This doctor is so rude it’s truly astounding. My grandmother has been going here for years,and I’m surprised she’s stayed as long as she has. This man does not care about his patients as much as he thinks he does. A person can only do but so much, but watching someone wither away to nothing right in front of your eyes says a lot. Hanging up on patients and family members is so nasty and unprofessional. You can’t carve out 3 minutes out of your time to speak to a concerned family member? I’m not questioning credibility but there’s hardly any compassion. As long as that check comes in, who cares right?

Dr. Ast is fantastic! Ive been a patient of his for several years and I cant say enough good things about him and his staff. I had an appointment today and it was right on schedule. I needed some special attention for an issue and Dr. Ast took the time to explain the situation and answer questions. He examined me and recommended a specialist and the testing that was necessary. His staff was kind and courteous to me.This kind of attention is so rare these days and I appreciate Dr. Astvery much. Thank you Dr. Ast!

Great Doctor, really listened to me and he was very informative!

This doctor it’s old and he doesn’t care about anything!!! I’ve been like 4 months waiting for my medication and he’s not able to send my meds and the receptionist it’s a incompetent and I respectful!! I’m was with this doctor like 3 years almost 4 years!!! And it’s no easy past 3 months with the treatment to my artritis rheumatoid! No good service the Ofice really old ! And much more worst things!!!!

Doctor Ast is an excellent Professional.staff are lovely and very helpful

I don’t know why people review the staff and doctor so badly because they are both really good. Been coming here for allergies and really love Dr. Ast a lot plus the guy that works the front desk is really good. It’s not the newest looking lobby ever but it’s also not the most expensive doctor ever and Dr. Ast is very thorough. One of my favorite doctors in New York.

0/10 DO NOT RECOMMEND. The front-desk staff is wildly unprofessional and inconsiderate. The doctor is fine but the overall experience makes me regret ever coming here. Find literally any other provider.

The office staff is terrible. Theres 1 girl that speaks little to o English, so understanding her is impossible. The 1 girl that does speak English is not efficient nor does she follow through with following up. The 1 BOY there is MISERABLE, probably hates his job an moves as lazy as possible. Even when answering the phone he is 1000% no help at all.

Dr Ast’s office is comfortable and his staff is professional and personable. I was totally blown away by Dr. Ast’s knowledge and compassion, having a variety of symptoms that are seemingly unrelated. He explained everything clearly and concisely. I’m so glad I finally found him!

Amazing staff! Especially isac! He’s so helpful and so urgent whenever you bring things to his attention. Dr ast knew the solution to my problem and I couldn’t feel any better! Thanks guys 🙏

HORRIBLE desk staff, rude, arrogant unprofessional and annoyed with patients. If you call for a referral you have to call back numerous times to get it done. Always get the name of the person you spoke with or its 100% YOUR problem.

Fred Ast is the best at what he does! He treats his patients professionally with attention to detail. I am happy to have found him!

He is a very respectful doctor. I do knot know why people dont like him. He is very smart he told me what was wrong right away and after some physical therapy everything was better.

There’s a girl that doesn’t seem to know anything working the front desk and seemed agitated and annoyed. There’s a girl that doses medications and she’s very slow getting back to you or letting you know it’s approved mostly because she’s never present and when she is she’s constantly overwhelmed and has a poor attitude. The dr was very dismissive, he kept speaking over me and assuming side effects that I never went through. This place is just overall bad, also the bathrooms were filthy and his exam rooms seems to be outdated. When you call the office you’re left on hold for extremely long wait times as well!!!!!!

HORRIFIC STAFF!!! Had an appointment two weeks ago. The staff was rude, and disrespectful!!! I reported this facility to my insurance... and will NEVER refer any patients there.... Dr. Ast was nice but his STAFF NEEDS TO BE FIRED!!!! STILL waiting on a referral two weeks later! VERY DISSAPOINTED....THE ONE STAR IS BECAUSE I HAD TO PUT ONE TO PLACE THIS COMMENT! FIRE THOSE LADIES ASAP

Absolutely love dr ast, after a while you learn to establish relationships with the staff, especially Isaaccs and kristina they are absolutely wonderful and very on top of things when I need them. Def recommend this plce to anyone who needs a good, local, Private Rheumatologist

First time here for allergies and thou I didn’t get to see dr ast, I did get to see his physicians assistant who was very blunt, thorough and very professional throughout my entire visit for a allergy test after catching a bad allergic reaction last year to something I ate.Checking inIsaacs was assisting a patient on the phone when I arrived and had another patient at the check in desk yelling at him while he was assisting another person, the real MVP goes to him for remaining calm and collecting himself after getting yelled at, taunted and verbally attacked by a patient that had a misunderstanding and accused him of something he insisted he didn’t do. He apologized and asked the lady to have a seat while he assisted the patient on the phone from what seemed to be she needed a appointment and it angered the patient more as she assumed he was being dismissive. And he was kindly trying to take one issue at a time, the patient began to incite and yell in the waiting area that isaacs was the “rudest staff member” and another patient began to piggy back and in a matter of time both patients were yelling and verbally attacking the front desk guy.I’ve never seen anything like this at any doctors office I visited and I gotta give kudos to him. He was so kind, humble and even cracked a joke once he was able to check me in and provide me with paperwork. He was virtually the opposite from what the comosion was about. Even when callen lorde called to schedule the app I believe we spoke to that same guy who was nice enough to even squeezed me in! The practice was fairly clean despite the bathroomNeeding a quick check for clean up but other than that, this place was fast, professional, clean and the provider was amazing. Herbert was very through, blunt and very patient with my questions and worries! Also front desk was a smooth, easy, professional experience despite what I witnessed in the beginging!! Very very patient and professional!

My mom comes here for rheumatology and she loves coming here, bilingual staff makers her feel at home!

Not sure what happened to the bearded man that did front desk but this place is falling apart without him. Most of the staff is new and very unprofessional

This doctor has been my primary care dr for a very long time . I thank this place for always being so kind and understanding to me and professional. Thank you dr ast and thank you Isaac happy New Years dr ast

So getting a Appointment was super easy, the front desk or whichever man that took my call at the office and squeezed my mother in for something as soon as the next day and was incrediably generous and helpful. The wait time was short no more than 25 mins after paperwork and the doctor, dr ast was very over the place, left my mom alone a few times in the middle of conversations and when checking out the front desk seemed overwhelmed while she was alone.

Doc was very knowledgeable and has a great rapport with his patients

The doctors are really good and responsible. Receptionists are better after you know them..

I quite liked Dr. Ast when I met him for my first appointment. He was quick, asked the right questions, and had me in and out efficiently. I had no problems until I needed a refill for a prescription. I had my mail order pharmacy reach out, with no response. As I was getting to my last couple pills, I tried calling the office. I was connected to the rudest, most inapproriate medical receptionist, who copped an attitude the second I spoke. I have never had as brash and inappropriate reaction with anyone at a medical practice ever. She told me that because I didn’t come back three months after my last appointment (who would, when things are fine?), I was “irresponsible with my health”, “don’t you ask questions when your doctor prescribes medication”, “we have no way to help you”, and best of all... she tried to tell me the medication I am on is a controlled substance (news flash - it’s not!). Her response to that was that she’s been doing this for five years... Then she hung up on me. For what it’s worth, I mentioned three times that I was perfectly pleasantOh - and I forgot to mention that they cancelled my last appointment for an annual physical with 30 minutes notice!Unfortunately like many of the reviews of the practice below, while Dr. Ast is perfectly pleasant, his office staff is incredibly rude. They refused to even provide an emergency prescription, which even my pharamacist was stunned by.I have since switched practices and am looking forward to having an office actually care about their patients, instead of how much money they can scrape from unnecessary visits.

I work with Dr. Ast for 8 years and I would say that this is where I started my medical experience. He was very patient and fair to all of his employees. Dr. Ast is very understanding especially when you have school and family emergencies, he always wants the best for you and helps you expand your career. He is like a teacher .. I have learned so much about his practice about rheumatology and allergy that I actually took with me where I work now. Seeing him interact with his patients for years just says a lot of how good of a doctor he is. I no longer work with him but I still visit his practice and I am become one of his patients.

Very rude staff. Still waiting on my results. They never sent over prescriptions after telling me they had. Waited an hour after my scheduled appointment time. I was rushed out and have had trouble getting my results from them. Horrible office, will never go back.

Thorough doctor, amazing staff, bilingual staff at that, easy to make a Appt, Office alil run down but other than that no long wait time lol

Didn’t see the reviews until now and I can say my experienced differed The doctor seemed a little flustered and under pressure and didn’t spend as much time with me, my advice to him is that to focus on patient care, and perhaps hire a office manager. He seemed out of it but I got what I needed done and that’s what it’s about! The office had outdated equipment and the same seemed extremely unorganized and were having conversations that can be heard in the waiting area about people in vulgar ways.

I have never experienced such a nasty ignorant receptionist.!!! Im stunned. I called about a prescription that I received from Dr Ast. My pharmacist couldnt fill it as prescribed due to my insurance. I was trying to explain the issue to the receptionist but, she cut me off assuming she knew what the issue was. I said to her will you please allow me to finish?. I didnt quite hear her response so, I repeated will you allow me to finish? Her response: I said speak. That was rather rude, said I. Click. She hung up. I called back about 8 times. Every time my call was rejected, proving my point. If I could have rated this business -5, I would have. Good bye Dr Ast!

Nice staff, and dr ast is amazing!

I agree that the support staff needs improvement. But. Im willing to put up with that because Dr. Ast knows his stuff. Im sure you can find allergists all over this city who can do what allergists do. So go ahead; find them. But if you have fibromyalgia or Lyme or rheumatoid arthritis or chronic fatigue or any one of dozens of other autoimmune-related issues, youd be hard-pressed to find someone whos as willing to look into what will help you as Dr. Ast.Theres also a physical therapist on-site, Richard Cerniello, who stays up-to-date on all the latest modalities and treatments for not only injuries but also the aches and pains that come with getting older and/or living with chronic invisible illness. He trains PTs in school on-site as well, and its great to know that young people are being educated by someone who cares so much about what he does.I dont go to a doctor for his people skills or to be coddled by the staff, and if I have to be proactive about medications and referrals then, sure, Im as annoyed as the next person (and I do even lose my temper from time to time). But finding a good rheumatologist isnt something I take lightly, and when Dr. Ast told me he could no longer be my rheumatologist *and* my PCP because my insurance company was making him choose, I was relieved he didnt choose the PCP route.

Ive seen both Dr. Ast and Dr. Martinez in this office and they are both great doctors they both take the time to listen to me and answer my health questions. They both take the time to examine you to see what the cause of your health problem is instead of rushing to give you medications like other doctors. I highly recommend Dr Ast and Dr Martinez because I go to them sick and they make me feel great.Dr Herb Chen is a completely different story - the most disrespectful, nasty attitude doctor i have ever seen in my life. When I ask a question he answers in a very rude way and he seems mad for no reason. I stopped going to this office because of him. He calls me out of nowhere and tells me on the phone you have to come in for your Xolair I have lots of free stuff here I dont know what to do with them referring to Xolair injection samples he gets. The second time I saw this disrespectful doctor I asked him for the Xolair discount card his response was Wait! just wait! I will get to that, just let me finish first with a very nasty attitude.The receptionists in this office dont know their job. When ever I call for test results or to make a appointment they have me on hold for a very long time I never get to talk with them.Good luck if this office will ever see me again I got a referral from my primary care doctor for another allergist and Im happy now

I love Dr. Ast. So kind

Amazing doctor. Great employer.

Gotta say been a patient here 7 years. No oroblems

Would’ve given it 5 but this place clearly needs more staff, the staff seemed overworked, underpaid and overwhelmed with their assertive attitudes.

They never do what is needed cant even answer the phone! you will wait 20 minutes just to speak to someone who wont even fax a referral! I am changing my doctor.

Excellent!

Amazing doctor

When I started here I was nervous and hesitant due to the nature of the place and the maintenance. After talking to Dr. Ast and diagnosing me, I was surprised that he spoke to me in Spanish without bringing in his Spanish staff to help him. Now every time I go back for follow-up and physical therapy, the man who works at the desk is very kind, funny, and very nice to me when I walk in. I rarely wait more than 1 hour and the place has changed a lot. I highly recommend dr ast to everyone!