John A. Cottam, MD

DO NOT GO TO THIS DOCTOR!! I went for a skin cancer checkup at the Sun City office. Dr. Cottam (or at least I assume it was Dr. Cottam since he never introduced himself) came into room, told me to stand up fully dressed, lifted the back of my shirt up to my bra strap, told me to pull up my pants legs and shirt sleeves and glanced at my skin. Never checked the top of my back, my shoulders, neck, stomach, thighs or anywhere else under my clothes. I pointed out 2 places on my collarbone. He grabbed spray and froze them and told me to wear a big hat and left the room!! That was the extent of the exam. His staff is sullen and rude and the waiting room is like a dungeon. I reported him to my insurance company but will still have to pay again to go to another doctor for a comprehensive and professional exam. Don't waste your money and/or take the chance you may have something that needs to be treated.

Read more: http://www.vitals.com/doctor/profile/1629174941/reviews/1629174941#ixzz1ySPgVtjZ

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i went in for a manatee co. wellness phy. the office does not know how to code the bill for that. i called and talked to Shanna in the billing department and explained she left the code out for the phy. she was rude then i called the office manager and tried to explain to her Jennifer. Jennifer asked how many years experance i had in billing. the office staff is very rude and condasending.

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Joe Battalia has a great start to the legal profession. He is careful and very thorough. I enjoyed having him work with me and I felt safe! Thank you!

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For years I have gone to many dermatologist and was always diagnosed with eczema. I have flaky skin around my eye brows and flaky skin around my nose.
I had always used a over the counter cream and the other Dr.s told me there was no treatment other than to keep it moisturized.

On my very first treatment, Dr. Cottam was able to diagnose my problem ans prescribe the correct medicine. WOW. I did NOT have eczema but another type of disorder which after 20 years of suffering this unsightly flaky skin is now cured.
Bless this man !
Thank you
Bobby Edington

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In Jan-Mar 2011, I visit him 4 times for dry skin and mole biopsy. His Bradenton, FL location was a completely messy. There was soup cans and trach cans all over. Appear to be their lunch room! He has so much junk on the patient table, that I had to sit on a hard wood chair for consultation and during the biopsy procedure!!
He was way to fast with me. Each question I asked as rudely answered with short reply or handing me a flyer. less than 5 min he was gone.
After he left the room, the nurse "continued" the exam and helped explain things better than DR. Cottam ever did.
He was so rushed on 1 visit that he was actually calling his billing office while doing my biopsy and finally handed the phone to his nurse.

Then the billing nightmare. I used Aetna and know that DOC visit are covered 100% after copay. But he and his office manager insisted I put down a $220 deposit (on top of copay amount) since it would not be covered by Aetna. sure enough I got the EOB and I was only suppose to pay the copay. took me 3 months and 4 calls to get my money back from Dr. Cottam.

I agree with all the BAD reviews on this site!
Stay away. there are much better DEMO doctors out there.

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When ever someone calls the person should know how to speak properly with respect they should be reported to Better Business Bureau, they must provide good services

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As an experienced Emergency Room nurse, I am horrified at the lack of professionalism and medical knowledge displayed by the practice of Dr. Cottam. In May, my son saw Dr. Cottam for an unusual mole on his back. The site was biopsied. When he visited NJ in July, he showed me the scar and said he hadn't heard from Dr. Cottam's office, but had scheduled a followup visit at the time the mole was removed. I replied that since he hadn't heard from Dr. Cottam, the mole was benign - nothing to worry about. Tim indicated that the office was filthy and he was uncomfortable with the lack of sterile procedures. But imagine his shock when he saw Dr. Cottam on July 13 and was given a pathology report from the Tampa Pathology Lab indicating he had Stage II melanoma. The report indicated that Dr. Cottam received the report on June 3. The doctors I work with were horrified at the lack of follow up, and urged me to find another dermatologist. A quick google search indicated that the Moffitt center is the best in the area. Tim called and made an appointment. Thank god he did. Tim NEVER HAD CANCER!

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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I normally don't write reviews, and I always have patience for long waits or paperwork mishaps, as I know mistakes happen. What I don't have patience for is poor medical care for my daughter. When I took my six month old to this doctor the examination room was disgusting. There was a pink dish with very old used surgical instruments half immersed in some sort of liquid sitting right on the table. The trash cans in the room were not secured as biomedical waste should be, and bloody gauze and needles were littering all three exposed trash bins. The tattooed aid came in and wrote two prescriptions and clipped them to my daughter's chart. My daughter had still not been seen by anyone, yet prescriptions were being written by someone not authorized to write them. The doctor walked in, swiped a Qtip over her rash - without any gloves on, and handed me the prescriptions off of her chart which he never even wrote, or looked at to see what was on them. I immediately questioned the medication, and he told me it was a an antibiotic and steroid cream. When I went to fill the prescription, the pharmacist told me he would fill it, but considered the dosage to be extremely unsafe for a child her age, and it would eat through her skin within days. Needless to say, I will never visit this doctor again.

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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

This doctor is one of the best. No dermatologist should have to spend 30 minutes! with a patient unless he is doing surgery - I have had surgery twice and was in and out in 30 mins! I have referred several patients to him and they have all been very happy they found him. Mostly what you have on these boards are the very few vocal minority who have had an unusual experience. This doctor is usually fairly busy for a reason - people seek him out. Even so, you will likely be in and out in less than 30 mins. He and his staff move fast, that doesnt make him rude.

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I went to see him on a recommendation from my primary. He was in the room less than 30 secs after waiting way past my appt. All staff was rude. My primary said she heard his practice was going down hill because of overbooking, and bedside. She won't refer anyone again.

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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

MY HUSBAND USED THIS DERMATOLOGIST RECENTLY AND WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AS THE OFFICE WAS VERY BUSY,AND HE HAD TO STAND AS THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SEATING.THIS DR OVER SCHEDULES AND SPENT LESS THAN 30 MINUTES WITH MY HUSBAND,ANSWERED VERY FEW QUESTIONS AND WAS VERY ARROGANT.I RECOMMEND ANY OTHER DR

PROS: NONE
CONS: EVERYTHING

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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

He is very knowledgable and knew exactly how to fix my problem. I would recommend to anyone to use this doctor. It was also a very affordable visit.

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This Dr's schedule leaves much to be desired - patients are left waiting for hours, test results are lost - absolutely no "bedside manner" displayed by this doctor or his staff.

Would not recommend to anyone.

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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.