Island Dermatology

A friend recommended Dr. Bergstrom. I have been impressed by her caring, pleasant, professional manner. She takes the time to explain things and she is very thorough.

Blame the customer for a screwed-​up accounting system. Errors & omissions that would put a smile on the face of an IRS agent. 20 minutes & they still couldn’t find the credit. No complaint of the doctor. But the office staff dweebs wouldn’t know a debit from a credit. Gee kids, accounting hasn’t changed in 500 years. Plenty of other dermatologists, found another.

Our family has been going to Island Dermatology for the past seven years. We have always been happy with the professionalism of all of the staff, and I would like to specifically commend Dr Kendra Bergstrom. She is highly thorough and attentive and spends a lot of time explaining skin conditions/​treatment options. The outcomes have always been successful. I have the upmost confidence in her care, for myself and for our kids.

I am very happy with my experience with Island dermatology. I received a Dermasound facial through a drawing at an evening event there. Can’t say enough how great this facial was. I must have looked younger because that same day someone checked my ID when purchasing wine… No complaints here! Sheila, the estherician, was wonderful. She even responded kindly to my request to review a billing question and helped determine a credit in my favor. Thanks for everything! I will be a client long term.

Dr. Bergstrom is great. That’s not my problem with Island Dermatology. My problem is when I called in to make an appointment, I asked «do you take _​_​_​_​_​Insurance.» They said yes. Me not being the insurance expert assumed that this meant they are an in-​network provider.
Well, a few weeks later I get a bill for WAY more than I was expecting, even after paying my $ 30 copay. I was expecting only 20−25% coinsurance. Nope. I called my insurance company, they say they are out of network. I call the reception, they said yes they take _​_​_​_​_​Insurance, but they are not in network, and that it’s my responsibility to understand that beforehand. I believe in taking personal responsibility, and I typically live by that, but I really felt like I was deceived here and now I’m paying for it… literally. They should be more upfront about in vs. out of network. C’mon guys.

I was thoroughly impressed with how well run this practice was run and the excellent care and service I received from Dr. Bergstrom and her team. I like her style of communication. She laid out the treatment options and got me the desired outcome especially given the challenges with my condition. I felt like she was truly my partner committed to addressing my issues. It was a delight to have such a positive encounter. I have referred several of my personal and professional colleagues to her as a result. It is totally refreshing to find such a good doctor and patient oriented medical practice. Kudos!

I would give this place more stars for the doctors there. They are great, they know a lot and I have even gotten a few great facials there and those ladies were also great. The reason I am taking away 2 stars is the customer service of their receptionist’s. They are SO snotty and make you feel like you are wasting their time and they have better things to do. Whether it is making an appt, checking-​in for the appt or asking questions about billing they just do not treat paying patients very well at all. Again, the doctor I have seen is great, you just have to get past the lobby first.

I received a voice mail message from the medical assistant advising that it is «not our job to contact insurance providers.» I was finally able to reach someone at my insurance company willing to fax the authorization to the doctor’s office. The next day I received a call from the medical assistant advising my insurance company had approved the prescription.
Although my problem has been resolved, I am hesitant to recommend this provider due to the lack of simple customer service.

This review is in response to Becky H’s review from June 2011.
I guess it is possible that different people have different results from the BBL (Broad Band Light) treatment.
I just had my second BBL in a year’s period of time, done by Dr Baron. Both times I had terrific results. Brown spots siignicficantly reduced and my skin looks glowing only a week after the procedure.
I would call it only mildly uncomfortable. If you have ever plucked a hair from your face, that is what it feels like.
I had my BBL done on Thursday. Today is Monday and when I went to the MAC cosmetics counter today to buy an eye pencil, the sales person immediately commented on my skin and how clear and glowing it looked and asked what I was using.
I feel like the results I got from BBLwere a bargain for the few hundred dollars it costs once a year (or how ever often you decide to do this)
Now I also get my Botox done by Dr Baron. I have had my Botox done for the past ten years by several different practitioners. Dr Baron knows the right amount and correct placement to give you the results you are asking for. I feel his product is always fresh and gives me great results.

Dr. Baron is the best! Seriously, I’ve been to two other derms, one of which was HORRIBLE and botched an easy lip surgery. Dr. Baron knows what he is doing and does an excellent job of it and is sooo nice! Thank you!!!

I’m always the first one to assume no one reads Unilocal reviews. This of course is not correct. Very recently, one of the doctor-​partners of Island Dermatology personally called me to express apology on behalf of their office about the misplaced plan and gave an extensive phone consultation about options I can take with my «beauty» mark.
I have an appointment and am back on track with the program! Thank You Dr. Barron and staff for bringing me up to speed.
I’m relieved this mole isn’t an alien growing on me, sent to earth to take over the 2012 presidential election.

Get ready to be swindled.
The esthetician suggested a service (BBL) to me to get rid of extensive sun damage. I was told I was the «perfect candidate» and would get great results. It was suggested that I do one treatment now and one after summer to get the best results. Treatments are one for $ 350 or 3 for $ 1000 so since it came so highly recommended to me I did the 3 for $ 1000.
Neither doctor saw me for a consult, nor the Physician’s Assistant. ONly the esthetician. Numbing cream was not left on long enough so it was incredibly painful, my face was hot pink and swollen for the rest of the day and worse — there was no result. Nothing happened.
I called to report this and was asked to come in so they could see. (keep in mind I live in North Seattle and this is on the North end of the Island so it’s completely inconvient.) Sure enough — they said there’d been no change and said they’d try again for free. I hesitantly agreed and communicated concern about the pain, the redness and swelling and was said that this 2^nd try would be worth it.
They tried again (of course I had to drive out yet again) and still nothing. I went in (again) for a consult and after comparing the pictures they’d taken, sure enough — was told I should have seen more results and it just seems to not be working on me.
I insisted on being refunded for the prepayment of the other 2 treatments and they had the nerve to offer office credit instead. I insisted on a refund and was told it’d be 15 – 30 days to refund it (3 – 5 I can understand, but 15 – 30?). I asked if I could be refunded for a portion of the first treatment since it so obviously didn’t work — I’m being told no. I’ve requested to talk to the doctor about this but since he never saw me any of the FIVE TIMES I was in the office, I’m not sure he would understand how ridiculous this is.
Dr. Baron is rarely in the office (notice how the other Unilocalers saw other doctors — one saw Dr. Baron AFTER the fact) and his staff is selling expensive products under his name. It’s horrible practice for a medical office (I could see a spa doing it, but not a medical office) and I refuse to be quiet about such a bad experience.

I went to Island Dermatology after having a strange skin condition for over a month. I had already seen my general practioner who had another doctor take a look at it and tell me there was nothing they could do because they didn’t know what it was. I had an ultrasound done in it to rule out any vascular conditions and with that ruled out the technician asked the resident doctor to take a look at it and he, too, was clueless. He suggested I see a dermatologist, but he couldn’t recommend any and warned that a good derm doctor was hard to find.
I decided to go to Island Dermatology because of a trusted personal recommendation. Dr. Hayes took a look at it and also did not know what it was, but instead of just dismissing me as my GP had done, he requested that he have Dr. Baron look at it.
Minutes later Dr. Baron looked at it and he knew instantly what it was. He was able to identify my medical mystery, tell me what I needed to do, and set realistic expectations. I was relieved and elated.
I found both Dr. Baron and Dr. Hayes to be fantastic doctors.

Both my sister and I have been here, and we have loved our dermatologists, who are experienced and knowledgeable. Dr Strothers is who I saw and He helped me alot with… the many skin disorders i fight– cystic acne, keratosis pilaris, ingrown hairs… ughh I do manage all of these disorder to negligible with his help. They have a full spa too with trained nurses and esthetionists (i have no idea how to spell that). And they work with several insurance companies! yay