rather pricey– definitely helped out.
I highly recommend if you need a dermatologist in the Austin area.

Dr. Hart was as kind and knowledgable as a doctor can be.
I find that most doctors want to prescribe you something or other and be done with it. Not the case here.
She saved me from an unpleasant lancing, something that most doctors would just do without considering alternatives.
I’m usually afraid to ask about other issues — I’ve had doctors tell me to reschedule, but I did anyway and Dr. Hart was happy to listen and give me good advice.
She also gave me tons of free samples when i told her I didn’t have a good prescription plan.
I was so blown away, I had to sign up for Unilocal to say something!