While the doctors and nurses were generally very helpful, I think the norms of medical practice for preparing for outpatient procedures should be changed. The effects of the anesthesia were downplayed before the procedure to keep me from being nervous, but I think I would have been better off if I had been able to prepare for it beforehand. The anesthesia was by and far the most terrifying experience of my life. After the weird feeling in the back of your throat, instant terror sets in. I was told that my ears might ring, but that doesnt capture the experience at all--its loud ambulance sirens going off right next to your eardrum. I was really dedicated to getting the procedure done so that I can finally get a cure for my mystery illness, but because I wasnt warned, I was two seconds away from calling it off once the anesthesia started, but by the time I was really wavering I was already going under. When I cried out that I was scared and that I wanted my mom, I was just told that the sirens were normal and that I needed to stop talking now, which just made me feel more scared and less in control. I think that it should be normalized to warn patients about this, even if it increases pre-operative anxiety prior to the start of the procedure.I also think that when I said I was scared, they should have considered stopping instead of telling me to stop talking. Ultimately, not doing the procedure would have been bad for me, because Ive had to work so hard and wait for so long in bad health to receive medical procedures, and I wouldnt want to have to wait longer, but at the same time that kind of experience, psychologically, is something else. They also didnt make any notes in the follow-up papers about the incident with the anesthesia, which concerns me, they just said that the entire procedure went well without incident.

Have only dealt with Anthony Capobianco here for tx but him and all the other staff Ive come into contact with have been great 👍

Practically impossible to get an appointment. Ive been a patient for many years , but I get no response to inquiries about making an appointment Trent for e.ergency symptoms. I have history of gastro conditions since childhood, with countless hospitalizations , but I am not taken seriously when I ask about trying other medications or treatments. I had to personally gather hospital records to submit to the doctor, just so they would even acknowledge the severity of my issues. Even still, nothing has been done. My functioning has declined steadily and the doctor wont even comment on it. Thank God before the pandemic, I brought my husband inside the exam room with me to witness my pleas go unacknowledged and unanswered. One of the APRNs named Tracy was actually a lot more competent than the MD I had seen. She listened for more than the 5 minutes the doctor usually gave me, and even refilled the script from my former doctor from out of state. Interesting how much compassion and attention SHE gave me versus the MD. Now that I cant get an appointment again, I think its time to move to another practice that takes my insurance.

Dr. Varela is the most caring, compassionate doctor. My husband and I are both patients of his and both feel that he is the best. He cares for your issues in a calming and attentive manner. His assistant Iris is also wonderful!

My primary doctor sent a referral over to the Gastro Center in Hamden three weeks ago.I have yet to receive a phone call from them. Thats lousy business and pathetic. No wonder why they have so many bad reviews. If I could give them a big fat 0 I would.Tomorrow Im calling another gastro doc on my own.

I called 10 times within the last year to schedule an appointment and nobody called me back after leaving a message. Nobody return calls at all and it feels like there is no staff working there. I’m moving on, there are plenty of others gastro doctors.

Would not recommend this practice. They forgot how to treat there patients with respect and compassion. I was a patient of Dr.Thompson who I thought had no bed side manner, but they have seen two other Doctors and they have showed worse compassion than Dr.Thompson. David Griffin very rude, unprofessional and lacks compassion. Please do you research, I wish I did. I have been with this practice since 2014 and every year the quality of care decreases.

My 93 year old friend was treated with respect and concern ,starting with the receptionist, the doctor’s assistant,and the doctor himself,Dr. Varela. Too often,the elderly are spoken”down to”. This did not happen.A wonderful experience!

The doctors are pleasant and competent, but its nearly impossible to schedule an appointment. You cant get a live person to answer the phone. The call always goes to voice mail and the recording says they will call you back the next day. They dont. You have to keep trying. Why cant someone answer the phone? Or at least call back the same day? I called again tonight to try to get someone to call tomorrow morning, since no one called me back from yesterday. Surprise - I got a live person. But she told me that the place is closed and I have to call back during working hours. How is that helpful?Last year I walked into the office to book an appointment in person. I was told the person I had to talk to wasnt working that day. I refused to leave until someone else stepped in and made an appointment for me.I think its time to find another practice.

I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Umashanker and the staff at GCC who have worked so hard to be sure that I got the tests I needed quickly when I needed them. When the insurance company denied a request for an MRI, meaning it would have to be postponed until the next week, they did everything to be sure that I could have the MRI the next day! Ive been a patient for years and their care has been steady and excellent. Now that Ive been quite sick, I appreciate them more than ever. I strongly recommend GCC and Dr. Umashanker - the best!

Doctors are great, however, the office staff is awful in returning calls and would rather blame you for not being on top of it. The response rate is way too slow for serious subject matters. It feels like they dont care. It feels like a circus. It looks like this office has been like this for three years based on the reviews below. Beware of making any appointments.

I love Dr. Grunwald, buts as most of the reviews state it is very difficult to get an appointment. I am switching providers because that one reason. Its a shame, someone needs to do an overhaul with running that office. I am used to be a medical office manager and I would whipped that place into shape. The providers should be concerned about losing patients!

They feel they can schedule you anytime they choose, and do not take into account the patients schedules. Their claim of giving priority to diabetics or the elderly is bunk. If they were to try to schedule properly, and not depend on voice mail. They dont call back in a timely manner, and they treat their patients like machines. Now Im going to have work done there......Hmmmmm...I am talking to my PCP about this ineptness and hope they are not as bad when it comes to doing the procedure as they are about everything else.

I have been with this group for a number of years now.My last 2 experiences (Nov. and January) were the same as all previous visits: No problems with scheduling, staff takes time to explain the procedures, answer questions., etc. The facility in Guilford is spotless. For me the 2 most important team folks are my doctor (Dr. Umashanker) and anesthesia doctor. They take time before and after the procedure to answer questions and make me feel comfortable. I highly recommend this group.

A most unfortunate situation; the actual medical staff appears affable and competent, but office efficiency and procedure is totally unacceptable; even after multiple communication with the doctors over a 2 year period, nothing has improved; at some point, unreturned calls, unscheduled procedures, negatively affect the quality of medical care, and it becomes time to find a new doctor..

If I could give a zero I would. I’ve worked in Healthcare for over 30 years and this group is incompetent. I had acute abdominal pain and they kept me waiting for 5 days before even doing a diagnostic exam.

This group, specifically Dr. Frank Troncale, is exemplary. I had trepidations about having a colonoscopy directed by my personal m.d. So much so, that I had to cancel the first appt. The procedure was completed today and Dr. Troncale and his entire staff of nurses, anesthesiologists and administration could not have been more upbeat, professional and caring. For those like myself who need a little extra TLC, be sure to choose this group.

Nothing but good things to say.