Orthopedic Institute 2000-2198 Southeast 17th Street, Ocala, FL 34471

"Front Office staff are rude and could care less why your are there. Very unorganized. I found Mandy to be very helpful and very nice."

"I saw Dr. Mahmood for a work injury in my hand. He gave me an injection and some pt and said there was nothing else he could do for me. Put me on full duty at work. My hand still swells and hurts all the time. He was supposed to be the best hand specialist around and I think he was bogus."

"This is the kind of place that tells a patient they aren't worthy of being treated because of their body. I came here for a torn ACL. I was mainly hoping for a steroid shot in my knee, an assessment of whether I needed surgery, and hopefully a PT referral. All I got was being told that the 40 lbs I already shed "wasn't enough". No goal setting or talk about meeting in the middle. Just a declaration that I needed to "loose more weight" (no numbers, just "more"). It was so bad that I left the PCP that referred me."

"This office has the rudest, most unprofessional front of office staff. They did not find the appointment, we’re not helpful or nice. Do not waste your time coming here!"

"*** PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE REVIEW! *** If you plan on being a Patient at this place Don’t Do It!!! Their Policies Violate [H.I.P.P.A Laws] As a Military Veteran under The Dept. Of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Systems I was referred to Orthopedic Institute through the Community Care Division of the Department of VA Healthcare. My experience with Orthopedic Institute was everything “LESS” than a “One Star Rating” system can ask of anyone! This place looks professional, well maintained and unfortunately has both trained and untrained healthcare workers. The initial interaction was pleasant, with the exception of the individual with whom called to make my appointment gave the wrong location address for said appointment. I showed up (thankfully) 30 minutes early only to be told the physician seeing me was located a 15 minute drive across town. I guess being punctual pays off! I get to the other location actually on time, only to be greeted by a very sloppy, lazy, inattentive, unknowable receptionist. The young lady asks for my ID and refuses to accept my Military credentials, then asks for my Drivers License, stating that’s the only form of identification they accept. My question to her was what if a person doesn’t have a Drivers License? She immediately gave my attitude, so I just handed her my D/L. The next course of action was to hand me a Tablet, the Tablet was to Register. *** Here’s where things got ugly really really fast…! *** This receptionist tells me “If you have any questions, come back up to the counter.” It so happens that after the first screen of which was basic identification question (which wasn’t a problem). I get to screen two (2). Here’s where I had issues with what was being asked of me, to agree to. Without going to deep into what troubled me, I’ll summarize. They wanted their patients (Me) to give up their/my “Right to Privacy”! I went up to the counter and simply asked (calm & non confrontational) “Why is it if I don’t agree to the stipulations of page 2 of this Registration I’m kicked out of the registration process?” The same receptionist states: “It our policy for all patient’s to grant us permission to release your medical and personal information to any of the listed entities if requested.” I went on to say that is a direct violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 & HIPPA Laws. She immediately DM’d her Supervisor stating: I was being Confrontational, Disruptive and in direct violation of the Institute’s “Code of Conduct”. Her Supervisor pulls me aside and begins to explain why she was summoned. I interrupt her and ask what is it we are talking about? Then stated there was no conduct that warranted this interaction, I merely stated to your subordinate I choose not to sign the release of my personal health information to anyone other than my VA Doctors. After explaining this she told me her and asking for a printed copy to make alterations, she brought out the printed copy of the request for release. Upon handing my the printed copy, (respectfully and professionally) I was told that management “would not” accept any alterations to the printed copy. I then thanked her and said, I will annotate what I am willing to release and to whom, then see where it goes. That didn’t go over well, because I was asked “to leave” (by Management), if I didn’t want to sign the form giving blanket release of my Medical information. My apologies for not taking a snap shot of the “Release”, for everyone to see the blatant disregard for a person’s privacy. Please also forgive me for not being able to speak on the level of Physician care, because I never made it into see any of them. In closing it’s hard to believe people don’t read what they sign or are people that naïve and don’t know their basic rights! I can’t call it because this place was packed in both locations, mostly of elderly people."