Oakland Bone and Joint Specialists

IF I COULD GIVE ZERO STARS, I WOULD.

This is the MOST IMCOMPETENT medical office I have ever dealt with. Twice I have paid with my FSA, and twice I have requested an invoice to submit to my FSA with no response. Twice the person I spoke to in the office has told me "it's in the mail" but it was clearly never mailed. Now my FSA is threatening to shut my card off. Additionally, I arrived early for my 8:30 am appointment, checked in as they requested, and then watched as Dr. Alwattar was told by the incompetent woman in the office that I hadn't arrived. Before I could get to her, he walked out of the office and disappeared for 30 minutes because he didn't know I was there. So I more or less waited 45 minutes for a five minute appointment with him.

Don't get me started on Dr. Alwattar, who will see you for five minutes without really explaining what is wrong with you and tell you that surgery is the only option if your issue doesn't resolve. I apparently have something akin to carpal tunnel in my elbows but I can't tell you what it's actually called because Dr. Alwattar didn't/couldn't tell me and had barely read the my neurologist's report when I went for my follow-up. He offered no treatment advice except surgery later if it didn't resolve. It is obvious that all he cares about is surgery, and that if you aren't a candidate, he has little interest in you.

AVOID THIS OFFICE LIKE THE PLAGUE.

Dr. Jeffrey Mann is the best of ankle issues and knee's i have had three procedures with him since 2011 and I have been extremely pleased with my progress and his assessment has been right on! I have had to wait in the waiting room but for all good things i don't mind the weight!
He has taken accurate information on my injuries and knows what my plans are for my future and the need to return to the previous activities that I did before my accident in 2011. I will have him reconstruct my other ankle one my first is feeling 100%... eye contact is overrated as long as the Dr. knows what to do who cares if he/she is shy. I think Dr. Mann is awesome and I have had over 10 surgeries in 4 states since 1985... and I have been very comfortable with my new relationship with Oakland Bone and Joint.
Thanks for taking great care of a coach and former athlete!

Lynn

Dr Roger Mann removed a cyst from my foot and I had a decent experience. Dr Allwatar diagnosed my elbow problem correctly and suggested PT not surgery. . Definitely agree with others about ridiculously long wait times--90 minutes the first visit!!! Bring a book.

Dr alwattar was an excellent dr. He saw me the day after Christmas for a skiing accident. He checked my leg out and gave me the realistic hypothetical that it very well could be an acl tear. But before we started planning I was to get an MRI.
After the MRI he walked me through that it was not an acl tear and showed me all through the MRI images.
He was very nice and professional throughout and I would return to him with any similar problems in the future.

Was recommended to this office by my GP. But she did warn me that the bedside manner of this group was very impersonal.

My first appointment was with Dr Roger Mann. I never saw him. Only a succession of fellows, residents, whatever.

The second appointment was worse. Again, supposedly to see Roger Mann. 3:45pm appointment. Wasn't called to the exam room until 4:30 (no explanation or apology for being late). Then, I sat in the exam room for 1 hour. No contact, no explanation, no apology. At that point I went to the internal reception area to complain. I wanted to see any doctor. Didn't care who. 10 minutes later I got one of the fellows. (Again, no apology or explanation). He didn't even take off my sock to look at the progress of my broken ankle. He just said it was OK and I could go! I had to ask for the exact status of my ankle (break healed?), any restrictions on physical activity and for an Rx for physical therapy. I had to pry the information out of him.

So I spent 2 hours in the office for 5 minutes of consult and a hefty parking fee in the attached parking lot. What a waste of time. Will never go back and would recommend against this practice.

No, just no. Dr. Basil Alwattar, after a 45 hour wait and then an xray told me my hand was "ugly" inside and asked why had I waited to have surgery for my osteoarthritis. Because I had joint fusion surgery on my back and I had my right hand operated on first because I am right handed. He referred me to Webster Orthopedics which was even worse than this place. Rude on the phone, rude in the office. Don't bother.

I met with the doctor, and while the initial meeting went well, and dr Alwattar really impressed me, I have been left waiting forever for help with follow up steps to address my medical issue. There's no point in seeing a doctor if you can't actually resolve your issue, or conclude medically that no action is to be taken. If I hear more information I will revise this rating. Until such time I do not recommend anyone use this facility, as this problem could happen to you, and you deserve better than to be ignored.

This review is for Dr. Basil Alwattar and for Mike Summers, PA-C. I had an excellent experience at Oakland Bone and Joint. I tore my meniscus and needed surgery while I was on my rotations training to become a physician assistant. They got me in right away and provided wonderful care! This included a phone call on the weekend asking how the surgery went, individualized attention, answering my MANY questions with patience, changing my medication (also on a weekend) because I don't tolerate certain pain meds well, and being realistic about healing times and what to expect. Both are very skilled and have great bedside manner. My particular surgery takes a year to recover from fully (medial meniscus repair, not the same as a meniscetomy) and they pushed me to stay positive and to challenge myself while recovering in those first rough months. I was also impressed by the facility they use for surgery (The Surgery Center in Oakland). It was very clean and comfortable (the waiting room literally looks like someone's living room), and the staff were very kind and attentive. I would fly all the way back to Oakland from Wisconsin to have Dr. Alwattar to do any future orthopedic surgery, but I'm really hoping I won't need another one!

FYI sometimes they do run late and to prepare in advance, park in the garage around the corner on Webster from the office for a couple bucks, don't use the meters! And be nice to them if they are late, stuff happens, they're human, and that's life.

Highly recommend Dr. Alwattar. I just had a total knee replacement and felt like I received excellent care. Merritt Hospital was wonderful and the nurses on the orthopedic floor were great. Even though my doctor had to go out of town a few days after my surgery, he followed up,on my care and knew exactly how I was doing - which as he predicted , would be fine!

True professionals here. Dr. Roger Mann literally wrote the book on foot and ankle surgeries!