Balcones Woods Family Medicine

For the first time in years, my faith in medical care has been restored after having become a patient of Balcones Woods. Last year, I cautiously dragged myself in for an initial appointment downtrodden from years of over-​treatment with antibiotics and reeling from a subsequent C. Diff infection from Clindamycin prescribed to me for an infection (that I didn’t even have) from a Texas Med Clinic physician. My first appointment was with Jessica Haselschwerdt, the newest clinician on staff (and I can see why they brought her on) who was astute, perceptive and personable. I’ve had several appointments with Laurelin Mullins (who is sharp as a tack, thorough, and knowledgeable), one appointment with Lara Hochman (great bedside manner) and my most recent appointment with Sharon Hausman-​Cohen — who has put together the most comprehensive treatment plan and non-​invasive diagnostic screenings for my ongoing health issues. For the first time, I feel I can trust my physicians with my health and relax knowing that I am receiving the most informed care in Austin. The office maintains a high level of continuing education for all clinicians involved and they stay up-​to-​date with the latest research findings regarding both holistic and traditional medicine. Previously, I had ping-​ponged between seeing Western doctors (then becoming disillusioned) to seeking out care from naturopaths or herbalists (who were unable to prescribe or wholly dismissed the contributions from traditional medicine). This office artfully integrates the wisdom of all healing traditions for a treatment approach that is unique to you. The experience when you first enter the office is radically different from your typical visit to the doc. From the receptionists to the P.A.s, the nurses on staff, you feel welcomed and cared for. This office seeks to reverse the dehumanization that pervades modern medical care through their professionalism, warmth and genuine respect and empathy for their patients. BWFM is aware of the importance of treating the whole person, validating that health issues impact our lives in ways that stress the spirit and can become perpetuating factors in chronic health issues.
A personal thank you from me to all the staff!

Still highly recommend. Great service, the new portal makes it super convenient to make appointments.

Nice enough people, but inefficient and so focused on fees that it is hard to have confidence. Went once in October 2015 for a knee referral, had to pay an «annual yearly Medical Home Fee» for less than 15 minutes with a doctor. Now they are asking me for the 2016 fee. It is not a good sign of caring medical professionals. Mediocre care with an emphasis on $$$.

I can be somewhat skeptical of doctors, but I had my first appointment today and was impressed with Dr. Weston’s approach. She listened to everything I said and offered lots of suggestions for helping with my stress, hair loss and trouble sleeping. She said I could take time to think about any of her suggestions (even the fact that I’m due for a vaccination) and didn’t try to push anything on me. It seems like they have a holistic approach to healthcare, because the nurse asked a lot of questions about my lifestyle and diet (many doctors haven’t done that for me in the past) and Dr. Weston was open to natural treatments like herbs and vitamins. She investigated my concerns by running a couple tests that other doctors have not tried (like vitamin D) but didn’t re-​run tests that I had recently done, and she was also considerate of my insurance. I left the doctor’s office feeling like someone had listened to me and offered me viable options for improving my health. Also, she posted extremely thorough notes on the patient portal about our visit, along with all of her recommendations and the tests she had ordered.
You may have to wait many months to get an appointment as a new patient, but in the long run it’s worth having a doctor who will take the time to listen to you and learn your health history.

Was a patient here since 2013, Dr Hockman correctly ID’d my vitamin D deficiency and anemia to cure the most awful fatigue I’d ever felt.
Office staff is responsive but obviously not immediate with callbacks. They added a new doctor, I’m assuming to address the concerns for long appointment waiting times. It seems like this practice cares exceptionally about their patients and do respond to valid criticism.
I’ve been a patient here for two years and loved it. Recently moved, so sad I am no longer going to be able to see them.

Highly, highly recommend this practice. After seeing countless doctors & specialists for years for digestive issues & chronic pain, I was left with zero answers, no accurate diagnosis, immensely unhelpful suggestions like «eat more fiber» (said one doctor after spending less than 10 minutes with me), and actually believed one specialist’s comment: «This is something which may never fully get better.»
At BWFM, the doctors I saw were kind, friendly and took the time to have very lengthy discussions about my history and were willing to explore different avenues for diagnosis & treatment. Yes, there is yearly medical home fee, and it is absolutely worth it for the personalized level of care & longer appointment times they provide. After a few visits, I finally ended up with a concrete, accurate diagnosis verified by testing (after years!), which was a huge relief. A clear treatment plan was outlined and I’ve seen significant improvement since.
Moving out of state soon and will be sad to leave this practice behind. Good luck to you all.

Been here for a couple of years… This used to be a good practice, and in some ways it still is, but they’ve changed in two highly annoying and impersonal ways.
(1) It is extremely difficult to get hold of a live person at this practice. Want to talk to anyone? You’d better be content with leaving a message and being available when they call back, because otherwise, tough luck – they totally don’t care and are apparently too busy literally all day every day to just answer the phone and speak to you.
(2) They have an online patient portal, and you can’t have an appointment without filling out generic new-​patient like paperwork EVERY TIME BEFORE EVERY APPOINTMENT. Think you’d rather skip it since you’ve filled it out twice recently already? Think again. They’ll shove a tablet at you in the waiting room and make you suffer through their clunky software until you reach the magical «100%» before you can see anyone. They will also let you request appointments through your mandatory patient portal, but I’ve come to find out that you can make the request, then they write back – laughably – telling you to go ahead and call for an appointment. Which leads you back to point 1. So you can go round in circles.
I truly wish they’d charge higher fees (they already charge an annual fee to provide better service) and just hire someone to answer the phone and let patients make appointments. And filling out family and personal health history paperwork more than once a year seems silly – it seems like healthcare professionals could read the history patients are required to provide through the draconian patient portal at the beginning of each year. But the trend here, my friends, is that you are your own administrator. Blech. Oh, and they don’t make any effort to schedule you with the person who is your PCP. So you’d better be happy seeing the new girl, or whoever happens to have time, because that’s who you’re getting. Luckily, the practitioners all seem pretty good, but you don’t get any meaningful continuity – you are the file in the computer.
One last item to note is that with the advent of the new electronic system, I spent the last appointment answering intermittent questions to the back of the doctor’s head while she stared at the computer screen. Then, while I sat there behind her on the patient table, she spoke her advice for me robotically into voice recognition software, and when it repeatedly didn’t work smoothly, she stopped to type corrections and complain out loud about how it wasn’t working right. Then she spun around, looked at me, and explained that I could read it all by logging onto my patient portal when I got home. When I asked if she could print it, she just repeated that I could read it online, and wouldn’t that be ok? You know, that’s just what a sick person wants to do. Get ignored for 20 minutes in an office while you work out the kinks of your patient-​ignoring system, then go home and read notes online. It’s like telemedicine except you still have to waste gas to get there, wait in a germy waiting room, wait for the doctor, and then go home to see if you can understand the written instructions waiting for you after finding them in the less-​than-​intuitive patient portal.
Are there any practices left that have both good doctors and caring/​competent staff that both actually want to interact (or at least don’t mind interacting) with human beings? This used to be that place.

I was a patient here and thought they were pretty good for awhile, impressive credentials. I was with them for about 2 years. It went like this: Make first appt, at appt meet with PA go thru history, status, etc, then Dr comes in for a handshake at the end. Dr could care less (was too busy?) was the initial vibe I got… I liked the PA and know many practices rely heavily on them, so I stayed. Once I had chest palpitations and they squeezed me and did an EKG. I was fine and it was reflux only. Staff was great, got Nexium for that.
One year later developed a bladder condition that they diagnosed correctly (yay PA) but was told wrong course of action and that this incurable, chronic, painful disease would just go away. I asked is it chronic? «No it is not.» IC is chronic always was and hopefully they will find a cure… They gave me an official practice print-​out of what to do which was crazy and nonsensical, considering the seriousness of my diagnosis. At subsequent specialist visits both my Urologist and Gynecologist were appalled.
I could have gotten better information online and did. Harvard educated? Home fee? I’m out! I’m still not thrilled with subsequent new doctors. Too bad, Austin isn’t better in the medicine provider arena. Great specialists, but Internists or GPs nope… Good music, yep!

I’m sad to have to provide such negative feedback after just one phone encounter with this practice. I just called to make a new-​patient appointment, and left a voice mail. I had already seen on their web site that they are scheduling new patient appointments in December (it’s June 1^st…), so I asked what I think is a PERFECTLY reasonable question: May I speak with one of the providers directly for 3 – 5 minutes to ask a few simple questions, and get a sense of whether this is the right practice for me (and give them a sense of whether I’m the kind of patient they are comfortable seeing). No practice is right for all patients, and no patient is right for all practices, no matter *how* good the physicians are (and I’m sure these are good, based on the other reviews…)
A young lady in the practice returned my call about 2 hours later. While she seemed polite, she just wanted to get me on the schedule and that was all. I had to reiterate that I wanted to have a very brief interview with a physician PRIOR to waiting the entire SIX MONTHS for my first visit. The young lady acted as if I was from Mars– as if nobody had ever asked such a strange question! (Really??? Nobody cares about the «fit» with their doctor??? I doubt that.) She put me on hold, and then came back advising me to read the information on their website!!! That’s ridiculous. The 3-​paragraph bio’s on the website are sweet, but they have absolutely no value whatsoever in determining whether this practice has many other patients similar to me, or whether the physicians are approachable in a 1 – 1 conversation.
After I pressed her to try for a better answer, she got her supervisor on the phone, who cheerfully introduced herself as «GC», and didn’t explain who she was at all, but was happy to answer any questions I had. I asked whether she was one of the physicians, and she said «No, I’m [the original caller]‘s direct supervisor». (I should point out that I did not expect to speak with a physician TODAY– I just wanted to ask for a physician to call me back in the next week or two, when it was convenient for them…) Anyway, she basically said «this is our policy», and tried to encourage me to share all my questions directly with her (an office supervisor??), without even suggesting that she would try to get a physician to call me back. When I asked her to clarify this (whether she would ask a physician to call me), she said «I can certainly try».
Well, thanks but no thanks. I’m genuinely happy for these physicians, that their practice is so busy that they can afford to be so cavalier and disinterested in their new patient intake process. Really I am. But still– that is a CHOICE. And they aren’t the only ones who have a choice in this matter. I’ll take my business elsewhere.
Good luck– Balcones Woods Family Medicine. I truly hope you stay as absurdly busy as you seem to be. If your practice ever slows down so much that you have to *deign* to take on new patients, you won’t remember how to treat them. I guess at that point, you’ll have to demand even higher annual «subscriptions» from your existing patients, and hope they don’t feel burned. Best of luck, really…
UPDATE: ⁰⁷⁄₂₁
Jennifer P. from Balcones Woods Family Medical *claims* to have attempted to contact me, as if to suggest that it’s *my* fault if the problem could not be resolved. That’s ridiculous. I am reachable– if by no other means, than at least through Unilocal.Besides which, nobody I spoke with *EVER* asked me for so much as my name, let alone my contact info.
Please don’t compound arrogance and bad customer relations with lies.

After changing health insurances in January I am searching for a women’s wellness physician. I would love to go with Balcones Woods Family Medicine however when I contacted them in March I was told I could not get in as a new patient until November. I really want to start my wellness care and not put off for 8 months. Shame our health care does not take the same approach in individual care. I am still looking…

I have not been seen here yet and almost didn’t call after seeing the previous customer service review. However, I was treated very well by the administrative staff. First appointment for new patient’s is in December, but the staff was great at explaining that. Took a lot of time on the phone with me, pleased so far and looking forward to my appointment in December. The good doctors are worth waiting for.

As someone else mentioned, I wasn’t actually seen here. However, I do feel like a review is in order because of the poor customer service. This review is for their office staff rather than the doctors themselves.
I called on a Monday morning shortly after their office opened. They were busy and I was asked to leave a message. I left a message and after 3 days never received any call back or anything.
I called on day 4 of having received no response from the office and told that new patients wouldn’t be able to be seen until December (I was fine with this). However my problem was that since I just moved here from Canada, I was going to need a prescription refill before December. The office person offered me very little options or help on this. Just basically that I was completely out of luck because there would be absolutely no way I could be seen before December. To me, as someone who has worked in a doctor’s office before and as a potential patient/​customer, this is not encouraging. You have an office staff person that is completely devoid of any sympathy or wanting to help (like maybe giving me a suggestion of who to see or how to remedy this). This is especially relevant given that they do charge patients the home medical fee (which again, I would have had NO issue paying).
It wasn’t only that I got an answer I didn’t want to here, but after 4 days of no contact AND the fact the office person I spoke to was completely unhelpful and didn’t really seem to care (i.e. sort of acting like I was wasting her time by «not being an established patient»).
I am sure the doctors are great. They have great reviews everywhere I have seen, which is why I wanted to establish care with this group and they are in-​network for me. The fact that you have to jump through so many hoops to be seen and the support staff that is supposed to help you are awful, it sort of puts a damper on the whole experience and basically outweighs the fact that the doctors are supposed to be great.
There are many doctors in Austin with good reviews and probably places with better office staff. I will gladly take my business where I might not be treated like an an annoyance and inconvenience.

Balcones Woods Family Medicine is incredible. It is hands-​down the best group of doctors I have ever seen in my entire life. I have seen almost everyone in this practice and they are consistent in their care and demeanor. They have helped me uncover a few issues and I finally feel like I’m on the path to better health (finally!).
The thing I like the most about this practice is that they take the time to listen to you, you never feel rushed, and they allocate a significant amount of time for each patient. I will gladly hand over the relatively nominal (when it comes to healthcare) $ 100 Home Medical Fee for this wonderful service. Btw — I charged the fee to my HSA this year.
I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, insightful, caring and committed healthcare practice. If you are going to grouse about the Home Medical Fee, you are missing out on awesome care.

This is a GREAT place to go if you’re looking for a primary care physician in Austin!
I’ve lived in Austin for over 10 years and most of my experiences with primary care have been very poor. I’ve gone to docs all over Austin-​north, south, and in the West Lake area-​and NONE were ever close to the personal communication and level of care you’ll get at Balcones Woods. The practice is organized and when you schedule a time to be seen, you won’t spend half the day in the waiting room. At the same time they don’t «rush» you in-​and-​out in some attempt to just get your money. It’s well run, well managed, and efficient. I highly recommend Dr. Hochman! She’s kind, has a great sense of humor, and takes time to listen to your health needs. She’ll explain where you’re doing well and areas for improvement, but you won’t feel rushed through like you’re just a number with cash. The staff here are welcoming and sincere and all of my visits have been great. The reason I write this review is because there are a ton of doctors in the area and when I started my search I had NO IDEA (other than asking friends and trial and error) on which doctors around town were actually good.
If you’re going through a similar search for a primary care physician, this place is one of the good ones!

I wasn’t actually even seen here.
I’ll start off by saying that I work the front desk at a medical office. Both ladies who I spoke to on the phone were pretty bad and in my opinion, need more phone training. The first one told me she was new and didn’t know the answer to my question and kept placing me on hold (It’s ok to not know, don’t tell me you’re new that is tacky to me).
The second woman I spoke to didn’t want to schedule my appointment until I gave her my insurance information EVEN THOUGH I AM WILLING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET IF I AM NOT IN NETWORK. This is absurd to me, and I’m sure any doctor would not be happy to hear that someone was refused an appointment who was willing to pay CASH. She finally did schedule my appointment. Then I was told that I needed to be placed on hold so they could talk to someone else. AKA: «Hold on because you’re not as important.» Then I was left on hold for over two minutes. I understand how this works, but they need to choose better wording. Not a good way to get a new patient in the door.
Then I am called saying they wont see my daughter due to her age, which was told to them at the time of scheduling. I was told that my insurnace wasn’t taken there which I was still fine with. Monica then told me «well it is quite expensive.» I know seeing a doctor is expensive. However, I don’t base my child’s health off of what insurance covers and what isn’t covered. By this point I had told her numberous times I would pay out of pocket. For her to remind me that it is expensive was highly offensive, as if I don’t have the funds to pay for my child’s healthcare.
I am sad that I wont be coming here as this place has good reviews and I’m sure that they have an excellent doctor.
This review is strictly based on the front desk staff, specifically Monica.
EDIT: I spoke with the office manager who was VERY KIND and I do believe this was an honest mistake. However I do feel they need to be aware and learn from it. But she did give me referrals to other places which I do very much appreciate.

I don’t know how I found my way to Balcones Family Medicine, but I am so glad that I did.
This is an exceptional medical practice.
Yes, they do have a Home Medical Fee, and yes, I was a little grumbly about paying it. (You would be too if you had a $ 2500.00 deductible (per person) insurance plan). However, I chose to pay it, and stay with the practice for my medical care, simply because they are superb doctors.
The care that I, and my family, have received is definitely worth the fee. Dr. Hochman, Dr. Weston, and Dr. Hausman-​Cohen have seen me in my best of times, and my worst of times. I have found them all to be genuinely concerned with my issues and help me resolve them.
I also really appreciate their willingness to communicate with me via email when I have weird/​annoying questions regarding medications, symptoms etc.
If you are looking for a medical practice where you actually feel heard instead of revolved through the door, then this is the place for you.

This is an excellent practice! I never feel rushed during appointments and always feel listened to. I feel like I’m treated on a personal level instead of just having my symptoms treated.
This practice started Cornucopia Health, which teaches people throughout the community (not just their patients) how living a plant-​strong life can enable your body to have so much health that you don’t need as much medicine (or you can decrease the amount of medicine you take). They teach you how to cook plant-​strong and live plant-​strong. That means that the office supports you in and out of the office.
I recommend everyone I know to this practice. I had been to several practices before this one that didn’t listen to my ailments. I can’t see myself going to a different practice ever again!

The entire Balcones Woods Family Medicine team is outstanding. Dr. Hausman-​Cohen is my doctor and I have also seen both of her high quality nurse practitioners when I choose. And, the office staff members are very friendly and helpful. Whereas my previous doctors in other practices have spent about 2 minutes with me at each visit and sent me off with prescriptions and very little discussion, at BWFM, I have spent about 20 – 30 minutes per visit with my doctor or nurse practitioner, enough time to ask all of my questions and to consider both traditional solutions, as well as alternative solutions. This office is also very supportive of vegetarian/​vegan diets and know how to ensure all nutritional needs are met.
I love leaving their office with a typed up report of what was discussed. No need to take notes or try to remember things. They use technology to our best advantage, but it never replaces the individualized care they provide.
There is an annual medical home fee, however, I believe it is worth it to have a doctor and team spend real time with me when I am there and on the phone when needed. The low reimbursement rates from health insurance companies have made many doctor’s offices herd us through like animals to be able to support their practice. I personally value the warmth, competence, commitment, and dedication of this office. This level of care may cost me a little extra, but my health is worth it.

BW Family Medicine is a great practice for your family medical needs. Very nice, honest doctors. You can get an appointment when you need it — important! And I trust the advice I receive.
I don’t think the $ 100 annual fee is unreasonable at all. With massive changes hitting the medical industry, doctors offices are trying to deliver the same or better level of service in the face of increasing costs to keep their doors open and offices appropriately staffed.
I appreciated that BW Family Medicine has chosen quality of service over longer wait times and they were upfront about their costs going up to maintain great service. I also believe they did it in the most minimally costly way possible.
You always get what you pay for, people.
For years, I’ve found this office to under-​charge and over-​deliver.

Worse medical experience I’ve ever had. The nurse I saw was most impersonal and coldest person I’ve ever met. She was like Nurse Ratchet in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. She basically read off a script and didn’t listen to my specific concerns. Seems like she got their training from WebMD or
Yahoo! Answers. As other reviews mentioned, this place charges some BS annual fee… to cover staff pizza parties on Fridays or something. Also be wary of other fake reviews here… easy to spot if no friends or very few reviews… These are likely written by the docs or their hired hands.