Robert D Cook, MD

Bedside manner was so so, staff was great! I went in for allergies as I literally suffer year round from every known allergen. I wanted testing or, at least a medication that would help me feel better and help my dark circles under my eyes so I don’t look like I’ve been on a 2 week crack binge. I had asthma when I was a kid and naturally got tested when I went in.
I was told my lungs are currently functioning at an above normal percentage yet still got prescribed asthma medication. He did a full physical on me and then said we will see you next time for allergy testing.
That’s not even remotely what I came in for… I wanted the testing done today or at least an expectation to be set before I went in knowing that. I would have not wasted my co-​pay or any of my vacation hours to go in to know what I already knew. Not really sure how he was on the best doctors list; I regret wasting my money. Nonetheless my family and I wont be returning.

This Doctor saved my children’s life-​literally many years ago when I was a camp nurse in Pennsylvania. I had gone up there with a child that was asthmatic and when I got into problems in a camp far away from a doctor he got on the phone long distance and talked me thru nebulizer treatments for this child. This is the kind of doctor that he is. No, he isn’t warm and fuzzy. But if you want someone who is competent and caring then he is your man.

This doctor is very thorough and takes his time explain everything. I brought my 3 year old who has bad allergies and he was very patient and kind to her. The staff was nice as well, considering the fact I arrived late (bad traffic on 35) and they still greeted me with smiles and didn’t look annoyed that I was 15 min late.

The staff is extremely friendly and very helpful but unfortunately Dr Cook is not very communicative. He obviously knows his job very well but that doesn’t mean we patients understand what we have. I don’t know why I’m having this allergic reaction and everytime i tried asking he would not let me talk. He would interrupt by saying «just a minute» as he continued typing stuff into te computer and i was not able to explain the whole symptoms to him. I was able to explain them to the girl that was helping him but i never did to him because he just would not LISTEN. He needs to learn how to listen to the patients and to answer the questions. The entire time he was in a rush! They then gave me a bunch of papers which the girl was able to explain to me about how to take the meds etc, but i wanted to know more about the condition that i’m having that the doctor apparently did not have time to explain. I left with more questions than before! I was just even more confused! So yeah, the girls did an amazing job but I was very dissapointed about Dr Cook. I will not come back for a next appt.

I have been going to Dr. Cooke’s office for several years. I’m not sure why I haven’t written a review sooner. The care here is phenomenal. Dr. Cooke and Shelly, the nurse practitioner, are thorough, professional and knowledgeable about their specialty. They utilize up to date technology and have been using an electronic database since I started going, several years ago. I have never had a more continuously through assessment. They take all factors into account, including home and work environments, changing weather, potential stressors, and the standard changes in health and medications. The rest of the staff is wonderful as well. They are all smart and friendly.
At the end of the first visit I was given a printout of my full assessment and plan. I have had an allergy assessment as well and Dr. Cooke has taken the time to educate me about allergy seasons (which are practically all year in Austin) and what measures I can take at home to set myself up for success. He is realistic about expectations, knowing that one can’t afford every hypoallergenic thing there is on the market. He is honest about what medications are a waste of money and what needs to be done to get the best results. I have seen him and/​or Shelley for allergies, asthma, and once for a hives outbreak.
Aside from the above, they also are there in an emergency. I had a sudden exacerbation of my asthma 2 days ago, called the clinic the next morning and got instructions. They asked me to call back an hour later to check in, then Kelly called me at the end of the day to followup. Dr Cooke had given her instructions for me to take some medications which she called in, anticipating I may be out of it. I wasn’t, but the stock I had was expired. That is a healthcare team working together to get a patient the best care at the right time. They fit me into an appointment the next morning. Even though the clinic was busy, I was kept aware of what was going on. There is a reason there’s a plaque on the wall stating «One of the top 100 Doctor’s in America 2003 – 2012.»

Professional… Excellent…
I go to Dr. Cook, I take my two very young children there, and I drive a good distance to get to his office. It’s worth it to know my children are well cared for by experienced care.

This is the kind of doctor I like. Thorough. Answers all my questions. No rushing. I’ve never had a doctor spend this much time with me.
He’s happy to help me not just get better but to understand what is going on so I can play an active role in improving my health (not just passively following instructions).
Each time I’ve gone I’ve received thorough documentation of what’s going on without even asking for it.
I called in to ask for a prescription the other day and Dr Cook himself even called me back.
Check out what TX Monthly has to say. Check out how he rates among other doctors and who they would go to themselves.

I like him. He is so smart!!! And LOVED his office staff. Been going to him for about 10 years now. I would highly recommend Dr. Cook.

I was referred to Doctor Cook — I like him very much — I liked his very throughness and educational side. He is all business but I was not there a friend but a doctor to help deal with my Allergies. His office staff is very friendly and nice.
Great location too — easy to get to for most of Austin.

I owe Dr. Cook my life. What I didn’t understand about visits with Dr. Cook is that he gives you a mini-​physical on the spot. Something, mind you, that he doesnt have to do, but does because he cares and b/​c of professional ethics. I stop by to get an allergy check up and next thing you know I’m on the operating table getting my thyroid taken out by another fabulous surgeon. And to think I tried to tell Dr. Cook to take a hike on the thyroid issue but he insisted in his no nonsese fashion which I greatly appreciate. And no but, the one year I’ve lived in Austin (aka allergy capital of the universe) has been the most allergy free year of my 40 yrs. Being new to town, we were greatly appreciative of Dr. Cook referring us out to a number of other docs that our family needed. We’re finding out it isn’t that easy to get A+ medical care in this day and age unless you know someone.

There are pros and cons to Dr. Cook’s office. All the receptionists and nurses have been extremely kind and helpful in my opinion. They seem thorough and willing to go above and beyond their job description to be helpful. The issue is Dr. Cook is all business. No smiles, personable bedside manner or anything. He is incredibly intelligent, thorough and passionate about allergies. The issue is that he doesn’t stop to explain himself, talks pretty fast and expects everyone to have the knowledge base that he has about allergies. When all I know is that I have a headache or a booger conga line in my nose. Don’t go here if all you want is a warm and fuzzy feeling from a doctor, but if you want thoroughness and a doctor who is incredibly knowledgeable, go. Just remember to make him stop to allow you to ask questions and talk slower.

Dr. Robert Cook and Central Texas Allergy have been treating me for allergies for mold, cedar and dust mites for at least 8 years, during which I have experienced major improvements. I used to get serious sinus infections every year before going to him for treatment. Since then I have only had one and most of the time I am able to keep my allergy symptoms are under control. His physicians assistant and staff are all excellent, friendly and helpful.

I replied on an allergist thread, then felt compelled to come write some reviews.
I saw Dr. Cook on the recommendation of my boss last year, and I was told I had no allergies! Even though when they tested mold on me I got an instant migraine and almost passed out, and had to be monitored for the longest 30 minutes or so of my life. When you’ve got migraines, you get sensitive to light and sound, but their tech insisted on watching Judge Judy, sound on 11, and having the lights on, even though I kept asking to have dark and quiet if I was forced to stay there.
Later I found out that they’d told a coworker with allergies that she doesn’t have allergies either. That seems bad for business for an allergist…
However, my boss still goes and really likes it, and says it’s helped. (She’s got the mold problem right now, like we all do though.)