From: montys@tekig7.PEN.TEK.COM (Monty D Smith)
Newsgroups: pdx.general
Subject: Hillsboro area doctors summary
Date: 10 Sep 92 17:08:49 GMT
Article-I.D.: tekig7.6913
Reply-To: montys@mapme6.map.tek.com
Distribution: pdx
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

>I am looking for a new Primary Care Physician in the Hillsboro area
>and am soliciting feedback (pos or neg) on the following doctors:

>Are they on time or perpetually late?
>Do they know what they're doing?
>Are they reasonable w/rt referrals?
>How long does it take to see them (more than a week?  same day?)

Here is a summary of the Hillsboro doctors.  A "k" means the
recommendation referred specifically to kids.
Thanks for all the replies (names deleted below)

James Anderson
+- James Atkisson
- David Balmer
+k Henry Bunnell
- Bill Ferguson 
- +k Robert Fields
James Garland
Ralph Harvey
Craig Myers
Fred Nachtigal
+- Burton Pattee
Ronald Pausig
Randolph Pitts
- Peter Schludermann
+ Roger Smith
- James Sohriakoff


I would not recommend Sohriakoff.  He does not ever give referrals
without seeing the patient first, even if there's nothing he can do
before sending for a specialist.  Both my wife and I have had problems
and have switched to other doctors because of it.  In my wife's case
he insisted on giving her a vaginal exam before a routine referral to
her ob/gyn.  He also will not speak to patients on the phone, nor does
he return their calls.  If you want to speak to him, you MUST make an
appointment, regardless of the issue.  He seems to run his practice to
maximize the amount of insurance money received rather than administer
healing.

Dr. Schluderman is very nice and personable and will take all the time
necessary to talk things over with you.  The drawback is that this
makes him perpetually late.  His staff actually recommends that you
call in advance to see how late he is, then time your "appointment"
accordingly.

I would not recommend Dr. Atkisson.  He once mis-diagnosed a cough as
asthma and prescribed some rather strong medication.  After reading the
label on the medication, I decided not to take it.  The cough cleared up
by itself in one week.  If you want to post a summary, do not include my 
name.

Monty, many years ago when we first arrived in Hillsboro, we had a very bad
experience with Bill Ferguson.  We believe our small son almost died one night
as a result of Dr. Ferguson's lack of concern/expertise/responsiveness.
I would never recommend him to anyone.

David Balmer  - failed to diagnose my sister's ruptured appendix.  Then 
he failed to properly diagnose the complications--after several expensive 
tests at the hospital.  He seems to be good with kids, and devotes a 
lot of his time and energy to helping economically disadvantaged 
children.  Maybe it just saps his energy.

Robert Fields - Kind, gentle with kids.  Willing to talk about extending 
payments on expensive procedures (even if you don't have insurance).  
Was, at lest a few years ago, David Balmer's partner.  He also spends 
a lot of time with poor children.  Niether one of these guys will care 
if your family is highly non-traditional.

Roger Smith   - Currently my doctor.  He's good, no-nonsense, and a 
minimalist when it comes to tests and drugs.  I got introduced to him 
because he gives flight physicals.  I figured my flight doctor should 
do all my health, just on general principles.  My kids now go a 
pediatrician in Aloha, at the clinic up by where cornell road is 
close to highway 26.  I forget the name off hand.

Dr. Pattee is my primary care physician. I think he's alright.
He's gentle and thorough and he always answers my questions.
I like him. One thing, though....he does not like to give 
out prescriptions.

Bob Fields:  On time, but not so good in patient relationships and
referral.  Has a lot of issues with insurance companies--seemed to see
them as enenmies.  Was very presumptious.  In one instance, I asked to
be referred to a dermatologist, which he refused to do.  Instead of
trying to deal with the insurance company (Good Health, at the time),
Fields told me that I would have to deal with them.  Without burdening
you with all the details, I'll just say that I left his patient load,
went to another physician who immediately referred me to a
dermatologist.  The dermatologist implied that Fields' recommended
treatment was inappropriate.

J. D. Atkisson:  Seems very good in patient care, never missed in
diagnoses or successful treatments, friendly, intelligent, and
dermatology board-certified.  We've never had any problems in his
dealings with the insurance company.  Immediately refers people to
specialists if needed.

The down side on Atkisson is that he's really busy.  In addition to a
full office, he's on staff at Tuality Community Hospital.  He has never
refused to see us with a sick kid or whatever, but sometimes you do
have to wait.  He's very responsive to patient input.  He has hired a
nurse practioner to help the flow in his office.   Overall, he seems
like a good physician.

My daughter see Doctor Henry Bunnell, and seems to like him.  She is 
very shy and she has warmed up to him with no problems.  We have never 
had a problem with getting in to see him.  Hope this helps.
She is a child 10 years old.  She has been seeing Dr. Bunnell since she
was about 4 years old.  My Mom is, also, a patient of Dr. Bunnells.
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