Highland Family Health Center

Dr. Dunek is absoutely wonderful! I’ve been seeing her for years and she is always prompt, kind, informative, and insightful. Although I go rarely I actually look forward to working with her and the staff. Great place.

All the providers in this clinic are wonderful. My family and I have been patients at this clinic for 20 years and are very grateful for the expertise, caring, compassion and
availability. My primary physician is Dr. Henry Schnitzler and I have also experienced
Excellent care with Dr. Dunek and Dr. Daemmrich as well!

I visited Dr Tampa’s office in May 2010. I thought the staff was friendly and efficient. I did not experience any of the issues mentioned in the previous review. Dr Tampa was very personable and easy to talk to. She listened to what I had to say and gave great examples to make her suggestions more understandable and «patient friendly». She even took the initiative to find «personal common ground» between us and that made the visit more relaxed. If Dr. Tampa is «booked tight» like the previous review said then I am really impressed because I never felt rushed or abandoned in waiting room limbo. I would definitely recommend her.

Went there on Monday to see Dr Tampa. Even though the receptionist was rude and was severely lacking in people skills, I thought the doctor was very competent and she arrived at a quick diagnosis of my injury. She told me that my shoulder/​upper back area had some sort of an inflammation and prescribed what she termed as a «potent ant-​inflammatory drug» saying that it could upset my stomach and that she would switch the medication if necessary. Also, asked to come back the following morning after fasting for a blood test to check my cholesterol. So far so good, I was a satisfied customer.
The prescribed drug seemed to work really well, and I was relatively pain-​free that evening until I started getting terrible stomach cramps followed by repeated visits to the bathroom that night. No big deal I though, the doctor warned me about this and I could ask her to switch to the alternative when I go in for the cholesterol test in the morning.
Here is where I start getting a bad taste in my mouth. As you will see, I am going to experience surly customer service from the receptionist and clinical action that could potentially endanger my health.
The following is my interaction with the receptionist:
ME: I had a bad reaction from my prescription last night. Can I please talk to the doctor so that I can have it switched.
RECEPTIONIST: Do you have an appointment with the doctor? (you can know she is annoyed by her tone and look)
ME: No, But I am having this problem with my medication and I need to know what to do next.
RECEPTIONIST: I don’t know if she is in. (I thought it was really weird that she didn’t know if the doc is in at 9:15 am! I thing, Is this place run so loosely?)
ME: Can you please find out?
RECEPTIONIST: What? (And that look again!)
ME: Can you please find out if I can talk to her? I need to know if she wants to take that medicine again tonight.
RECEPTIONIST: She is really booked tight, she can’t talk to you! (She is still not telling how I can resolve my problem with the reaction to the medication. For a moment, I wasn’t sure what the next step was.)
ME: I can wait. (I go and sit in the waiting area)
RECEPTIONIST: So you want to see the Dr T? What is the reason again?
ME: Yes please! I am having a problem with my medication.
RECEPTIONIST: (Walks inside and presumably talks to the doctor and comes out after a long time.) Well, like I told you, the doctor is really booked tight. She will call you later today. (Phew! Finally a resolution)
ME: Thanks. I am fine with that.
Now, here is the medically dangerous stuff. I have a voice mail for one of the doctor’s office staff telling me «The doctor has called in another prescription for you. If that upsets you stomach you should take some Pepcid for it.» Here are the problems with this encounter:
1. Neither the doctor nor a qualified nurse spoke to me and understood my reaction to the original medication.
2. The only communication with me regarding the changed prescription is the very brief voice mail.
3. There is no mention on whether to continue with my original medication along with the new one. I assumed that it is being switched based on my recollection of a single snippet of conversation with the doctor. The tenous communication chain went as follows: ME :-: Disinterested Receptionist :-: Doctor? :-: {Pharmacist, Staff Member} :-: ME. This could be pretty dangerous since there was nothing explicitly asked of me or told to to me by anyone.
4. It was obvious that the office did not want me call back for any clarifications. I was left with the impression that the doctor already spent the 10 mins needed to diagnose the problem and I already paid my co-​pay therefore any additional time spent was wasted, non-​productive time from their perspective.