Seattle Hand Surgery Group

Surgery is never a «fun» thing and there is always the specter of apprehension associated with having an operation ahead of you. This was the case as I entered the clinic yesterday for my hand surgery. Dr. Wagner, my physician for this session greeted me and introduced the anesthesiologist, and attending nurse. Both were very cordial and made me feel comfortable while preparing me for regional anesthetic to my left arm. My finger on this hand was enlarged and may be gout. Getting to the point: anesthesiologist Evelyn did a remarkably painless IV, and all went well. During the operation, devoid of sensation, we enjoyed a conversation mostly about my military service, and there was no feeling, no discomfort, only confidence that all was going well. After about thirty minutes I was allowed time to recover, and soon on my way home, feeling gratitude for such compassionate care and consideration. This is one clinic that I can only very highly recommend for expert treatment with a true «human touch’. It was equal to the presence of family members with Dr. Wagner and his staff. More work is needed and I am actually looking forward to the next appointment, fearlessly. Thank you Seattle Hand Surgery Group for compassionate treatment.

I had a great experience with this office today. I needed a last minute appointment during the holiday week and they fit me in. The office staff and Dr. Joneschild were all very pleasant, efficient and helpful. Dr. Joneschild clearly explained all of my treatment options with no pressure and then called me in the evening to follow up as she promised to do. I recommend SHSG and Dr. Elizabeth Joneschild.

Stay away form this place. They do not care and from the many comments about the staff being bad, they are but they would not be that way if they where not told how they where to handle patients by the doctors.
I had hand surgery on my right hand. I had the stitches taken out a week later. The next day I fell and busted up my incision completely. I call the next day saying I wanted to come in and have the doctor rebadge it and make sure it would be ok. I was told there was now one available to see me but they would check and call me back. I never got a call back. I then call the number they game in their paper work to call if there where problems, the office manager, I got a message that said leave a message and I would get a call back. Never happened. I then canceled the rest of my appointments there and will never go back.
I did get a call back from a nurse a few weeks later when I sent them a letter explaining what had happened to me. She was no help.

I saw Dr. Joneschild for a simple wrist condition. I have never had a worse doctor. She seemed distracted and was extremely rude. In the end, her treatment plan was ineffective and I was in pain for months. I wish that I had seen a different doctor, but she was in network so I went there. I tried to transfer to another doctor in the same practice, but the desk staff seemed friendly but confused and lost my paperwork multiple times. I asked if there was a timeline for getting it, and they just didn’t seem to know what to do.
Disappointing.

I needed to get a very minor procedure. My rooming & consultation lasted only 10 minutes after I had been waiting in the lobby for 1.25 hours. I had to go back for the procedure the following week. They gave me a sheet with discharge instructions stating to call if any symptoms arose or if I had any issues with my sutures. Sure enough, I had complications with my sutures so I called. The front desk took a message stating an MA would call me back. Not only did they fail to return my call & did I need to receive urgent care elsewhere, but they didn’t seem to care that I never returned for post operative treatment. Way to follow through.

Dr Joneschild is excellent, professional, intelligent and courteous, if a bit efficient. In contrast to earlier reviews found all interactions with staff extremely pleasant– notably so actually. There was a wait but I don’t know a medical office without one. One surgery several years ago was effective, intervening cortisone similarly so and have my second surgery with them scheduled soon without reservation.

I have to say, this place was a waste of my time. I was in a bad car accident about a year ago and fractured several bones including my hand. My primary care doctor took additional X-​rays after the ER and confirmed my hand was fractured. For months the pain wasn’t going away, so I decided to contact a specialist to look into the pain further. I met with unnamed doctor here, and she didn’t listen or have any sympathy for my pain. It was almost as if she didn’t believe I had pain. As most doctors have that «God-​like» complex, this goes beyond that. Anyhow, she couldn’t pinpoint where to do an MRI, so she sent me to a hand therapist for like 3 or 4 months. After that I came back for a follow up, and she still didn’t know what to do. I insisted we do the MRI to make sure there was nothing else going on, again she seemed snobby, insensitive and arrogant. Another month went by. I returned for the MRI results and it was inconclusive, then she said there was nothing else to do. Wasted 9 months of my time. This place is a cash register just processing patients in and out and don’t seem to care about the patients.

This was the worst experience I have ever had at a medical office. Complete waste of time.

I would give 4 stars to Dr. Joneschild — she’s wonderful. Just saw her for a consultation on a wrist injury. She is very knowledgeable and informative. It’s the staff here. To them I give a 1 (my 3 stars are an average of these). The staff from reception to nurses are lame/​weak. They aren’t very nice from the time they answer the phone (not rude just terse and not very helpful) to the time they check you in. Minor and James had some of my records and since I was referred by them and they are only a block away, I asked if could get my x-​rays and records transferred prior to my appointment. The very terse response «that is YOUR responsibility — we don’t have anything to do with that.» Oh. Thanks. Other offices I’ve been to are happy to make the call. Also these people are from a different decade, like the 1980s. You fill out the same form with your name address phone number, etc. etc. no less than 4 times. Hello! What happened to computers?! Seattle Radiology was great and hand-​delivered my MRI at my request (too much trouble for the Hand Surgery staff I guess) but when I got to Seattle Hand Surgery the records could not be found. When I pressed, Dr. Joneschild herself went looking and finally found them. The staff, including her own nurse, could not be bothered to even look. Seattle Hand Surgery, you need a staff meeting that talks about customer service. I might still go back due to Dr. J however your staff has some sort of chip on their shoulders that is reflected in multiple other reviews here. This needs to be addressed. I’d prefer to find a place that has a great staff and good doctors. They do exist — we have a choice.

I went to them for a second opinion and opted to go with another hand surgeon. Currently my surgery is failing and I opted to go back to this clinic to have a consult with a different surgeon. They made it very difficult to transfer doctors even though I’m not patient of record, I only went once for a consult. They said it would be one to two weeks and I asked if we could please shorten that due to my situation, this was about 3 weeks ago they have still not contacted me and as far as I know I have not been transferred to the other doctor that I requested.

If you want to have your time wasted by staff that either makes excuses, lies or just plain say nothing about their lack of follow through on your treatment, come here
Not sure if its all patients or they are just so busy that some patients slip through the cracks to be forgotten… and let me tell you if you are forgotten it doesnt matter how many times you call…
What a fiasco… its almost funny

As others have written, there does seem to be a long wait between your appointment time and when you actually get to see the doctor. But this place came highly recommended by my other doctor and my time with Dr. Fuhs was really good time spent. I was prepared and so was he. We got to the heart of the matter, found a treatment, and even had some good story time during my injection.

I’ve had hand & elbow surgeries by my doc in AZ & just knew no doc could take his place. How fortunate to have another excellent doc to take care of my hands. Dr. Laino is fantastic, caring, personable & so proficient. The reception has never been a problem for me, but I do agree with the unhappy reviewer about her experience of being put on hold. I experienced the same thing repeatedly while trying to schedule the latest surgery — very strange set-​up that needs to be addressed. Easy to get to on the bus is a major factor for me. I’ll stick with Dr. Laino for my hand needs.

Wow, what horrible customer service to make an appointment!
I called and a mumbling person answered then sent me immediately to «hold.» I waited on hold 30 minutes and called back, explaining I had been on hold 30 minutes. Without explanation I was put on hold again. After hold for 10 minutes, someone answered and hung up on me without saying a word! I called back and explained this; again no apologies just put on hold again.
I hung up and called the Polyclinic instead and got in right away. Thank goodness there’s at least one other hand specialist in Seattle.

I went in with pain and hoping they could help me. I was prepared to hear that they will get me in a few months, but to my surprise they got me in the next day. Dr. Wagner. helped me and took care of my problem. He knew what I was talking about in very few words. I really recommend him! He is the best!!!

When I broke my wrist on January 8^th — Dr Stephen Fuhs took terrific care of me.
Dr Fuhs’ assistant Mary and Sara at the front desk, along with Shenita, have all been amazingly helpful with my Health Insurance plan and straightening out difficulties with the Insurance Company. I would highly recommend the Seattle Hand Surgery Group and their Physical Therapists.

Very professional, friendly and knowledgeable staff and physicians. If you want expert diagnosis and hand surgery, you found it with Seattle Hand Surgery Group! I have been going here for over 10 years, and have been treated with nothing but respect, kindness and efficiency.

Had a wonderful experience here. Son had a broken finger — came here for a second opinion and ended up staying. Dr. Joneschild was very professional — really seemed to know what she was talking about. Looked at the finger and was able to give a good assessment of it. Another doctor though there was a chance of infection which would mean we would have to do surgery. She looked at it and based on how many days it had been completely ruled out infection. We opted for no surgery — so the made a custom fit splint for him — I don’t think every place does this — the other doctor at the other place would have just had him in an ordinary splint. The custom splint makes all the difference because it stays on and protects the finger all the way around. Anyway, long story short — everyone was super nice and helpful, from the doctors to the therapists. And yes, they are expensive, but when it’s my son’s finger — I’m willing to shell out a little more for better care and service.
The wait time was never bad — maybe it’s the time I went. We chose early afternoon time slots and it seemed to work out — never waited more than 5 – 10 min.
Parking — THIS is another issue. They have paid parking underground — I really feel like I get ripped off there, but whatever — you’ve got to let some things go otherwise you go crazy.

I severed a tendon in my pinky. Dr. Laino and the amazing PT dept, Kari (spelling?) in particular were very knowledgeable, patient and encouraging in my long recovery. Wait times have been less than 5 minutes, and the admin staff and nurses are very friendly and helpful. I did not give it 5 stars because this clinic is very expensive, although I don’t know what other top specialty practices charge.

They charged me $ 172 to spend an hour telling me they were going to charge me $ 172. So I guess I paid them to tell me that I was going to pay them.
To their credit, the snotty, egotistical, upstart surgeon did actually spend 5 minutes discussing my hand.
He made it pretty obvious I was wasting his time.
Sorry about that. I’ll try not to break my hand again.
Watch out for the ‘walking fee’. If the surgeon walks you from his office to the therapy room, they’ll charge you. I think it’s like $ 40. It’s expensive, walking these day. Gotta cover costs & all…