Shimizu Russ T MD

Horrible experience with this doctor and his office staff. Rude, incompetent, and uncaring all around.
I have a history of herniated discs and when mine flared up again I went to this neurologist.
The first appointment was okay. My goal was to get prescriptions for a sciatic pain med I knew worked for me, an MRI, and physical therapy. As we talked after my initial exam he wrote all those prescriptions quickly and handed them off to me. He repeatedly asked me if I had ever had a spinal injection in my back for the problem, 3 or 4 times I had to say no. Then he said «I’m surprised you got better.» THEN the nightmare began.
1. Had to call his office something like 5 times over 4 days (while in a lot of pain) to get my prescription because he didn’t specify the type of release (fast/​slow) for the medication. Instead of making a judgment call on such he required me to read off an old prescription bottle from a previous doctor. The office people kept saying they would call the pharmacy and correct it and each time I gave them 2 – 4 hours leeway but whenever I called the pharmacy, nope no call from the office. Really?! Tired of the crap, I asked if the staff could confirm something with the doctor while I was on the phone with them (to make sure they actually did what they said they would do) and I was rebuffed with «we won’t page the doctor unless it’s seizure medication.» The office didn’t call the pharmacy until I left a message on Day 4 begging them to please get it to the pharmacy before Xmas and everything closed because I was in a lot of pain.
2. The pharmacy wouldn’t fill another non-​urgent prescription because he wrote my name wrong– like totally a different name wrong.
3. I had to wait 30 minutes in an empty office before I was seen for my follow-​up. No one greeted me, looked at the sign-​in chart, or said anything to me about delays. I had to ask when I’d be seen and I was rudely responded to by office staff. I don’t mind waiting, but please acknowledge my existence, it’s basic customer service.
4. When I finally saw Dr. Shimizu he didn’t seem like he had recently reviewed my file and kept pushing for a spinal injection despite me telling him that I want to stick with conservative treatment. I asked questions about decompression and other things, he didn’t seem to be up to date on the latest research.
5. I stopped by the office in between appointments and asked if he would provide a written note to my employer explaining my work limitations so I could work from home while recovering. I dropped off my request a week in advance of when I needed it. They told me the doctor usually charges for notes, seems a bit ridiculous but okay. One week later, I had a follow-​up appointment and I asked him about the letter and he had no idea what I was talking about. Either his staff didn’t give him the letter or he straight up forgot/​ignored it.
While checking out I discussed with him the gist what it needed to say. I asked if he could write it today since my employer was expecting it today and I gave it to him a week ago. He said maybe, it depends on how busy he gets. Alright, not a helpful answer especially since they were the ones that messed up.
I called the next day to follow-​up and I took a firmer tone and his staff went full-​bitch on me and snapped that he’s busy and will get to when he does. I informed them that I was cancelling my next appointment and I wasn’t returning. The staff said «Oh so you’re cancelling your appointment because he won’t write you a note?» To which I responded, «No, I’m cancelling my appointment because of the utterly poor treatment I have received from both the doctor and this staff.» Now it’s war. It took a call literally every hour all day long to get them to actually write the note (handwritten and did not follow the simple directions provided), which I suspect was done by the staff and signed by the doctor. Ultimately my employer rejected it.
In any event, RUDE and DISRESPECTFUL staff and an ignorant doctor. I was treated so poorly that after speaking with his staff I was brought to tears. AWFUL people.

Unfortunately I felt as though this doctor almost killed me, I suffered so much, and felt like I was a hypochondriac, when I was very very sick. That may sound a bit strong, however I suffered a lot under his care, if you can call it care. I had a very, very serious neurological illness that went undiagnosed under his care. I even hate writing care. This happened 8 years ago and I am still bitter. The diagnosis even showed up in a blood test, and this doctor did not even diagnose. I looked up my test results on the internet and what was the illness and thought UH-​OH. I was in surgery like ten days later. A very serious surgery. Very upsetting. I showed up in the Valley, to a D.O. whose father had been an MD at Providence St Joesph’s and landed in the Valley health care system, where I am to this day. Thank God! I am alive, with a great set of health care providers. I would have died if it had not been for them. It was pure science. Who is it that said «It’s science my dear Watson» I was beginning to feel like it was my excellent insurance that was being bilked!

Dr. Shimizu was my neurologist for 2 – 3 years and was terrible! He never remembered me, did a half decent exam, and didn’t really try anything new medications to prevent my migraines. His nurse is very rude as well and not helpful when filling prescriptions. On the contrary, after one visit with my new neurologist, my migraines are gone! He got straight to the issue and found a miracle drug for me!