The LLMD in LA has at least 2 receptionists, at least 2 nurses, 1 P.A., on site lab, and someone usually returns calls within 24 hours, mostly within a few hours. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and knowledgable. Most likely you will deal with the P.A. there, but he appears to be just as knowledgable in LD as the physician. The LLMD in LA also onlyuses labs that specialize in Lyme Disease and related co-infections for the testing of LD and co-infections; they use Igenex. This doc also tested other things that can be affected by LD and/or co-infections, such as my thyroid levels, CBC, BMP,ANA, to rule out other diseases that can cause similar symptoms, etc and to see if my immune system has been compromised. This LLMD is very thorough. They will bill your insurance and you will only have to pay the co-pay and/or deductible. I have two insurances and they are billing both of them, so I do not end up paying anything out of pocket. It is about a 7.5 hour drive from my home to the doc in LA, so they may set up a telephone appt after I got set up on proper treatment, etc; this is to save the expenses involved with making trips there and back, along with the driving time, hotel, etc. They do everything they can to be complete and thorough in their care of patients as well as try to save the patient's money as much as possible. I have been there physically twice; the first time to get tested and the 2nd time to find out the results of the testing and get treatment started. They gave me a booklet sponsored by the LDA (Lyme Disease Association) and many other materials to help me understand more about LD and the treatment. I definetly recommend the LLMD in LA. To find out contact information, you can PM me. I will only give out the contact phone # and the doctor's name due to controversy of LD and some people that try to discredit or cause other troubles for such physicians. I hope this helps. PM me so I can give you the name and phone #. I have attached a file to this post that has a awesome document that provides "Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidlines for Lyme And Other Tick Borne Illnesses".

Sheila

and btw LLMDs are self named and as such there will be some that know LOTS and others that know little--its not a real specialty with added educational requirements (like say peds or neurology) and anyone can call themselves an LLMd to try to gain patients. Unbelievably there are now quite a few trying to grab pts from real LLMDs ( thoe with the knowledge and pt experience) for 2 reasons one worse than the other--one some truly think theyre saving pts and believe that Lyme isnt so bad...the other--MONEY..sad but true

Lyme pts are an easy mark, and we all have to question just what any health professional says--where they trained, how many Lyme pts, what theyre policies are about antibiotics and alternatives, how much support and office attitudes--many very good LLMDs have a limited consult only situation of few hrs, no call service or phone messages or emergency hrs--and expect you to have another Dr on board for that. as a medical consumer we have to ask ask then ask again.

good luck

Finette