Home › Forums › WSB Reader Recommendations › REC NEEDED: Local Dermatologist
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
October 22, 2010 at 4:46 am #596747
IrukandjiParticipantHiya. I’ve been going to Westside Dermatology, and though I like who I’ve been seeing, I’m wholly fed up with the scheduling approach that hasn’t let me have an appointment within 30-minutes of on-time (once, more than an hour behind). I talked with them today briefly about this before I walked out.
Is there/are there other dermatologists here on the island you’d recommend?
October 22, 2010 at 3:59 pm #706088
acemotelParticipantThis is hard! I feel I could write a book about dermatologists – a child with severe acne, a spouse with sun sensitivities, etc etc, and over the years I have checked out seems like hundreds of them. I haven’t found any I consider excellent here in WS. My recommendation: Dr. Marcos A. Antezana, MD
1145 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122 (206) 329-1760 ‎
October 22, 2010 at 4:29 pm #706089
SueParticipantNot in West Seattle, but I see Amy Sarkie, PA at Northwest Skin Specialists, 1229 Madison Street, #1290, Seattle – (206) 315-4600 and have been very happy with her.
October 22, 2010 at 6:35 pm #706090
JimmyGMemberI agree about the ridiculous wait times at Westside Dermatology to see a physician.
I always arrive at least 10 minutes early and the closest to my appointment time I’ve ever been seen in the past 2 years is 30 minutes.
It really sucks because it was never that way when Dr. Kulin owned the practice, I think now they’ve expanded and are forced to over schedule.
October 22, 2010 at 7:07 pm #706091
squareeyesParticipantI went to Westside once several months ago; the wait was 30-45 minutes past my appointment time. While I appreciate that the diagnosis and treatment to my condition were spot-on, my time is valuable too and I doubt I’ll be back after learning this is their standard operating procedure.
October 22, 2010 at 9:29 pm #706092
SueParticipantHas anyone talked to Westside’s office manager about the waits, if this is a chronic issue? I had to do this with a doctor back in NY when the waits became beyond outrageous (waits of an hour + are typical in the NY area at doctors – the worst one I ever had was 4 hours).
October 22, 2010 at 9:58 pm #706093
angelescrestParticipantI have not experienced the wait problem, nor have my daughters, so we must have been lucky. I agree w/Sue that it is an issue that needs to be addressed with them. Also, I found them to be much better caregivers than a previous doctor I/we had seen over on Capitol Hill.
October 22, 2010 at 10:10 pm #706094
MousePotatoMemberI’d recommend Dr Gee in the junction. Pleasant staff and they seem to be sticklers for scheduling so they are great about being on time.
October 22, 2010 at 10:20 pm #706095
purplekittyMemberI’d wait an hour to see the best dermatologist in town. I’d question any dermatologist who I can get in to see within 5 minutes. Good doctors are in high demand. They run behind. That’s just healthcare!
October 23, 2010 at 6:57 pm #706096
nativeWSMemberLike angelescrest, I haven’t really experienced this. I mean, there definitely have been times where I’ve had to wait 15 minutes, but never 30 minutes to an hour. Regardless, I gotta say that after having seen every derm doc in West Seattle and about 4 others outside, I’ll never leave Westside. I understand how irritating it must be to have to wait that long to see your doc, but come on now. Great medicine is like great dining. If speed is most important, go to McQuacks. But if you’re most interested in high quality service, you may just have to wait…cause that what the person in front of you is getting.
October 24, 2010 at 12:03 am #706097
FranciParticipantMy strategy for dealing with drs. offices that run late chronically; is to wait for an appt. where I am the 1st appointment in the morning, or the first appt after lunch. Not always possible…
October 24, 2010 at 6:40 am #706098
JanSParticipantnativeWS. You say that if you want the good quality care that you simply have to put up with it, simply have to wait. I’m gonna call a little BS on that. I work. My time is valuable – just as valuable as theirs. If you give me an appointment at 3pm, knowing full well that you can’t see me until 4pm, then don’t do it. I’m a massage therapist. I’ve been at my trade for 16 years. If you have an appointment at 3pm, you have an appt. at 3pm. How dare I disrepect your time and make you wait. And how dare you disrespect mine by not being there on time..or not showing at all.
I am seeing a myriad of docs at the moment …specialists all…good specialists. And I don’t have to wait unless they’ve had an emergency. I even had one last Tuesday with an orthopedic guy where I arrived early, and I saw him, got treated, and left by the time of my appt. rolled around. One does NOT have to simply put up with it. One can walk out, take their money elsewhere. There are many good docs in Seattle.
October 26, 2010 at 1:57 am #706099
Burton162MemberOk, I feel I have to interject here. I have been to some crappy, speedy dermatologists (here in Seattle) for a serious, chronic skin condition–literally, they’d walk in with thier assistant, blab some stuff, barely look at me and the assistant would write a script. This is definitely not how the dermatologists are at WD. I have been going to them for years. They make sure they take their time and address my concerns, and provide excellent treatment.
I doubt the docs intend to run behind, in fact I have never waited more than a few minutes (and they apologized when it happened). But I can see how it happens, especially when there is a new patient and you have no idea what you are up against. This is very different than being a massage therapist and knowing you are going to have a blocked off hour and will fit it all in. And it’s true, schedule yourself at the beginning of the morning or afternoon and you can probably miss the wait times.
I am grateful for the folks at Westside Dermatology. It is a nice office, a friendly staff, the docs are great and they care–they have changed my life. I can only highly RECOMMEND them.
October 27, 2010 at 12:01 am #706100
IrukandjiParticipantI appreciate the discussion and recommendations.
Phone calls have been traded with an office manager, but we have not spoken together yet. I’d have to say that the best of quality care INCLUDES adequate time for patients, and does not systematically cram appointments in so tight that the occasional over-run leaves others excessively bumped. Since this has happened repeatedly, I conclude that WSderm simply over-schedules. Hopefully my walking out made it possible for whomever had the following appointment to receive service relatively on time.
This was particularly frustrating because I asked upon check in if they were running late, and was told that my appointment would be close to on time.
I waited patiently through the first three late appointments. The fourth one did me in.
As I said, I’ve really liked the practitioners I’ve seen, but they are not the only show in town, and experience has shown me they have plenty of other clients to keep them busy.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.