Terry C. Lin, DO

If you are looking for someone to hold your hand and coddle you; Dr. Lin is not for you. However, if you are looking for a competent professional that is results driven and will not give up on your case; Dr. Lin is the GI you are looking for.
I have been a patient for 2 years now. Dr. Lin is in the top 5% of physicians in his field. He runs a single doctor practice and that is extremely busy all year around. In my mind, that fact certainly speaks to his abilities as a competent Gastroenterologist and played a role in my choosing him.
After months of suffering with horrendous pain, several surgeries, vomiting, and not being able to eat solid food; Dr. Lin took over my case when a team of other doctors and surgeons could not figure out what was wrong with me. In the end, he diagnosed with me Crohn's Disease. Had Dr. Lin not taken charge of my case, I would have died. That is a confirmed fact. His diligence and medical knowledge saved my life and I am now in remission.
I have always been impressed with Dr, Lin's ability to explain things to my husband and I; making certain we understand what is being said and that all of our questions are answered. Dr. Lin also knows in what order things must be done in keeping within the guidelines of the insurance companies.
I can state without abandon that Dr. Terry Lin was/is a godsend to me. He listened to me and watched over me for months when everyone else had given up on me; passing my case to the next doctor instead of helping me.

To those reviewers who have knocked Dr. Lin for not being a hand holder, all I can say is that that Dr. Lin??s perseverance and skill as a GI saved me, while the hand-holding doctors turned their backs to me after only a few visits. Were it left up to them, I would not be here to write this review. Because I am here, I say that Dr, Lin can be as clinical as he wishes. He is here to save lives and help to give a better quality of life to his patients- not rock you to sleep at night.

Pros: Staff, knowledge, doesn't give up, strong determination

Cons: Can be tough to get an appt if you are a new patient

Dr. Lin is a caring man with a great bed side manner. He gets straight to the point the potenntial diagnosis. He drew and explained the procedure, potenital complications and made me feel at ease.

I was suffering for a long time with heartburn pain; he took out a long-time, age old stone that had been hidden. I have been heart-burn free ever since andI had been suffering for over 15 -20 years.

Pros: Fast action - good visuals

Cons: Long lead time for follow up

Although Dr. Lin's "bedside" manner might not be the greatest, he did a great job with me. You can imagine how many patients he has so getting to the point is a time saver for him and for me. He originally thought I might have Schottky's ring in my esophagus but after the camera went down there, it was discovered that I had a palatial hernia which led to esophogeal ulcers. All that made it difficult to swallow food. Dr. Lin gave me a prescription of Protonix and within literally 2 days, it was much easier to swallow and I am very happy. The bottom line is the end result and my end result is excellent. Nice job Dr. Lin.

Pros: Quick and to the point

Cons: Had the first endoscopy appt of the day but waited 2 hours with iv in me.

Dr. Lin is a caring man with a great bed side manner. He does not "sugar coat" anything and gets straight to the point with out wasting anytime. I was suffering for a long time and misdiagnosed by two other physicians before being referred to Dr. Lin. There was a wait to get in to see him but it was worth it to me. Dr. Lin diagnosed and treated me with in one month and I have been symptom free since. I was so happy I sent my Mother, Father and brother to see him. They have all had good experiences with him as well. His office staff is knowledgeable and return all of my calls (which is rare in this day and age). I would not hesitate in recommending him to any of my family or friends.

Pros: Great bed side manner, compassionate, willing to listen, office staff.

Cons: lengthy time to see the Dr.

My physician referred to him and I got my first appointment only after a wait of 2 months. Only later I realized that why is he so busy:
1. I could notice that he goes for diagnostic like gastro endoscopy almost immediately even if there is no case. Infact in my case he showed urgency that I needed because of remving some suspicion of ulcer and this was finished in 1 week. After Endoscopy, he is not giving me follow-up appointment befoer 2.5 months saying nothing was found. Only he said earlier that he does not also think that I have ulcer but he just want to confirm that and he'll give me some medication later.

2. Now he realize that he has fooled my insurance company for endoscopy and ther is no chance of earning money in my case as I really do not have much of the problem.

Reader, you realize yourself that if you do not have time for followup appointment, what is the meaning of diagnostic. A patient should be left to fend him for 2.5 months after diagnostic, just because that test didn't reveal anything. He doesn't have any other clue and he even doesn't wants to speak his patient ? Why was I not given followup appointment at the time of diagnostic appointment and why was I not told that I might have to wait for 2.5 months afterwards.
If I do not have ulcer, I'll certainly have in coming 2.5 months if I am not treated.

Pros: None.
Cons: Greedy, office staff also do not talk properly, pretension of being busy because always looking for patients where there is scope of more procedures/diagnostics. Poor attitude, poor patient communication.

Pros: People still do not know about his greediness.

Cons: greedy, pretension of being busy because always waiting for patient who needs procedure/diagnostics. Poor staff.

Dr Lin's diagnostic and interpersonal skills are poor and he does not invite dialogue. He dismissed my thoughts and other doctor's thoughts with his catch phrase "I don't think so". He considers himself an expert, but has no reason to do so since he cannot understand the test results that he ordered enough to diagnose very common diseases. Dr Lin misdiagnosed me and then avoided me until I was forced to find another doctor that FINALLY diagnosed and treated my symptoms. Keep looking for another GI doctor and probably outside of Good Samaritan. Never EVER go to the Good Samaritan ER. They MIGHT keep you from dying that minute, but they will not assess your case well enough to restore you to health.

Pros: his office staff

Cons: his lack of availability, superior attitude, lack of knowledge