Reviews of The Iowa Clinic Pain Management Department (Doctor)

TOBY KUMM

I have been a patient at this clinic for over 6 years. Originally, I felt as if their service and treatment was adequate. About a couple years ago things started to go downhill very quickly. It started taking forever to get anything done and every appointment took far too much time. In fact about 2 years ago I arrived for a scheduled treatment time where I waited in the lobby for over 45 minutes past my appointment time before I was called back. I waited in the exam room for an hour without the doctor coming in to see me before I walked out without receiving my scheduled treatment. No one from the office called to ask any questions as to why I left and still haven't. I know laws with some medications this clinic prescribes have changed recently but it doesn't seem they are concerned with any sort of customer service regarding their patients. I understand why there are laws regarding timing of scripts but I don't understand why they aren't able to figure out a better system for refilling them in a timely manner that is compliant with laws. Also, I know they could purchase software to help their process which could almost eliminate handwritten refill scripts or the need for patients to make a monthly trip there just to pick up the script but they haven't agreed to purchase it. I don't believe it would take too long for them to recoup the $100k it costs for this program. There is NO reason we shouldn't be able to expect them to complete a refill request within 24 to 48 hours but I've had times where it took over TEN business days! Then, I'm told I should do a better job of remembering when to request my refill to get it on time and I generally request it over a week out. Absolutely awful!! I'm in the process of looking for a different clinic and hope I won't have to deal with this place again!

Kyle Sartin

Talk about about of doctors who don't listen and are just looking to bill you and your insurance.

Randi Lea

Let me start by saying that I LOVE TIC. I simply, HATE, LOATHE, AND DESPISE the pain clinic. My first appointment mlthey called my name, turns out 2 Randi/Randy. Apparently they didn't look at the chart to see that they wanted a male and I infact was a female or even in the current time, verify the last name. So I was taken back to see a doctor that had never seen my records and was confused as hell for the 20 minutes he spent with me. My 2nd appointment I saw the PA, and she acted as though it was my first ever visit to any TIC office, and switched me off my meds that were controlling pain to something different to try. I tried it didn't work. I wound up in the ER because my pain was excruciating. I call to get in to go back on my old med was told I couldn't get in for over a month! After yelling, I was suddenly able to been seen after a long and miserable 2 weeks for a steroid injection (mind you I told yhem on the phone that I was given oral steroids but they said to come in it wouldn't be a problem). I go in and paid my $75 co-pay to be told that no, they can't do the injection to come back in another 2 weeks. Injection was fine, but the doctoe that actually oreformed the procedure is rude and acted like I should tell him how wonderful he was for just seeing me at all. He also told me that I don't need the medications or PT if I would simply do easy at home stretches every day like he does. He actually told me that PT is just a way for the clinic to make money off of people who are willing to do anything due to pain. I go in for another appoitment to follow-up after my injection and again was treated as though I was a new patient. I asked to be put back on the medication I was on when I previously was taking that had completely managed my pain and was tokd to simply take more of the current medication. This is my third month dealing with this clinic and I'm done! I called in my Rx the required 10 days ahead of time and mysteriously that request wasn't sent back. They mark it as urgent because I'm overdue for my medication now and while they got it for me, they couldn't call to let me know it was ready or give me an estimated time on when to call back, was simply told to call back later in the day. I was in pain and it was getting worse by the minute, broke down and asked them to havea nurse call me to let me know if I should go to the ER or if they wanted me to tey something different. When I called back 3 hours later for the Rx, I still hadn't heard from a nurse. I blew up. I couldn't walk down a 10 foot hallway without crying and stopping to take a break. I needed to know if they had any kind of fix before forking out the $300 co-pay for an ER visit. I again stated my problems to the woman on the phone while crying in pain and magically a nurse WAS available to take my call and it wouldn't take the 24 hours previously stated to get a call back. I was told to go to the ER. Which leads me to today. Obviously, I need to get in to see the PA, but when I called before closing I was put into a call queue and held for roughly 10 minutes before 4:30 arrived and it dumped my call into some voicemail system that I was unable to leave a message with instead of the people on staff clearing the queue before leaving. To say the least my review would be to stay clear of this clinic. The staff is rude, uncaring, unprofessional, and just plain awful. I will be going in to see my amazingly wonderful family practitioner at TIC on Monday to get a referral to literally any pain specialist that isn't with TIC. Sadly, with the organization being capable of employing staff as awful as what they do in their pain clinic, I'm seriously considering finding a different clinic for all of my needs. I'm disappointed to say the least. If you're ever revered to this office, run away and find someone else. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY OR YOUR TIME ON THIS SUPPOSED PAIN SPECIALIST CLINIC. All they will do is take your money, cause you mental and physical pain above and beyond what you already have from whatever chronic ailments send you here.

Jennifer Fern McDaniel

Wouldn't even recognize me and admitted she hasn't had time to review my chart yet in almost 5 months... hasn't examined me or taken any interest in me, my health, my conditions/dxs etc. Told me only has 20 minutes per appointment... unprofessional. I'm sure my insurance gets billed for comprehensive appointments.

April Worrall

My mother has now been a patient here for six months. We have found the front desk staff are wonderful, pleasant and professional. Chandra Brown is caring and compassionate.

Irene Wilson

This department at the Iowa Clinic is so frustrating to deal with. The staff that greets you are lovely. And Dr Gates is, I think, doing the best she can, but she’s the only doctor there. I had to literally badger them to get MRI results that were a week old. I called on Friday and was told someone would call me. No one did. I called on Monday at 10AM and the staffer said she would put the request in and mark it urgent. I waited until 4:00, knowing they close at 4:30, and was told she would send the request again marked “urgent”. I called a third time at 4:29 and she said she would request that someone call me tomorrow. I was SO frustrated, didn’t use bad language but voiced my frustration. A little before 5:00 the doctor finally called me. This department is giving Iowa Clinic a bad name. I haven’t had issues with other departments there, but Pain Management needs some attention.

Karen Griffin

THIS PLACE IS HORRIBLE.!!!. STARTED GOING HERE 3 YEARS AGO. NOW YOU Can't get you in for 3 month. They Won't give you anything to control your pain until they can see you. Then when they see you they will tell you to go to your pcp for that. All the do is injections send you to physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture & chiropractor. Some people dont have the money to do the 3 times a week. Gosh I wish I did. So as far as a PAIN MANAGEMENT. NO YOU ARE NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT. WHEN YOUR PT TELLS YOU THEY CANNOT TOLERATE SOMETHING (MEDICATIONS) YOU SAY YOU HAVE NOTHING MORE TO OFFER. YOUR NOT FOR THE PATIENT AT ALL! YOU ARE THERE TO HELP GET US OUT OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT(OR WHERE WE CAN AT LEAST TOLERATE IT).I WOULDN'T SEND MY NEIGHBORS DOG HERE. THE 1 RECEPTIONIST PEGGY IS RUDE. WHAT EVER HAPPENED ABOUT OUTSTANDING PATIENT CARE. YOU GUYS ARE LOSING YOUR MISSION HERE! IT'S TRULY SAD! IOWA CLINIC WAS THE BEST PLACE AROUND AND YOUR TARNISHING THERE GREAT NAME! WHAT A SHAME YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! NO PATIENTS DESERVE TO BE TREATED THIS WAY. NONE! NO ONE DESERVES TO COME TO A PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC EXPECTING HELP AND RELIEF. ONLY BEING ABLE TO GET IT EVER 3 MONTH OR IF I NOT TO MY PRIMARY CARE DR. BECAUSE YOU DONT WANT TO PRESCRIBE A NARCOTIC. NOT EVERYONE IS A DRUG ADDICT! WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS! I AM IN PAIN I AM TIRED OF HURTING I AM TIRED OF YOU NOT LISTENING! YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME! IT'S ALWAY WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO! NOT WHERE I TOLD YOU I WAS HURTING OR WHAT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST! ALWAYS TRIGGER POINTS . TOOK YOU OVER A YEAR TO FINALLY SAY WELL LETS DO AN MRI OF YOU BACK. DO YOU THINK MY PAIN IS GOING TO CHANGE GO TO A DIFFERENT PLACE? MAYBE MOVE TO MY LEFT SHOULDER SO YOU CAN PROVE SEE I TOLD YOU IT WAS A TRIGGER POINT INJECTIONS THAT WORKED. THEY ARE UNNECESSARY INJECTIONS IN MY BOOK NO I HAVE ARTHRITIS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY SPINE NECK AND SHOULDER. I HURT. SOMETIMES WHERE IT HURTS TO WALK N YOU WANNA DO TRIGGER POINTS THAT DONT HELP. IM DONE. IOWA CLINC SO SHOULD TRY TO CLEAN THIS MESS UP BEFORE IT REALLY GETS WORSE!