Family Medical Group Northeast

Reviews 4

CH

Charlotte Blocker

I chose Family Medical Group about two years ago, as I wanted a family care provider in a private clinic near my residence. I saw Dr. Smucker, who I felt consistently minimized my medical concerns. I got the impression that I was shuffled in-and-out as quickly as possible with each appointment. I always spent more time speaking with a nurse than my doctor, and when I did ask questions, I was always referred to an outside specialist. I don’t appreciate that, personally, as I like to feel like I can rely on my general practitioner to practice, well, general medicine. It drives up the cost of my care and wastes my time, especially when no further inquiry into that ailment is ever made by my primary care physician. This was a minor inconvenience, and despite my growing dissatisfaction with my doctor, I continued to rely on FMGNE because their location is convenient. However, recently I needed to get a letter from my doctor for an urgent, personal matter. This letter took two other providers less than an hour to write and submit when I expressed it was an urgent matter. When I contacted FMGNE, they informed me that their online portal was down, and they are unable to access any patient information and that as soon as the IT problems were worked out, Dr. Smucker would be happy to issue me a letter. I called back after a few days with no update, and got the same answer. A few days later, I called and got the same answer again, only this time, Dr. Smucker’s assistant was hopeful she’d be able to provide the letter that day. A few more days go by, and TEN DAYS after I made a simple request for a letter from my doctor, I called back and was told that the portal had just gone back online and that my letter would be issued that afternoon. I have to say, rather than getting upset, I found myself feeling rather vindicated. This is exactly the level of concern for my care that I have always felt from the providers at FMGNE. Going forward, I will no longer use FMGNE, as I feel that as a patient, they have lost my trust. As care providers, this practice has let me down greatly, and I cannot in good conscience recommend this practice to anyone unless you are willing to put your care in the hands of a practice that can lose access to your patient information for more than a week.

---

AB

Abagail Vonderheide

The clinic is nice, and the staff very friendly; however, Dr. Smuckers medical care is some of the worst Ive received. My husband and I both felt very rushed at our appointments, and it never seemed as though he took our complaints very seriously. To make matters worse, after seeing another doctor, I now know that he misdiagnosed me in a way I think was very negligent, and most likely occurred because he never took the time to truly listen to a full list of my symptoms without jumping in halfway through with the diagnosis hed already decided on. Id been suffering from stomach upset, pain, and digestive issues since before I moved here. Dr. Smucker diagnosed me with IBS, and told me to take Citrucel. He never ordered a blood test, or bothered to look at my previous records, or he would have noticed that I had gradually worsening anemia--a symptom of what I actually had, which was a bleeding ulcer. Even worse, when I saw him because I was concerned I was taking too much Excedrin for my headaches, he told me to continue taking the pills as long as they were working for me, even knowing that I had ongoing stomach issues. My ulcer was most likely caused by NSAIDs, and Excedrin contains aspirin (an NSAID), so his medical advice probably made my condition worse. The next doctor I saw (Heather Pfeiffer FNP) immediately ordered a blood test, put me on Prilosec, and diagnosed me with an ulcer with no problem. After a month of treatment from her, my symptoms have almost completely disappeared, whereas under Dr. Smucker I suffered unnecessarily for a year, believing I had a condition like IBS that was never going to go away. I would not, under any circumstances or for any reason, recommend Dr. Smuckers medical care to anyone; its entirely possible his care may even make your condition worse, as it did for me. There are many good doctors in Portland that will take the time to listen to you and diagnose you properly. Find one of them, because Dr. Smucker is not one.

---

KI

Kimberly Powell

**Update** Ive now been going to the Family Medical Group for about two years, and still really appreciate the care Im given. Ive had excellent care from both Dr. Peter, and Dr. Skinner every single time Im in the office. Unfortunately, the only down side would be that I was almost put to tears by Dr. Peters nurse Rhonda at my last visit. After telling her I had anxiety (and just had a panic attack due to my illness), she proceeded to try to check my throat very roughly, and when I couldnt do it, she told me I was like one of her pediatric patients, and she wasnt paid to fight you with people. She rolled her eyes when I didnt know all the medication I was taking, or the dosages. She was rude, and the whole time I was thinking to myself "I dont want to be here. I want to switch doctors." ..Until of course Dr. Peters walked in, and I remembered why I go to him. Before Rhonda I had always seen Tina, who is an amazing nurse and kind woman. Im still going to go back for the great care from Dr. Peters, but I really hope I dont have to deal with his nurse, or her lack of compassion. **Older post** Prior to coming here I had been in and out of the ER multiple times. I finally decided to go to a GM to figure out what was wrong with me. I made an appointment, and within two days was seen by Dr. Peters. I waited for about 10 minutes in the office before I was seen by a really friendly nurse, and even better doctor. My experience was nothing short of excellence. Unfortunately I had to return for another condition just a few days later. I called at 8:20am and was seen at 9am..the same day! I waited for about 5 minutes, and was seen by another great lab tech and nurse. I honestly actually enjoyed my visit (who can say that about the doctor) and would highly recommend this facility to anyone of my friends or family members.

---

MA

Marilyn Spencer

I have moved all over the world and had dozens of different family doctors in my lifetime. Dr. Anne Skinner is by FAR my favorite doctor on the planet!!! She is patient, thorough, caring, funny, and just puts me at ease no matter how Im feeling. I am so glad I found her. I had my first visit at FMGNE with Dr. Lonnie Smucker, who is also a fantastic doctor, but when I was told that they are an all-specialty group including gynecology, I switched because Im more comfortable with a female doctor when Im in the stirrups! For any other type of visit, Id be more than happy to go to him as well. I also really like that they have a lab on site, so I dont have to go home with a script, make another appointment with Quest Labs or something, and then go through all of that. I just walk from my exam room into the lab, where their tech (also great! very skilled phlebotomist and super friendly) will do everything right there in record time. I have also been able to get same-day appointments for illnesses, and for non-urgent things I am seen within a couple of days by the doctor I want.

---

---