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Dr. Bala Shanmugam, MD

Dr. Bala Shanmugam, MD

Internal Medicine*
20+ years of experience

Dr. Bala Shanmugam, MD is an internist in Bristol, CT and has over 20 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University in 2000. He is affiliated with Bristol Hospital. He is accepting new patients.

3.9 Star Rating
Based on 32 reviews 3.9 Star Rating (32 reviews)

Bristol Health Primary Care & Infectious Disease

923 Farmington Ave Bristol, CT 06010

At a Glance

  • Areas of Expertise
    Dr. Shanmugam specializes in the areas of Infectious Disease & Internal Medicine. See board certifications
  • Explains Conditions Well
    Patients said this doctor explains conditions well. See reviews
  • Good Patient Care
    Patients said they had exceptional care at this hospital. See hospitals
  • Trustworthy
    Patients said this doctor is trustworthy. See reviews
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Dr. Shanmugam's Reviews

Likelihood to recommend Dr. Shanmugam

3.9
32 ratings, 21 with a written review
5 star
66%
66%
4 star
6%
6%
3 star
0%
0%
2 star
6%
6%
1 star
22%
22%

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He Drives Me to Practice Every Day
He drives me to practice every day and games on the weekend. if your appointment gets cancelled it's probably because I have an important game.
What went well
  • Staff friendliness
What could be improved
No results
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Veeran Shanmugam (his son) – Feb 27, 2025
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Incredibly poor service
While the doctors are barely average at this location, the staff are so unprofessional and dishonest it's absurd. I would highly recommend you find a different location for all health care needs.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Staff wasn't friendly
Helpful
Jun 19, 2024
A response on behalf of Bristol Health:We are... Read More
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Excellent people skills. Always has an answer.
Everyone at office is always helpful.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
James Nocera – Jun 05, 2024
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Very through and knowledgeable Dr. who has wounderful bedside manners. I wood highly recommend Dr. Shanmugam in a heartbeat as my primary physician, and so do my two sisters..
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Christina s. – May 22, 2024
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Excellent doctor
Dr. Shanmugam has been an excellent doctor for me for many years. He listens and is very knowledgeable. I recommend him to all.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
John C. – Apr 19, 2024
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3 mos ckup
Office staff is very helpful and personable. Less than 5min. wait to see Doctor. Doctor addressed all issues and spent ample time with me.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Apr 18, 2024
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Losing touch
After 20 years sadly it's time for a new primary. The yearly physicals I felt were a joke everytime there was no touching involved basically a how are you and that's it. but I stuck with it because I was more or less healthy anyways. the last visit after many attempts to get to the bottom of my health concerns he basically wrote me off and said he can no longer help me. Theres always another option or outside the box thinking that could have been explored. It's my body and I know when I don't feel right and it's also my money so figure out another path thats what I pay you for. There's obviously more context but be careful the doc is getting complacent and clocking in and clocking out. The heart isn't in it.
What went well
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Staff friendliness
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • I didn't feel respected
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Helpful
Apr 04, 2024
A response on behalf of Bristol Health:Thank you... Read More
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Best PCP
Was able to get a quick appointment. Examine and discuss was thorough, and well presented.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Mike Adams – Mar 21, 2024
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Appointment after ER visit
Took the time to discuss and address all my concerns. Office staff very friendly also
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Feb 14, 2024
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Always friendly and the dr. Spends a lot of time answering questions.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Barbara Spinelli – Jan 13, 2024
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Quick and straight to the point.
They kept me waiting more than 40 minutes. That is the only thing I did not like about the visit.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
  • Long wait times
Helpful
Jan 12, 2024
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Annual Checkup
Through exam as always. Always listen to what I have to say. Great staff as well.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Valerie J Gayer – Nov 18, 2023
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Annual checkup
Through checkup with professional people with my health at top of mind
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Mike Adams – Aug 26, 2023
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Dr Shanmugam
Great experience, great Doctor, great Nurses (Shelby), and a great office staff. Best practice around
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Stan A – Aug 26, 2023
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Dr. Shanmugam is infectious disease and internist
Dr. Shanmugam, physician of infectious disease and internal medicine, NOT cosmetics, has been my physician for over 15 years. He is kind, patient and a good diagnostician.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
Apr 01, 2023
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He has been my primary care Dr. For over a decade. He’s kind, informative and very smart. Have no idea what these other reviews are saying. Sounds like people who didn’t pay.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
Si – Feb 14, 2022
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Doctor was cocky and a bit rude to me, in my opinion, as I did not want COVID shot and in past he has pushed vaccines on me. Not this time! Was told IN office my blood work was fine. Got home and found out D3 was quite low, yet he is not interested in raising it for my COVID protection. Never listened to heart or lungs and it was an annual Medicare required appointment. Never looked in throat or eyes or looked at feet and I am listed as a diabetic. Unfortunate he seems to have pegged me a certain way as argumentative, but it is my life and body and I can choose my type of treatment. He is angry as it is not what HE would choose. Never spoke to me about EKG results or urine results. Kind of a slipshod annual physical in my most humble opinion...HOWEVER, it was longer and better than the prior year, so maybe by next year, I'll be cared for 100% ??? Hope he is more thorough with other patients, but I wonder....
What went well
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Staff friendliness
  • Wait times
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
Helpful
Paula J Kanenberg – May 22, 2021
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Knowledgeable, great office staff.
What went well
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
  • Office environment
Helpful
Mar 03, 2021
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2 hours before my appointment I was called and told it was canceled because I had not been there for a while and was told I would be treated as a new patient and they are not taking an new patients I thought that was unethical now I must find new doctor being very sick
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
Helpful
william dwyer – Sep 26, 2020
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My husband and I are very happy with Dr Shamagan . He takes the time to answer questions and is thorough with physical exams
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
15 others found this helpful
Helpful
Bristol – Mar 26, 2018
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About Me

care philosophy

Dr Shanmugam is board-certified in Internal medicine and Infectious disease. He received his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College in India, did residency training in England before completing his Internal Medicine residency at Bridgeport...read more

biography

Dr. Shanmugam is board-certified in Internal medicine and Infectious disease. He received his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College in India, did residency training in England before completing his Internal Medicine residency at Bridgeport...read more
  • Internal Medicine

*Healthgrades does not verify qualifications for medical specialties. Please verify your provider's specialty and qualifications directly with your provider and applicable medical board.

  • Kasturba Medical College Manipal, Manipal University

    Medical School, 2000
American Board of Medical Specialties®
American Board of Internal Medicine®
Infectious Disease
Internal Medicine
For detailed information about any of the below board actions, please search for the provider's records on the linked state licensing board or the Federation of State Medical Boards. To learn more about the difference between these sources, please refer to our FAQs.
Healthgrades has not received any data indicating a board action exists for this provider.
  • English

  • Tamil

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Locations

Bristol Health Primary Care & Infectious Disease

Bristol Health Primary Care & Infectious Disease923 Farmington Ave Bristol, CT 06010
1

Affiliated Hospitals

  • Bristol Hospital

    41 Brewster Rd
    Bristol, CT 06010

    How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

    86%
    Patients said they were given information about recovering at home

    2% higher than the national average

    80%
    Patients said that nurses always listened to them and explained things well

    5% higher than the national average

    View all patient feedback
Learn more about how Healthgrades measures Hospital Quality