Orthopedic Associates

Wait time is absolutely ridiculous. If the appointment was at 9:30 why am I not even getting seen OR acknowledged UNTIL 40 minutes later when I go and say something. The «ladies» at the front desk and when we call to make appointment are impatient and rude! «MONKANO» (a girl at the back desk) is extremely rude with no sympathy, courtesy, customer service or patience! Learn how to treat your patients WITH RESPECT, whether it be doctors, nurses, or ANY staff. This is a medical facility and people should be able to TRUST, and feel SAFE and COMFORTABLE! People like «Monkano» should not be working in a medical facility. Period.

First visit was confusing… Felt like a full clinic — meaning «NO customer service»
Process:
1. check in at front desk, fill out application (you think you’re done. NOPE)
2. after they complete putting into database, then they tell you «SIGN IN» at another winder (YES. another wait time??? (come on office manager — stream line the wait time).
3. Nurse or receptionist at the other station, gives you other forms to fill… (yes, more time wasted)
4. Upon completion, Nurse hands of paper and tells you go down the hall and drop the paperwork to xray… (geez. forget service) — and YES, another 30 min wait.
5. Walk back to the office side and WAIT again for the dr.
6. I get treated by an INTERN… with no bed side manner. (30 mins)
7. Dr. Harpstrite comes in later and stays with your for 5mins.
I think the turn and burn clinic here is just making some $$$ off of your medical treatment and insurance. Referral to downstairs PT (probably have a business partnership).
Parking is $ 1 more for 30mins. 1 hour validation — so all this wait time, you end up eating parking fee and long hours of waiting.
I highly suggest finding the «right’ dr that will actually assess issues with (interns). Not let the interns do all the leg work and then say. yea, it sounds right.
I hope other practices aren’t like that and do get paid for their work and expertise.

BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU AGREE TO HAVE YOUR SURGERY PERFORMED!
I met with Dr. Atkinson and while he was nice I was always kept waiting up to and past an hour at the two scheduled appointments I had with him.
I also was scheduled to have my surgery performed in the same building at the Minimally Invasive Surgery of Hawaii and was not given an option for it to be performed at QMC which I found out later could have been if I was offered a different day.
I have fantastic HMSA insurance and have rarely had to pay more than $ 25 extra dollars for any kind of appointment and at most had to pay out of pocket $ 600 when I gave birth to my daughter at QMC two and half years ago.
After this supposedly quick and simple surgery I had to pay close to $ 500 out of pocket! SO disappointed.
Choose not to use the new Minimally Invasive Surgery of Hawaii place, they alone got close to $ 400 from me out of pocket!
After all this I am also not very happy with my results after the surgery which left a huge amount of scar tissue in place of the cyst that was removed from my hand and is causing the same issues the cyst caused :(

Dr. Smith and his staff are the best. I had shoulder surgery with Dr. Smith and my shoulder’s been wonderful. Being active, I have multiple areas that I see Dr. Smith for (knee, elbow, and shoulder). I have seen many other orthopedic doctors on the island and from my own exeperience, I can say he is the best! Not only himself as a doctor, his staffs are wonderful as well. I highly highly, without a doubt recommend Dr. Sydney Smith.

I just want to say these people are AWESOME.
I am an RN who worked in outpatient Ortho for years in Seattle. This group is top-​notch. All the staff are professional and personable. Stacey, Dr. Blum’s assistant is on-​the-​ball and always attentive to all my needs. Specifically, I see Dr, Blum for my hands — I have osteoarthritis, specifically affecting my CMC joints. Last year, after treating it with palliative steroid injections, he performed a CMC arthroplasty on my left thumb. The recovery was as long as they advised it would be, but the outcome was well-​worth the wait. Unfortunately, I’m heading for the same on my right thumb. I have NO doubt that I am in good hands with Dr. Blum and his care staff.

We took my husband in to see dr. Sydney Smith because my husband has had terrible knee pain for two years and the military didn’t want to fix him. We went into the orthopedic association and all the people that helped us were very nice and polite to us and we were seen pretty quick. Dr. Smith took time to listen about my husband’s injury and all that he had done to try to fix his knee. Dr. Smith was patient with us and took the time to answer all the questions and options we had for my husband. I could already see the relief in my husband’s face when dr. Smith told us he felt confident he could help my husband through this surgery. He wrote a letter for my husband’s command stating that he could fix him. We are excited that the military approved the surgery and we are getting it done with dr. Smith. We couldn’t be happier and feel so blessed that we were seen by dr. Smith.

I went to see Dr. Smith last year because I had shoulder pain that was progressively getting worst. Went to Pali Momi ER, they couldn’t figure it out. Next day went to PC Urgent care where they at least took x-​rays. They said they couldn’t do anything either. Finally found Dr. Smith through Unilocal.I was very pleased with everyone there. Dr. Smith took one look at my x-​rays and knew immediately it was tendinitis. Gave a cortizone shot and within 12 hours the pain was gone, and it’s been a year and still no pain. Even went back surfing.

Dr Robert Atkinson is the BEST hand surgeon. He is very caring and his office staff are great.
Dr. Smith healed my arthritic hip and took away my limp. He encouraged me to keep on walking and doing weights. Thanks so much Doc!!!

Big office. Staff is friendly and doctors are good!