Five Journeys

I absolutely love my doctor, Dr. Bernice Wong, who deserves 5 stars at least! She is truly a brilliant integrative medical doctor, is full of integrity and has a heart! But the medical directors of Five Journeys, Dr. Trubow and Dr. Levitan ( who set policy) seem to lack that sense of "patient-centered care" I was sworn to as a healthcare provider long ago. They ignored my heads up and calls for help when their partner they refer patients to - BILH - Beth Israel Lahey Health refused to give me the ovarian cancer ultrasound test ordered by Five Journeys - bc BILH now forces patients to sign off on "all tests & treatments" for oneself "and all (your)...dependents" (i.e., your kids), or you will be refused your service in need - cancer or not! That's not medical care, that's medical coercion, extortion and neglect. Yet that's apparently ok with Drs. Trubow and Levitan. And if anyone find this hard to believe (as I did too) I urge you to call BILH, and ask to see a copy of their new patient consent form. Or call the President's office and ask why we can no longer sign off on the treatment or test at hand. And ask Dr. Trubow or Dr. Levitan why they choose loyalty to BILH over the medical needs of their patients (even after they knew about BILH's coercive demands.) If only Dr. Trubow or Dr. Levitan had responded to any one of my many attempts to get their help for me and all their other patients who go into BILH unknowingly - this review would not have been necessary. But my sense of my civic duty and medical fairness comes first. And sadly, I know this will mean I will no longer be allowed in to see the true integrative/functional medicine doctor there who I really like and respect. And that is the sacrifice I have had to make for the greater good.

I am 51 years old and have always been extremely healthy, but about five years ago I developed a mysterious rash on my face. For the first three years it wasn't too severe, so I wasn't too worried that doctors couldn't figure it out. But it kept getting worse. Over the last two years, I've been to countless doctors and specialists, tried every medication, cream, and antibiotic you can imagine. I was at doctors' offices multiple times a week trying to get answers, but I never felt truly heard and most just treated the symptoms instead of finding the cause. I first called Five Journeys two years ago when things started to get bad, but after hearing the price, I decided not to go. I so regret that decision. I wish I had gone then and not wasted two years of my life. Last Wednesday, I finally made the call again , and by Thursday I had an appointment with Dr. Wendie Trubow for Friday. I was still hesitant about spending the money on concierge medicine, but I left her office feeling completely different. For the first time, I felt truly seen and heard. Dr. Trubow took her time, asked thoughtful questions, and treated me as a whole person, not just a list of symptoms. I went in feeling dark and heavy and left feeling light, hopeful, and confident that we will get to the root cause. I'm just upset I waited so long , but so deeply grateful to finally be here. Thank you, Dr. Trubow. I am truly grateful.

My PCP referred me to Five Journey's when I inquired about getting a prescription from an investigative standpoint; she explained that she provides evidence based care and that a functional medicine specialist would serve me best. From the moment I walked out of the elevator and directly into the office at Five Journey's in Boston I knew that I was in the right place. I think you'll have a similar or comparable experience when you go (you're reading this review). I was greeted immediately by the receptionist and then on to speaking with Dr. Gerlach in a matter of minutes. Typical doctor interaction, introduction, evaluation, BP, temp etc., then on to sitting down and talking. I came prepared with my notes which listed my history, experiences (ass aches) and current supplement usage, listing why I took what. After my introduction where I had felt very at ease, she had some questions for me. What resulted was a recommendation consisting of taking a set of blood, urine and stool tests to identify, then a very comfortable review of the results in Dr. Gerlach's office about five weeks later. The feeling I've had since last Monday, when I sat with her to learn of the results, is one that happens infrequently, if even once in a blue moon. Understanding what is in you to then know what can work best to get things back toward the norm, that's very settling. There's a cost that goes along with this care, and I hope someday the insurance world will recognize this. Functional medicine and the prescriptions of supplements and pharmaceuticals should be handled and covered equally, including the more thorough analysis that's required to more accurately diagnose. Anyway...my health cannot have a value placed on it. I'll pursue OON coverages reimbursement where applicable (they do bill for an office visit, for which I have a $20 copay). If you choose to go to Five Journey's I expect that you'll feel that your time was well spent on self care. I've only met Dr. Gerlach, but birds of a feather..., so I truly believe that you too will receive accurate guidance and compassionate, friendly care. Give to yourself what you deserve, whether at Five Journey's or elsewhere, but in my book it'd be worth putting Five Journey's first on the list.

I'm extremely disappointed with my experience at Five Journeys. Earlier this year, my appointment was miscoded in a way that did not reflect the actual purpose of my visit. Despite reaching out more than 20 times by email and phone calls to have this corrected, the practice has refused to update my record. Accurate medical documentation is essential for continuity of care and insurance purposes. The refusal to correct such a clear error has caused unnecessary stress and financial burden. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend Five Journeys.

I can't thank Elizabeth Mitchell enough for the care and attention she has given me. From the very beginning, she stood out, not only for her medical knowledge, but for her calm, reassuring presence and genuine compassion. What makes Elizabeth truly exceptional is her intuition and persistence. She noticed something subtle that others might have overlooked, and thanks to her, my cancer was caught in its early stages, before any obvious symptoms even appeared. I truly believe that her vigilance and care have given me a fighting chance, and for that, I will always be grateful. Elizabeth is the kind of nurse practitioner who listens, advocates, and makes you feel like you're not just a patient, but a person who matters. Her positivity and warmth made every appointment easier, and her dedication is simply unmatched. If you ever have the privilege of being under Elizabeth's care, know that you're in the best hands possible. She is a rare gem in the medical field, and I am endlessly thankful for her.