East Bay Geriatric Ctr

Pros

• The reviewer calls the clinic a great place they've been coming to for many years, noting prompt access when a doctor isn't in.
• The intake process, phone staff, medical assistants, and the primary care provider are described as thorough, kind, helpful, and genuinely caring with strong follow-up.
• Erin Pierce is described as the best doctor the reviewer has ever had, who helped figure out serious illnesses and explained a cancer diagnosis clearly.
• Dr. Fessler is described as the best doctor the reviewer has ever seen, with a supportive, hardworking staff.
• The front desk is described as nice and attentive.

Cons

• Cindy is condescending and seems not to care.
• She covers up for case managers who are not doing their jobs.
• The case managers are rude and hate their jobs.
• One staff member is described as a liar, according to the reviewer.
• She is a fast talker.
• There are control issues at the facility.
• If they are like that with family members, they would likely treat the people they call support similarly.
• The reviewer advises not to use this service for loved ones.
• The clinic is poorly staffed, with constant changes of providers and poor turnaround times.
• The reviewer is tired of being let down by the lack of care.
• Doctors are accused of not investigating problems and just prescribing to get patients out the door.
• The secretary allegedly hung up on the reviewer and took their advocacy personally.
• Callbacks promised within 24-48 hours rarely happen.
• There are long wait times and patients are seen out of order.
• An incident described where a toddler's appointment was delayed, the nurse practitioner never came in, and a refill wasn't processed.

Review

The collection of reviews presents a clinic with a deeply mixed reputation, where some patients feel profoundly let down by the way staff behave and manage care, while others praise specific clinicians and the overall experience. A recurring thread is the perception of condescension and gatekeeping from certain staff members. One reviewer described a specific staff member, Cindy, as condescending and seemingly exhausted by the length of time she's been at the job, and complained that she covers for coworkers who aren't doing their jobs. Others echoed a sense that some case managers are rude, unhelpful, or even dishonest, describing encounters with fast talkers and "control issue" dynamics. The impression left by these stories is that the environment can feel hostile or untrustworthy for families who rely on support from the clinic.

Several reviewers voiced strong calls to avoid the service for loved ones. One person argued that the staff's behavior toward families and dependents is so concerning that it should not be used at all for anyone's relatives. The sentiment behind this warning is not just about isolated incidents but about a broader pattern of perceived neglect and poor accountability. The fear that those who depend on the clinic's care might receive substandard treatment underpins these warnings, painting a picture of a medical setting where advocacy and follow-through are difficult for families to secure.

In sharp contrast, other patients describe a very positive experience, highlighting responsiveness and thorough care. A different view emphasizes the clinic's accessibility and the competence of its team, praising the intake process for new patients, the helpfulness of phone staff, and the attentiveness of medical assistants and primary care providers. This account singles out a particular physician, Erin Pierce, as exceptionally effective at diagnosing serious illnesses and explaining complex information - contrasting that experience with a hospital specialist who seemed less able to communicate clearly. According to this reviewer, Erin Pierce's impact extended beyond medical diagnosis to supportive guidance about home life and mental health, suggesting a holistic approach to care that feels genuinely reassuring to some patients.

Long-standing loyalty to certain doctors is another prominent thread. One patient expressed unwavering trust in Dr. Fessler, crediting her as the best doctor they have ever seen and noting that the nurses and staff also work hard and are caring. This, too, reflects a powerful counterpoint to the more negative sentiments, illustrating that for some families the clinic remains a trusted, dependable place with dedicated clinicians who make a meaningful difference over many years.

Wait times and scheduling consistency emerge as a separate, persistent source of frustration. Several reviewers describe the clinic as poorly staffed with frequent changes in providers and long turnaround times. The experience of being promised prompt callbacks or priority attention, only to have never receive a return call, is repeatedly noted. There is a sense that administrative processes - like returning patient calls and keeping appointments on schedule - are inconsistently managed, which compounds patients' frustration when they feel their needs aren't being prioritized.

A particularly negative vignette centers on a family with three children, where the expectation that doctors would thoroughly investigate recurring concerns was not met. The reviewer described a pattern of prescribed medications without digging into underlying issues and recounted a troubling phone interaction with a secretary who hung up on them when advocacy became intense. The overall message is a strong preference to seek care elsewhere, driven by a perception that the clinic does not consistently address the root problems or treat families with the respect they deserve.

Another vivid account focuses on broken expectations around appointments and refills. A parent recounted waiting for a nurse practitioner for a lengthy period after their child's vitals were taken, only to have no one come in. The family began dressing their child, left the room, and walked the hall, still waiting for a response. When they finally requested a refill, the staff suggested rescheduling rather than immediately addressing the prescription issue, forcing the parent to make another appointment on a day that didn't fit their schedule. In that narrative, the lack of timely care and the failure to refill medications on time underscored a broader sense of missed commitments and operational missteps.

Amid these critiques, there are brief moments of appreciation that remind readers why some patients remain loyal. In a succinct positive note, one review simply states "Great service," and another points to a front desk that was pleasant and attentive, noting a minor wait for the doctor but still seeing it as acceptable given the clinic's setting. These snippets reinforce the idea that patient experience at this clinic is not monolithic - some encounters are smooth and reassuring, while others are fraught with frustration and disappointment.

Overall, the experiences shared paint a clinic with noticeable strengths in certain clinicians and moments of excellent patient support, contrasted by serious concerns about staffing, accountability, and communication. For some families, the healthcare provided here feels dependable and compassionate, backed by physicians who take time to listen and explain. For others, the environment feels inconsistent and difficult to navigate, with complaints about condescending behavior from some staff, inadequate follow-through, and frequent delays that undermine trust in the system. The result is a clinic that can be life-changing and reassuring for some patients while being a source of significant stress and dissatisfaction for others.

This part of Riverside, Rhode Island offers a variety of amenities that may be appealing for senior living. With several cafes, pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians within close proximity, residents have easy access to necessary medical services and everyday necessities. Additionally, there are plenty of restaurants nearby for dining out options. The presence of parks provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. For entertainment, there is a theater nearby as well as convenient transportation options with Providence Station and Green Airport located within a few miles. Overall, this area offers a mix of convenience and leisure activities that may be suitable for seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Cafes

• Borealis Coffee Roasters (0.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Seven Stars Bakery (4 miles)
• Daves Coffee (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• White Electric Coffee (4.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Stop & Shop Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Bradley Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Hasbro Children's Hospital (3.8 miles)
• Women and Infants Laboratory (3.8 miles)

Physicians

• Coastal Medical - Coastal Family Medicine (1.6 miles)
• University Of Medicine Riverside (1.7 miles)
• Coastal Medical - Waterman Pediatrics (2.7 miles)
• Coastal Medical Sleep Disorder (2.8 miles)
• University Orthopedics (3 miles)
• Barrington Pediatrics (3.2 miles)
• University Surgical Associates - Roth, Leslie A, MD (3.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (2.3 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• What Cheer Tavern (2.4 miles)
• Brass Monkey (2.5 miles)
• Wendy's (2.5 miles)
• Davenport's Restaurant (3.5 miles)
• PVDonuts (3.8 miles)

Parks

• Roger Williams Park (2.8 miles)
• Bold Point Park (3.5 miles)
• Gano Park (3.9 miles)
• Waterman St Dog Park (4.1 miles)
• India Point Park (4.4 miles)
• Blackstone Park (4.4 miles)
• Blackstone Boulevard (4.6 miles)

Theaters

• Providence Place Showcase IMAX Theaters (4.9 miles)

Transportation

• Providence Station - MBTA & Amtrak (PVD) (4.9 miles)
• Green Airport (PVD) (5 miles)
• T. F. Green Airport (5.3 miles)