Neurological Associates of WA

Jennifer Stoltz _{on Google}

Mar 22nd, 2024

Very unprofessional.!!
Their office staff are hard to get a hold of, slow to respond, often fail to follow up with calls and emails, and have broken HIPPA violations multiple times over the phone or in person in the office.
- Secretary staff have asked patients about personal, identifiable and vulnerable health information and financial information in front of other patients in the lobby. This tells me they are too overwhelmed to train staff effectively.
And When I call the office, I receive their voicemail 100% every-time. When I do actually get to speak to staff directly, I have been told multiple times that they will
"get back to me by the end of the day", only to hear nothing from them.
and I have had to contact them multiple times for anything, making it a month or more to get responses for my initial questions. I don't believe this to be too high of an expectation for a health clinic. And they try to defend their lack of responsiveness by telling me how many things are on their to do list or that "I'm not the only patient who emails them". While being overburdened or understaffed are difficult, it is NOT the patient's responsibility to support the staff.
Then I got my blood work results, so I called with questions, I was told "Dr. Armitano does not speak directly to patients" and all communication has to go through his medical assistant. I followed the above instructions and asked his medical assistant if Dr. Armintano " " could provide me with interpretation of my results and affirm or deny the diagnoses we were looking into; I was told "Dr. Armitano does not diagnose." I then asked "how am I supposed to know what to do with my results?" and was told, "That's not on me" by his medical assistant. Then I asked another question. Since Dr Armitano does not Diagnose. Whats the point of his Practice then.? And I was told, You have to ask Dr Armitano, Thats not on me.
Then I had an appointment March 27th 2024. Im stuck in traffic for over a hour already heading to Kirkland, Im coming from a long way to this appointment. And I call to ask a question. let them know Ill be a little late. Would that be ok.? Or Do I need to reschedule.? Mind you While Im in traffic and on my Way there calling them. I find out the Dr Armintano and his assistant isnt Practicing at that clinic anymore.!! And I never received a call or a email notifying me about this and or his new location!! And Ive waited Many months for appointment, to find this out while Im already driving there.!!!!! There is No excuse for this inadequate care and Professionalism.!!!
SO UNPROFESSIONAL.!!!!!!!

Squidward Tentacle _{on Google}

Dec 6th, 2023

Honestly, I feel like Dr. Armitano puts way more into his new patient visits than the following ones. While I understand he's only got one assistant, I can't accept that as an excuse to avoid taking care of patient needs in between visits (such as side effects and etc). Maybe I haven't seen him enough to tell, but after my last visit I feel scammed. You're better off saving your money.
In my opinion, he doesn't do anything that a PCP couldn't.

Michelle Stonecastle _{on Google}

Aug 24th, 2023

Dr Armitano at Neurological Associates of WA has been my personal neurologist for almost 2 years. He is very knowledgeable about MCAS/ EDS/POTs. He gives excellent notes and 'homework' after visit. If a patient is willing to do their homework and leg work he can guide to the right places, medication, and other doctors for other related issues. Dr Armitano understands all the diagnostics for procuring a diagnosis in many areas especially those listed above. The schedule is usually booked out a year. It is difficult to get an appointment due to the massive amounts of automatic nervous system disorders that have come about since COVID. Dr Armitano is one of the main neurologists in WA state who understands the trifecta that is MCAS/EDS/CNS disorders (aka POTS is one type of Central Nervous System). His staff is kind and helpful, but they don't have time to deal with silliness. Patient need to be willing to be an active participant in their treatment. Patients must do the work requested by Dr Armitano to experience his best support and guidance. Hand holding through the influx of individuals needing assistance has to be reduced in order to manage the shear volume of patients. Please treat all staff with utmost respect, they need the support to continue helping all of those in need of their services.

David Wilson _{on Google}

Jul 21st, 2023

PSA: Terrible experience, No idea what has been there in the past but currently the office is gas lighting, having people pay, not giving the results promised and shaming clients for their over worked staff problems.
Avoid and find somewhere else if at all possible.

Nicole Gehlbach-Wilson _{on Google}

Jul 24th, 2023

My experience with Dr. Armitano and the team at Neurological Associates of WA has been awful. They treat patients inappropriately and unprofessionally. They book far too many people to actually care for them well, and this is irresponsible.
(1) Dr. Armitano himself is unavailable to patients for after care.
- My follow up was scheduled eight months after my initial visit. Being warned about this ahead of time does not change the fact that follow up care is far beyond when a patient receives results.
- At my intake, I asked Dr. Armitano's medical assistant whether I could call and speak with Dr. Armitano should I have questions about my results; they said yes. However, when I received results and called with questions, I was told "Dr. Armitano does not speak directly to patients" and all communication has to go through his medical assistant. I followed the above instructions and asked his medical assistant if Dr. Armitano could provide me with interpretation of my results and affirm or deny the diagnoses we were looking into; I was told "Dr. Armitano does not diagnose." I then asked "how am I supposed to know what to do with my results?" and was told, "That's not on me" by his medical assistant. After calling and emailing multiple times with this same question, I was eventually given a "yes," "no" and "indeterminable" as answers to what diagnoses I have. No follow up support, explanation or interpretation.
(2) Their office staff are hard to get a hold of, slow to respond, often fail to follow up with calls and emails, and have broken HIPPA violations multiple times over the phone or in person in the office.
- Secretary staff have asked patients about personal, identifiable and vulnerable health information and financial information in front of other patients in the lobby. This tells me they are too overwhelmed to train staff effectively.
- After getting labwork done in April, I called and emailed multiple times to ask them to send the bloodwork to my PCP. It was never sent. My PCP had to call the third party lab to get the results.
- When I call the office, I receive their voicemail 90% of the time. When I do actually get to speak to staff directly, I have been told multiple times that they will "get back to me by the end of the day", only to hear nothing from them.
- With any inquiry, I wait at least a week before calling or emailing them again to follow up, and I have had to contact them multiple times for anything, making it a month or more to get responses for my initial questions. I dont believe this to be too high of an expectation for a health clinic.
- On EVERY single phone call, I receive an emotional dumping of how stressed they are in the office. They defend their lack of responsiveness by telling me how many things are on their to do list or that Im not the only patient who emails them. While being overburdened or understaffed are difficult, it is NOT the patient's responsibility to support the staff, and it is not an excuse for inadequate care. Staff have been snarky, sarcastic, and immature in their responses to me.
- I have twice interrupted these emotional dumpings and said that as a patient it is not my fault that they are understaffed and not my responsibility to shoulder their stress. I was literally hung up on.
- When I called to ask for the doctor's interpretation of my positive POTS results, a secretary started telling me how "POTS is not curable, but you just gotta do your best." This is extremely inappropriate from someone whose position and training does not render them as a medical expert. This could have been devastating to hear for someone who is easily influenced by information or new in their journey of chronic health issues, and there is no support in place to follow up statements like this with care, medical attention or symptom management.
I have HATED working with this office. Being understaffed or undertrained are not excuses; it is a health care clinic's responsibility to care for their patients well.