Fresh Pond Women’s Health

Love my doctor and the nurses. The women at the front desk, on the other hand, are rude and condescending. They can’t be bothered with. I dread calling to schedule appointments.

The front desk staff here is the absolute worst. They have sucked for YEARS. They never hire anyone friendly or remotely helpful.

Carol Tallon, the NP I was assigned is a gem. Such a pleasure to be around, really put me at ease in what is usually an anxiety producing situation for me. However, after having to interact with the staff at the front desk twice last year, I decided I wouldn’t be going back. I don’t understand how people who seem so miserable and unpleasant manage to keep their jobs as essentially the face of a medical practice. I’m writing this review quite late, after receiving reminder robo-​calls to book my yearly appointment, so the details are a little fuzzy at this point, but I remember feeling like my presence in the office was at first being ignored, then once I was coldly acknowledged, dealing with me was a burden to the women behind the reception counter. I’ve worked in customer service jobs before, which I realize is only part of the job these women do at FPWH, but I know with certainty that if I’d ever treated customers like this I would’ve been out of a job really quickly. I should say that I because I sat in the waiting room for a little while before Carol was ready for me, I also witnessed this bad behavior directed at the women who came in for appointments after me. I wasn’t compelled to write about this before because I really loved my experiences with Carol, but after being reminded of this office I thought it seemed fair to warn folks. And who knows, maybe they’ve addressed this issue and things have changed, but when I called to tell them to stop the robo-​calling because I wouldn’t be back, they didn’t seemed interested in the reason I gave them. Anyhow, hope this helps other people deciding on health care providers.
Edit: The office manager called me just now to get my story and seemed incredibly reasonable; she was patient and concerned about my bad experience there. She expressed a desire to correct these issues, which is great. I suppose I learned that perhaps instead of just avoiding a thing and ignoring the issue, it can be beneficial to make a complaint to someone who’s interested in improving issues. I usually hesitate because you can never tell what kind of person will be on the other end of the line, but thanks again *office manager who’s name I’ve already forgotten– sorry*, you’ve made me reconsider my normal head-​in-​the-​sand technique.

Front desk staff is not as pleasant or helpful as you wish they would be. Doctors and nurses are lovely. For standard procedures and checks this is a great place, just don’t expect to get the best treatment from the administrative staff.

I can’t say enough positive things about my gynecologist, Dr. Anne D’Avenas, and Fresh Pond Women’s Health. I have been going to Dr. D’Avenas for 20 years, and she has seen me through my reproductive years and now the oh-​so-​fun menopause transition. I trust her 300%. She is an experienced physician who is also compassionate and kind. There is nothing you can’t talk to her about. She will listen and then give you the very best health care possible. You will be treated as if you are a member of her own family. I recently had an uncomfortable procedure, but she made it manageable by listening to my concerns and working with me on a pain management plan. She was gentle and got the job done quickly to minimize discomfort. She hugged me afterward and told me I did great. She is just an excellent doctor. So lucky to have her! Everyone at Fresh Pond Women’s Health is great. They treat all patients with dignity and respect.

great place, would recommend.

When was the last time you were in and out of a doctor’s appointment in 15 minutes? Well for me it was this morning at Fresh Pond Women’s Health.
Everyone here is incredible from the front desk staff to the assistants to the doctors, and they are ALWAYS running on time. Parking is never a problem, and the waiting room is lovely.
Special shout outs to Dr. Germaine Earle-​Cruickshanks and Carol, the NP.

Who likes going to the doctor? Worse, who likes going to their gynecologist?
I’ve been going to this practice for probably 10 or so years and I love it here. There wasn’t Unilocal back when I chose this office so I based my decision on proximity to where I was working and living at the time. It all worked out and I feel that the office has improved tremendously since I first became a patient.
First of all, the front desk staff is so friendly and they seem to know all of their patients’ names, which is amazing to me! Not only that, but the practice added morning, evening, and weekend hours within the last year or so. This is such a benefit to me as I am a teacher and typical doctor office hours of 9a-​4p just don’t work for my schedule.
When I found out I was pregnant with our first child (Hooray!!!), I went back and forth about whether or not I should switch to a doctor closer to where I live. However, this office is so convenient to where I work that I decided to stay here. I am so glad I did! The Nurse Practitioner, Carol Tallon, is a gem and is almost like a mother to me. She was so excited when I told her the good news and she treats me more like a friend than a patient. She remembers everything I tell her (not just patient stuff too, but personal tidbits) and when my husband met her, he understood why I go here and why I rave about Carol. Sometimes, I wish she delivered babies as I would love to have her by my side at that momentous occasion. For now, I see Dr. D’Avenas, who is just one of several physicians here that deliver at Mt. Auburn. Dr. D’Avenas is competent and friendly too, but when she is not available, I specifically ask for Carol. Even though Carol is a Nurse Practitioner, she really knows her stuff. She has been a great resource before and throughout my pregnancy. Since her husband is a teacher, she recognizes how difficult it is for me to receive phone calls during the day. There have been many occasions when she has stayed by the phone after leaving me a message or after hours just to make sure that I can reach her when I call her back.
Not only are the doctors and receptionists attentive, but the nurses are all very personable as well. I have entertaining conversations with all of them as I get my blood pressure measured or my weight taken.
The bulletin boards here are plastered with baby photos and I can’t wait to send them one too!

I’m the husband of a pregnant women due in 3weeks. We use a midwife at Fresh Pond Women’s Health Associates due to convenient location. Our experience has been very positive overall, however the reception desk deserves no compliments.
She likes to cancel appointments 10 minutes before the actual visit (twice in 2months), resulting in wasted trips since we were almost at the office both times. I asked why she couldn’t tell us earlier, and her response was «since you’ve been late twice before».
Her underlying tone was «you were late so you deserve the punishment». I think it’s unfair to treat people like that. She wasted the precious time of a Mom-​to-​be.
If you use the midwifes there, I recommend calling them to confirm your appointment time before you leave your house.

Have you ever stood in a generic, unassuming hallway and heard, from around the corner, a real, live baby heartbeat chugging away from a next door ultrasound? Has it ever kick-​started your ovaries into gear right then and there?
I am not pregnant, and probably won’t and shouldn’t be for a good long while, but when those days arrive, I can’t imagine a nicer place to spend them. The receptionists’ walls are literally papered with photos of smiling babies and happy mothers. The nurses and administrators are warm and sparkling (I mean, the place is practically fueled by chug chug rhythm of fetal monitors – wouldn’t you be?), and Dr. Anne D’Avinas is a wonderfully calming and trustworthy doctor. The sweetest words any woman could hear after a few abnormal paps?
«Believe me, it’s nothing… but let’s run another, just to be totally sure. It’s what I would do if you were my own daughter.»
You don’t even realize that that’s EXACTLY what you need to hear from a ladyparts doctor to both calm fears and act as the surrogate mom you didn’t even know you kinda wished was there with you. They even snuck an HPV shot in for good measure, it totally didn’t hurt, AND I got a lollipop. As if having boobs, a later sexual peak, and a longer lifespan weren’t bonus enough for being a chick, am I right?