St. Francis Medical Center

Dr. Malinzak gave me a partial knee joint operation on August 5th. Three weeks later I had a complication with it, but could not contact Dr. Malinzak. I tried via e-mails and phone calls, but his assistant, Deborah Peterson, would not relay my concerns. After a week of this, my wife finally called Kelly (his other assistant) and cried that I was in pain. She told me to come in the next day at 2PM. I was there until 4:30 when he finally saw me. He diagnosed my knee and fixed it.

I called for my next knee operation the first week of October hoping to get it done before my next years deductible would take effect. The firs meeting was set for November 5th and the operation was set for December 5th. That left plenty of time to meet my insurance requirements. I met with Dr. Malinzak on November 5th and faxed him, e-mailed him, and called to leave a message on November 6th at 8 AM. I did this again on November 7th since I had not received any response. ON November 8th. I was contacted by Kelly and told my operation could not take place until next year since he had already left the office for his weekend vacation. This will cost me another $1400 deductible and a possibility of being cancelled by Obama's health plan. I feel that Dr. Malinzak takes offense for anyone to complain at all after his work and he does not want anybody to contact him at all. He totally insulates himself from his patients so they cannot contact him. After 5 minutes in the pre-consultation he just got up and walked out. I still had questions and did not have them answered. I have never been treated so disrespectfully from any doctor in my life. A consultation should include feedback and ability to contact the doctor if needed.

The office is very, very nice. You are checked in and then you go for your x-rays of your knees.
Afterwards, I met with the nurse who does a vital signs and asks questions. You are sent a form to complete prior to the visit and she went over those questions and answers as well.
Dr. Meding then came in and did an extensive review of my situation. I had to walk for him and he had me do some leg movements.
We went over my x-rays and he pointed out my lack of cartilage, bone spurs on my knees, and bursitis.
Then we discussed surgery and the pros and cons of doing one knee replacement then the other six months later. Or go ahead and have one longer more intense recovery period with only one surgery and one anesthesia.
I was very pleased with him and his staff and I plan to have the surgery done in early 2014.

We went to St. Francis Medical Center to see Dr. Michael Berend. He was very attentive to the details. The surgeon was very specific and very focus. My husband had some trouble afterwards and they kept having them come back and they checked it and he has done very well. He's good at answering our questions too.