Phoenix Neurological Associates

Dr. Harry S. Tamm is my FAVORITE doctor. He got to the root of my mysterious headaches by really listening to me. He gave me time to ask questions and he answered them in detail with patience and friendly wit. I knew I had been repeatedly misdiagnosed, but now I know what’s causing the pain and how to treat it. I ask a lot of questions, like a kid, and he took time for all of them. I didn’t know that doctors like this existed. I’m glad to say that they do.

I didn’t even get to the point of scheduling an appointment, and I was already displeased with their service. My primary care doctor advised that I see both a neurologist and ENT specialist. They had recommended Phoenix Neurological Associates.
When I called, we went through standard information gathering. Then the scheduler asked me what I was being seen for. I explained I was having phantom smells (phantosmia), that my GP treated congestion to see if that would help, it didn’t, explained they were sending me for an MRI and advised I make appointments with a neurologist and ENT. She seemed to question my symptoms (yes it’s not common but also not unheard of), and said «let me talk to someone, we may have to request your records from your doctor and review them before scheduling to see you.» She spoke with someone, who was not a physician or PA, and told me they would need to review my records before agreeing to see me.
My GP advised that I see a neurologist for a reason. Pretty unprofessional that the front desk girl is screening appointments when she isn’t even a physician. The fact that she was completely unfamiliar with my symptoms was the first clue she has no idea what her office even treats. Based on the other reviews, this lack of service isn’t uncommon for this office.

I actually go there for psych as my previous psychiatrist recommended the Dr. when she moved out of state. My first visit, the girls at the front desk were arguing over who put the files back because they weren’t in alphabetical order. Then one of the girls told the other girl she was going to punch her in her face. I was shocked that anyone would EVER talk like that in front of patients.
In addition, their billing office is completely separate from the office, so whenever I go in & try to describe what an HSA is, & that they shouldn’t be charging me the self pay rate, their eyes glaze over. Finally, I had to tell her that I’m way overpaid on my account & I wasn’t going to pay another $ 125.00 for the visit until it balances out.
Why hire someone to work your front desk when they’re 1) Rude 2) Don’t know anything about insurance?!?

My 1^st impression was great, but am now no longer exited. I gave them a memory stick of thousands of pages of records and waited 3 weeks for them to review and help my very ill partner. I dragged him in there and sat down to see the nurse practitioner who didn’t know how to open the files and after wasting an hour of our time she says. «I need one of the drs to look at this and that was over a week ago and still no word. It really really sucks that there is no urgency in healthcare for all the money on the planet and that’s very sad and disturbing.

Two years ago I was referred to Dr. Saperstein, a neuromuscular specialist in this group, for sudden onset of limb weakness, and a myriad of other symptoms. I had to wait several months to be seen. This is completely understandable as this is not a common specialty and this is a well-​known physician in the Phoenix area. My primary care physician tried calling him a total of five times to speak with him directly about my case, and getting me a sooner appointment, as my medical needs were urgent, yet not quite an emergency to where I could just go to the emergency room or a hospital, because my symptoms were intermittent at the time. I have worked in doctors offices for 13 years before I got sick, and this is a very common practice — primary care physicians call specialists all the time to try to get their patients sooner appointments if they have patients that need sooner appointments and can’t wait. Dr. Saperstein never once called my doctor back. This information came to me straight from my doctor.
When I came in for my appointment I was very excited that I might finally find out what is wrong with me. Dr. Saperstein could not look more disinterested. He rolled his eyes while I was talking to him, looked at me as if I was lying or faking, and only ordered one test for one disease that I was already tested for. The entire reason I was referred to him was to look for other causes of my illness. He specifically told me he did not think that I had this disease, I agreed with him, yet he ran a test checking for it, and only it, anyway. When the test was negative I was sent out the door and released from his care with no explanation. That means he had no list of differential diagnoses for me. I am a medical professional and I know what that means. He made me feel horrible. He had no compassion or bedside manner whatsoever. He made me feel like a liar, a faker or a head case. It’s horrible to be made to feel like that when you really are sick and something really is wrong with you. I was very scared, and the way this doctor treated me was the most horrible experience I’ve ever been through aside from the death of the closest love one I ever had.
Two years later I now know my symptoms are the cause of a genetic disorder, which could’ve easily been diagnosed if he had done a little bit more testing, had differential diagnoses and done his job by doing just a little bit of digging. Several doctors have told me that complex cases are supposed to be really interesting to doctors. Apparently not to Dr. Saperstein.
This is not a rant, this is bringing awareness, because I wasted a year and a half of my life fighting for a diagnosis, while sick, when I could’ve gotten it from Dr. Saperstein within six months of getting sick. Because he didn’t believe me, that caused a chain reaction of subsequent doctors not believing me. The diagnosis I got is no picnic, but not having a diagnosis was much worse, and being treated poorly by this doctor, was the worst. I’ll never forget the experience for my entire life.
When I finally found another neurologist who did believe me, I was referred to the other neuromuscular specialist in this office, Dr. Levine. When I called to make the appointment, I was told by Dr. Levine that he wouldn’t even see me as a patient because Dr. Saperstein «already did everything». For one thing, I was referred to Dr. Levine, not just calling there on my own wanting to see him. Believe me, that was the last place I wanted to go. Dr. Saperstein did nothing but one test, a test that has nothing to do with sudden onset of limb weakness, which was by far my biggest and main problem. There are so many differential diagnoses for that symptom that I literally can’t believe only one test was ordered. This is egregious.
If you need a neuromuscular specialist, please do not come here. They also lost one of my MRI DVDs causing me to have to go back to the hospital I had it done at to pick up another one. When you’re so weak you can barely move, that’s really hard to do. Especially when you have no help.

If Jan Bland wasn’t so incredibly amazing I would never step foot in this office again. The front office staff is so beyond unprofessional and incompetent it blows my mind. How they still have jobs is a mystery to me. I’ve worked in the healthcare field for over 7 years and never in my life have people messed up so much. They forget to put charts up leaving patients to sit in the waiting room, put charts in wrong doctors spots forcing the doctors to come up questioning where their patients are at. Again Jan Bland is beyond amazing just wish the office manager would grow a backbone and fire her check in girls

In the Infusion Center, the knowledgable nurses are the nicest caring people I’ve ever encountered. I can tell they’re there not just for a job because they care for the patients’ well being as well! They do whatever they can to help you be comfortabe in their recliners while you receive your infusion.
And the neurologists are extremely intelligent & caring for their patients too. They also make you feel comfortable during your appointment. When I call with questions or concerns, my neurologist himself calls back to speak with me! Incredible!
The nurses in Infusion and the neurologists are always in constant contact which is a relaxing notion!
The company even has a research section! So the whole facility is greatly involved in something!
Best place to get infusions! You are in recliners, there are two giant flat screen TVs to watch sattelite TV or a movie from, there are numerous movies they have or you can bring in your own movie to watch. The great thing is they have wireless headphones to listen to TV or the movie! And the RNs are the sweetest, caring bunch I’ve ever witnessed & experienced – they love caring for the patients!

Dr. Harry S. Tamm should be the example after which every promising, young doctor should model himself. Dr. Tamm is the epitome of professionalism. His Staff handles every aspect of the patient’s care with as much genuine care, efficiency, and ability. Dr. Tamm, himself, takes whatever time the patient needs. He never seem to be in a hurry to move on to the next patient if YOU need more time or explanation. He is available for questions, phone calls and follow up information, if the patient needs any of these services. If you need a Neurologist, Dr. Tamm is the best there is. I would recommend Dr. Harry Tamm and any of his colleagues at Phoenix Neurological to anyone who needs this type of Specialist. He is, by the way, just about the smartest person I have ever met — in every way — not just medicine. Doesn’t everyone want a doctor like this?