Allegro Pediatrics – Totem Lake

Full disclosure: We did not actually have a visit with this clinic. This review refers to our customer service experience.
We had an appointment for a meet and greet with one of the doctors here, and see if they would be a good fit for our new baby. We called ahead to let them know we needed to be about 10 minutes late due to circumstances beyond our control. The attitude from the desk staff was basically «Now or never.»
We feel if they can’t be even slightly flexible with scheduling, they’re definitely not a good fit for our family.

I have been taking my kids to Pediatric Associates for some time now (8 years). The Doctors that we see are very good. But lately the focus of the institution has turned more towards squeezing more money out of you than providing care. The billing department especially is using deceitful tactics and wrong billing techniques (putting wrong insurance code for services not provided) and it is taking multiple phone calls and escalations before they admit they made a mistake and re-​bill the insurance provider with the right code. In certain instances they haven’t even done so. So unless you want to deal with a long tail of insurance to provider to insurance call nightmares, I’d suggest you stay out of PA. They were very good when I took my daughter there 8 years back, but now the focus seem to be on $$ rather than care. Sigh.

Dr Howson has been our dr since our baby’s first checkup, and we’ve been nothing but impressed. The nurses are quick at returning phone calls, and if the Dr is running late for some reason, they offer to have another Dr see your child sooner. The only reason I give 4 instead of 5 stars is because the office has toys, which I feel is pretty disgusting seeing as how little germ-​y hands are all over those things.

It will be a sad day when my children are too old to be seen by Dr. Schmitz! I absolutely love this place. Dr. Schmitz is my kids primary but if shes not available any of the other docs are just as great. The staff here is amazing and helpful, the Drs are so knowledgeable, kind, gentle, caring… I can’t say enough good things. We have never had a bad or even not very good experience here. They really care about the children and do everything to ensure they are healthy. We have been patients here for almost 10 years and I could never imagine going anywhere else.

We recently moved to the Kirkland area, in preparation for the arrival for our first daughter. Since both my wife and I are healthcare providers, we are very selective with whom we see for our healthcare.
We decided to go with Pediatric Associates since their reviews were glowing, location was excellent, and is located next to Evergreen Medical Center (should any situation arise).
Dr. Wu is our Pediatrician, and she is phenomenal. From the moment she walked in (promptly) to our room we were immediately at ease with the calming comfortable demeanor which she presented us with. I think this is a very important trait that should be found in anyone who works in pediatrics. Not only did it put us at ease, we knew that as our little one grew older, she would also be at ease under her care.
Dr. Wu was very informative, attentive, and asked us questions allowing us to freely talk about our newborn, not only pertaining to her health but also in regards to our social situation. She understand that healthcare is more than just the care for the patient, but also those around the patient.
Though we see Dr. Wu normally, we have heard nothing but the best from fellow parents who see other pediatricians at this clinic.

When I was about to give birth to my first child, I had just moved to the area from another state. We didn’t know anyone in the area — and there wasn’t even Unilocal back in those days (2004). At the Evergreen Hospital birthing class, I was handed a brochure from Pediatric Associates. Since I was due in 2 weeks, I decided to use the practice, willing to try any of their pediatricians.
And ever since then, we have remained patients!
Granted, it is a large practice, and our original pediatrician left. But I have been so pleased with our current pediatrician (Dr. Wu) — my children look forward to their visits with her.
Even with emergency appointments, we are seen rather quickly, and the several doctors we have met over the years have been fantastic. The staff is always friendly, and the office is run efficiently. There never seems to be a large crowd in the waiting room, which any family can appreciate.

Dr. Wu has been our pediatrician since my daughter was born. We’ve been visiting the practice for a year now and couldn’t be happier with the care from the doctors here. If you give birth across the street at Evergreen, your doctor will even come over to the hospital to do the very first check-​up.
In a year’s time — they’ve batted 100% with getting us sick child appointments on the same day we call in — usually within the same hour. The nurses are super helpful on the phone and attempt to triage situations so you don’t always have to come in. But by far the best amenity — is the Bellevue office being open after work hours and on weekends.
Noone likes going to the doctor — but if you need a pediatrician — this is where to find a great one.

Great practice, wonderful nurse advice by phone too. We couldn’t be happier with our Doctor!

I have had basically the same experience as Border C. My son was seen four times about a cough that would not go away for over 2 months. I kept saying that something was wrong and they kept brushing through his exam quickly and saying that all was fine. Well, he ended up in the hospital with a fever of 106 and pneumonia. He had been «checked» two days before. No one ever recommended a chest x-​ray. The doctor we saw in urgent care was horrified that he hadn’t had any proactive care. I think it is a nice facility with nice people but they neglected their primary responsibility which is to provide medical care. Won’t go back.

Dr. Parrish has been our pediatrician since the moment my kids were born. With my first child, we went out and interviewed doctors, and picked her. When my daughter was born, she was right there to give her the first check up and ok. She was there for the birth if my second child too. Not many ped Dr’s go to that measure. Admittedly we had her through Virginia Mason to begin with, but also followed her to pediatric assoc. We did it even when our insurance didn’t cover it. Better to have the right care with no insurance, than sub-​par care with it! My oldest is now 21 and still tries to keep seeing Dr. Parrish. She just doesnt want to give her up. She is without question the best pediatrician!
Sidenote: for the other post, it’s your responsibility as the parent to know your childs allergies, not rely on the doctors office to keep them. If it were truly an emergency, and an emergency room needed that information, how do you expect them to get that info, if not from you? Get the info, make a list, carry it in your wallet. Along with any meds they take, and medical history. That way if there is an emergency, you don’t have to struggle to remember when in a stressful situation. I Recommend doing it for yourself and all family members in your care!

My children have been patients of Dr. Ruth Ann Parish for the past 17 years — before she was with Pediatric Associates. We were new to the area and got a referral from friends for a different Pediatrician at the same practice (Virginia Mason if it matters. One time we couldn’t get in with our regular Pediatrician so we saw Dr. Parish. She’s been our Doctor ever since that first visit. She is WONDERFUL, great with our children, our family as a whole and most importantly — she’s a really good Doctor. Needless to say when she moved we followed her to Pediatric Associates.
With three of my kids she has been their Doctor since the day they were born. She visited at the hospital to do check ups on the newborns. At all of the well child visits she spends a lot of time with us — in great detail talks about stages of development and answers all questions. This was so helpful to me during the kids younger years.
We’ve never had any issues getting in when the kids were sick — a handful of times we saw a different Doctor. Usually it was the same Doctor though so even though we couldn’t see Dr. Parish — we still get great care. That helped my kids feel more comfortable. The office staff is really friendly and helpful. If I ever needed to call to talk to the nurse I got a call back within a couple of hours.
After hours emergencies we were directed to the Bellevue office … I never did like going to that one. If it was an emergency I preferred to go to straight to Children’s Hospital.
Shout out to Dr. Steven Schiebel, and Donna Zimburean, Ph. D, A.R.N.P. You guys are great too!
One thing about Dr. Parish — her appointment book fills quickly for well child visits! For well visits it can be more than 4 weeks out — for Dr. Parish I’m not sure how far you schedule out otherwise. I think it speaks volumes about how great she is … that never was a problem for me.

We’ve been using the Totem Lake office since our first child was born at Evergreen in ’04. We see Donna Zimburean and adore the care we get from her. We have seen other doctors from time to time when Donna hasn’t been free and they’ve been ok, but Donna is our star!
She was very supportive of my extended breastfeeding of my daughter (2.5 years) and takes a «wait and see» approach to treatment that fits in well with our own style of parenting and care. We selectively vaccinate and there has never been any pressure to do otherwise. She is respectful and well-​informed. She also takes her time with the kids.
Office staff and nurses have always been professional and helpful. When I’ve called the nurse line or left a message, my calls have been returned in a timely manner.