You are given a review about a place. You need to provide a rating from "1 star" to "5 stars" for this place.

Women's Specialty Care is like a restaurant where the food is great, but the hostess is rude, the waitstaff ignores you, and you're seated next to the bathroom. Good news first: Sheila Tack is awesome -- about the only practitioner ever who has a sense of humor, who's clearly intelligent and compassionate, and who doesn't treat patients like overgrown (and slightly stupid) little girls. When you're talking to Sheila, you get the feeling that, well, you're talking to someone who respects you. She's straightforward and clear and gentle, and I only wish they could clone her.

Now on to the bad. Calling them is a pain -- you have to listen to their whole phone tree before you hear a person (hint: Press one for English and then jump right to #7). The people on the phone are nice enough, but they often have a hard time comprehending what you're saying, especially if you're asking about medication. It's no fun to have to repeat something (literally) four times and not have much confidence that the well-intended phone person understood you or will relay the message correctly.

The front desk staff is just plain rude. When you get the feeling that your icky little gyno problems are really a big interruption in their day -- what with your paperwork and all -- that's a problem. There's a real disregard for patients and their privacy. Specifically, when I was done filling out the paperwork, I came up to the front desk. The front desk person, seeing me, got up and went to chitchat with two other people. I showed her the clipboard to indicate I was done. She didn't acknowledge me and went on chatting. I put the clipboard on the counter, not feeling happy about my personal information -- address, problem I was seeing them about, you know -- being just out on display on the counter. She walked away, leaving it there. When a new patient walked in, I finally just took the clipboard with my paperwork and had to put it on the lower level of her desk.

Next,, the red tape and inefficiency are outrageous. I wanted to be equipped with a birth control device. Sheila Tack indicated that we'd need approval from my insurance, but said they'd get that, order the gizmo, and be ready to go in about 3-5 days. Coolz. Okay, so when over a week had passed and I still hadn't heard from them, I called. The phone person said they'd make sure to leave a message. It wasn't returned. I called back a day or so later. Finally, the phone message was returned: they said they'd put in the request for authorization. (Really? Only just NOW?) When I called my health insurance to find out what I could do to move this process along, I was told they didn't even need to get authorization -- it was preauthorized. When I called Women's Specialty Care to find out what the heck was going on, I was told what amounts to a complicated labyrinth of "X has to approve Y, but if it's Q, then you'll have to order the device and then have it sent to us..." blahdiddy blah. Seriously? The issue is that Women's is not a "buy and bill" organization: that is, they do not stock any birth control in their offices -- it all has to be special-ordered, and that adds an extra layer of time and telephone calls and special-ordering that *you, the patient* will have to deal with...when or if they get around to ordering the medication or gizmo you happen to need. I am sure that if I hadn't made several calls to make sure the staff was doing their job, I'd still be twiddling my thumbs, wondering when my birth control was going to come in.

Did I mention that it is very, very hard to get a timely appointment? I love Sheila Tack and I understand she is only one (terrific) person...but the next appointment I can get to install the aforementioned birth control gizmo is TEN DAYS AWAY. That's in addition to the two weeks or so that I've waited already for them to pick up the phone and get the authorization they didn't need anyway from my insurance company.

In short, I'm looking for another provider.
2 stars

Quality was pretty good and so were the prices due to the happy hour specials... which are decent but would be better if they expanded it a bit.

It will not replace my regular sushi joints but if I'm in the area and cannot get to my regular places, I will go here.
3 stars

Hadn't eaten here in many years, but this last visit confirmed my recollection of their first-rate food. Artful presentation, excellent food, and attentive service make this a near must when visiting Phoenix.
5 stars