James Barron, MD FACS – Western Otolaryngology

SHOULD HAVE HIS MEDICAL LICENSE REMOVED.
IThe absolute worst experience I’ve ever had at a doctors office in my life.
After going to the ER twice for a serious cough that spread to an ear infection, I was referred to Dr. Vankooten’s office. I made an appointment but was in such pain, I called that morning to beg to come into the office early. The receptionist told me that «other people are waiting for their scheduled appointments, and I would have to wait» even though I was crying over the phone to her.
I tried to wait, but couldn’t and I went over about 2 hours early… There was barely anyone in the office, and the ONLY person on the staff that was interested in helping me with my pain was the person answering the phones who brought me out cold towels because I was sweating and crying.
They did, in fact, make me wait. Let me sit there, while people went to their normal non-​emergency appointments. Just let me sit there in pain… crying hysterically…
Finally the nurse called me in and barely held the door for me… could see that I was struggling to even walk because my ear was so bad, I couldn’t hear anything. She brought me into the room and made me get up and stand up on the scale to take my height, as if that was the most important thing for her to do, I explained I couldn’t even stand straight but she said «I have to take your height» again. I asked why she couldn’t just believe I knew how tall I was???
This was getting to be ridiculous, did they think I was kidding with the pain??? I had already been to the ER TWICE! The ER told me I MUST see an ear specialist they couldn’t do anything.
So the doctor comes in, not Dr. Vankooten, who I wanted to see, but his associate. Examines me briefly and says there’s nothing they can do but give me antibiotics and send me home.
I’m really unsure at this point how I was going to live with the pain until the meds kicked in, but I’m alone here in CO, no advocate to help me, so there was nothing more I could do. They didn’t offer me any pain medication at all. Nothing. Instead said «call in a few days, if the meds aren’t working we’ll change them.»
How a doctor lets a patient walk out of their office in such pain without any other advice or help, is beyond me.
I get the prescription filled, and I sit in pain for two days. Now it’s Thursday, green and bloody discharge is coming out of my ear. I am still in pain. I call Dr. Vankootens office and leave a message with the services to please get in touch with me Friday morning, I’m in pain, the meds aren’t working and I need for someone to call me or call in a new prescription.
NO CALL BACK ALL DAY.
I call again this evening and they tell me I have to call the doctor on call who is Dr. Barron.
Finally DOCTOR BARRON calls me back. This man should have his medical license taken away. Not only was he rude from the moment I picked up the phone… but he talked over me saying «he didn’t see me, and he couldn’t help me, why was I asking for his help» I told him I had already been to the ER, and what was I suppose to do? He said «go back to the ER, there’s nothing I can do for you» I was in shock, I asked why he was on call if he couldn’t help at all, and HE HUNG UP ON ME!!!
SO NOW I SIT HERE, still in pain, out of work a week, going to the ER when that’s not what I should be going to the ER for, nor should «specialist» doctors be advising people to go to the ER when the ER is telling me I should be seeing the ear specialist.
This is the worst experience ever. The doctors of our country are spoiled rotten and don’t know what it’s like to actually CARE for patients anymore.

From the moment that I arrived in the office I was greeted by a somewhat unprofessional and semi– rude front desk clerk. Dr Barron himself has all the bedside manner of a Comcast representative. He say me for perhaps 10 minutes tops and from the moment he arrived my impression was that I was viewed not so much as a patient but rather a profit opportunity. HE was in and out and very brusk with me — did not listen to my complaints of swollen glands at all but rather pushed a tube down my nose — said he couldn’t see any issue then gave me the bums rush out. Now I have to see another doctor to get this resolved :(
My impression is that the office’s main goal is to maximize insurance profit by minimizing time spent with the patient.
NOT recommended.

Dr. Barron was good and my sinus surgery went well. The issues started after the surgery when I got a $ 3000 bill from the hospital after being quoted $ 250. Dr. Barron helped clear up some errors which reduced the bill to $ 1050. However, I continued to pursue the issue on my own with Lutheran for several months since they had quoted only the copay (basically $ 250, which I paid) and said my coinsurance would not apply (the $ 800 was the result of coinsurance). After endless calls and going round and round with them for seven months I called Dr. Barron’s office to let them know of my progress and to see if they could help. They flat out did not return three calls and only came on the line when I mentioned that I could just stop by. They said that Dr. Barron already helped me (yes, but only by correcting a blatant error) and told me that the remaining $ 800 didn’t seem too bad. They completely threw up their hands when I pointed out that it was $ 800 more than I’d been quoted.
I know that the doctor and the hospital are separate, but my husband is a surgical nurse and told me that if one of his doctors had a patient that went through what we had, the doctor would be in the CFO’s office and would get it squared away. I was really disappointed that once I’d paid their fee they wouldn’t even return a phone call. I would not recommend this office.

Dr. Barron and his staff treat every patient with the utmost respect, diagnose the issue, then set forth a plan that works with your budget, insurance and any concerns you have.
Dr. Nemanov is an extremely professional and well versed Audiologist when it comes to hearing aids, so will help you decide what technology works best for your hearing loss and budget.

James Barron was completely unprofessional and downright rude to me during my visit today. His body language and tone was threatening. I felt like he was ready to unleash some verbal and possibly even physical aggression toward me. It was unfortunate that I was the one, a paying customer who came in with the hopes of diagnosing an illness, who remained calm and courteous throughout this ordeal. We all have bad days, but good lord, this man is giving good doctors every where a bad name. It’s too bad I went to a «doctor» for help today and was instead sent home to my wife and 1 year old daughter upset and frustrated.