I was a patient at Olympic Internal Medicine for approximately 12 years. During that time, I was…read moregenerally very happy with the care I received. Unfortunately, my experience over the last few years changed my opinion of the practice. A few years ago, the clinic switched to a membership model that required patients to pay approximately $300 per year just to remain a patient. That decision created a major issue with my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, which would no longer work with the clinic under that arrangement. As a result, I was forced to change my health insurance just so I could continue seeing my primary care physician after more than a decade as a patient. Even after paying the annual membership fee, I only saw my doctor once or twice a year for routine checkups. Paying hundreds of dollars every year simply for the privilege of remaining a patient never made sense to me. The final straw was how my billing was handled. The clinic stopped collecting my approximately $40 copay at the time of each visit and instead mailed me a bill afterward. I admit that I should have paid those bills when I received them. That's on me. However, according to the letter I received from the clinic, they had become frustrated that they had to call me to collect payment for these balances. From my perspective, it was confusing because these were small balances that could have easily been collected while I was standing at the front desk, as many medical offices routinely do. It seems like collecting the copay during the visit would have been easier and less expensive than mailing statements and making collection calls. I'm not sure why this became such a significant issue when it could have been avoided by simply collecting the payment at check-in or check-out. Instead of working with me to resolve the issue after 12 years as a loyal patient, the clinic chose to terminate our relationship. That was extremely disappointing. I have since learned that the practice was sold. Looking back, the move to a mandatory membership model felt like the practice became more focused on revenue than on maintaining long-term relationships with established patients. Whether or not that was the intention, that's certainly how it felt as someone who had been a loyal patient for over a decade. I hope other patients carefully consider whether paying an annual membership fee is worthwhile, especially if they only need routine preventive care. I also hope Washington continues to monitor concierge-style medical practices to ensure they remain transparent and patient-focused. After 12 years, I expected better communication, more flexibility, and a greater appreciation for patient loyalty.

I was a longtime patient at UW medical clinics and was sad to find no UW facilities in Kitsap…read moreCounty where we recently relocated. After a terrible experience at another facility I called UW for a reference and Doctor Gross was recommended. After a year as a patient they abruptly changed their policies. As explained in phone call I got 2 weeks before my blood work appointment. Now on top of copay out of pocket there is a yearly charge of $250 broken into monthly payments. And I was almost 3 months behind and would need to pay up to date to be seen. Never received paperwork, email etc. My insurance did not cover office visits as Dr Gross was out of network so I had to pay $200+ out of pocket.... Now add on $250. I can't afford it so asked for a reference, (just like I got from UW) the office called and said there are no primary care providers available in the area. I will go elsewhere as they obviously don't need me I needed them.

I had him as my primary for several years. Out of the blue he started accusing me of not taking my…read morethyroid medication, with a raised voice. Then went on to inquiring why I was driving with a history of seizures ( grand mal). How dare I drive, I could have a seizure and hit or kill his kids. As a Navy veteran, I have never had any medical professional go off the deep end. I found while checking out (from his office staff ) that he was going through a divorce. That was my experience. What a joke. No stars.

This physician was charming at first. Looking back I can see the red flags. He told me to take a…read morepill for vertigo without knowing the cause. He thought he knew the cause, but he did not. It was resolved without pills. He told me to go back on a medication used to treat MS that is directly linked to breast cancer. He specifically said, "What are the chances you could get it twice?" This is ignorant and cruel, but in my opinion, targeted abuse directed at the patient. How dare he discount the very traumatic experience of finding out too late a medication is linked to the onset of breast cancer. He boasted about having more experience than a previous prescriber I had seen but in the end, he demanded to know her name, forced me to sit in a chair not facing the exit door but the opposite direction and said, "How dare you insult my colleague." I honestly had no idea what he was railing on about. Which colleague? His first personality, the second one or the colleague that is not his colleague since she does not work at the same facility? He denied telling me things about his personal life that I will not share here. This is commonly known as "gaslighting." Gaslighting is a specific kind of abuse where the abuser has selective memory. It is offset the targeted person to believe she cannot trust her memory. The abuser will look at you with a half smile and deny what he did in the past. The issue with this is, when he talked about these personal things, another person was in the room that day. He can threaten her, but this game has an end to it. He once said to me, "So you are like your mother...." This man has not met my mother. My mother and her family survived Hitler in London. My grandfather enlisted in the Royal Air Force to fight the first batch of Nazis. There is no normal response to having endured a war. How dare he speak about my mother like this. He doesn't know her. He refuses to wear a hearing aid. I could hear the high pitch of the hearing aid in his pocket during one visit. He said, "You can hear that? You have acute hearing like my wife." I don't really think I have acute hearing, the noise of a hearing aid is not an uncommon sound. In the last visit, forced to turn my back towards the exit in a chair, he ordered me to accommodate him. He offered no specifics. This is how abusive men control accommodating men and women. We are to do what they tell us to do, ask no questions, and turn our backs to the safe exit door. We are to submit to a man like Dr. Swift. I plead with you sisters and brothers too for you too can fall victim to this personality to just leave. This doctor states he has 37 years of experience. Perhaps it is past time for him to retire with the abusive old school tactics of "Do what I say or oust." What completely confused me was how he spoke the language of "we are a team. there is no judgment here." Lastly, he deliberately interfered with the plan to titrate me safely from a medication. The State of WA is trying to reduce dependence on these very dangerous medications. He's a pill pusher. I write this fearing the worst kind of exclusion from the medical community. I write this to protect the community from this man. You have a voice. You have a right to choose what happens to your body. You matter. Your body does not belong to this man. This man is not the expert in all conditions and despite having physically brought to him information about the MS drug, he **still** pushed it.

Dr. Karen Miller is the best. She keeps up on everything and is kind, gentle, ans a wonderful…read morephysician. If you become ill and need to see her today or tomorrow, she will fit you in. Sometimes you may have a wait a few minutes because she is taking care of someone who called for an immediate appointment or a patient needs more time than was scheduled. Just remember, she will do the same for you. Dr. Miller is moving to a new office in Kingston, that is a 30 mile drive from my home, but I am happy to drive 30 miles to see Dr. Miller. She is the best physician that I have ever had and I will be 70 in December.

So here's the thing...I've not ever seen this doctor. Why am I writing a Yelp review, you ask?…read moreBecause of the utter incompetence I experienced trying to book an appointment at her office FOR OVER A MONTH. I was referred to Dr Miller from my OBGYN who is outstanding and amazing. I've been looking for a Primary Care Physician for a while now, and figured I would give her a try. As a matter of fact, she's listed as a preferred provider on my insurance site so I thought "Perfect! She takes my insurance!" July 12 I make my first call to the office to schedule an initial appointment as a new patient. The receptionist takes my name and information, says Dr. Miller has to approve me as a patient before I am seen in her office, and oh, is my insurance through my employer? I explain yes it is, and Ok, that seems a little odd that the Dr has to "approve me" as a patient, but ok. She says they will call me tomorrow. July 13 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. July 14 I call the office back to ask if Dr. Miller has reviewed my inquiry and I am told it's on her desk, but they have been busy so she can't look yet. Ok, that's fine. They will call me on Monday, and oh, is my insurance through my employer? This question being asked again set off a red flag, but I answer yes of course, and I inquire why Dr. Miller has to approve me as a patient. I am told that she reviews my medical history because many patients are simply pill seeking and they would not approve that. I laughed because that's not the case for me, I'm looking for a general check up/annual blood work and we hang up. July 17 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. July 18 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. July 19 I call back and explain that I called a week ago and asked if they needed more information, and was I going to be approved as a patient? Receptionist tells me that the Dr has not reviewed my file yet but she has it and that I should get a call back tomorrow. Ok. July 20 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. July 21 I call back and ask if Dr. MIller has reviewed my case, and why didn't I receive a call as promised? I am given the reason that they are still very busy and will call me when Dr Miller reviews my case. I ask why it's taking so long and I am given the reason that because it's a private practice, they need to screen and can't make an appointment until Dr. Miller reviews my file. I indicate mild frustration that it's been over a week trying to schedule an appointment and am told this is standard procedure. I am to wait for a phone call from Dr. Miller's office. Ok. July 22 - July 27 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. July 28 I go on line and try to schedule an appointment via Dr. Miller's website. No Joy. July 28, I place another call to Dr Millers office. According to the receptionist they have no idea why Dr. Miller has not reviewed my case, and oh, is my insurance through my employer? I refrain from banging my head on my desk, and try to remain as polite as possible and say yes, it is through my employer. I am instructed to wait for a call on Monday, July 31. July 31 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. (surprise surprise) Aug 1 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. Aug 2 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. Aug 3-7 I go out of town, still no call to me from Dr Miller's office. Aug 8 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. Aug 9 No call to me from Dr Miller's office. Aug 10 No call to me from Dr Miller's office so I am frustrated. I make ANOTHER call to Dr Miller's office. I speak to the same receptionist I have spoken to every time and explain my situation. She tells me Dr Miller is now on Vacation and won't be back until the 14th of August. (WHAT?) And that she has not reviewed my case yet. (WHAT?!) However she took patient reviews on vacation and I should hear a call back soon, and oh, by the way, is my insurance through my employer? My blood pressure went through the roof. I calmly but with an edge in my voice explained that I have been trying to get an appointment for blood work for A FREAKING MONTH and this is a terrible customer service experience for a DOCTORS OFFICE. The receptionist made little to no attempt to deal with my upset demeanor and continued to make excuses as to why I was denied an appointment. She showed no empathy, no caring, or any sort of human understanding of my frustration. She said I still had to wait for Dr Miller to get back from vacation, call me, and ONLY THEN could I make an appointment to see her for blood work and a check up. I am so done. Never in my life have I ever had this much trouble trying to get ONE SINGLE APPOINTMENT for a check up at a doctor's office. If you value your health, your time, and your blood pressure, avoid these people like the plague. The utter lack of competence is stunning. Oh, and I still have no appointment or a phone call from Dr. Miller. Shocking, I know.

Hey Folks! If you want your symptoms get disregarded and wanted someone to make you feel it's all…read morein your head or doctors telling you that's It's just anxiety!! Go to NW FAMILY MEDICINE in Bremerton..After telling them my symptoms about how my blood sugar drops especially when I am asleep.I told the doctor how I felt everytime my blood sugar drops and was dis regarded and said everything is normal and didn't see no Problem at all.I feel like I was just making things up and it's all in my head.They have student doctors seeing you plus you don't get the same doctors and they just practice on your health.Stay away from this place!! Inconsistent plus they like cancelling your appointment in short noticed..I would not recommend if you want to live longer..

I currently am a patient of Dr. Adam Voelkers and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about…read morehim. He always listens to what I have to say, gives me amazing advice on how to handle any medicine issue I've brought to him. He is very knowledgeable but doesn't talk down to you or make you feel stupid if you don't know something. I've had some awful experiences with previous doctors in the area and Dr. Voelkers is by far the best around. Also, his staff that works with him are just as great. Polite, courteous, and nothing but professional. If you're looking to switch providers I would HIGHLY recommend looking into switching over to here! Thank you for going above and beyond with your customer service, it really speaks volumes.

Dr Hillier was a truely caring, compassionate and knowledgeable doctor…read more Unfortunately, the new narcissistic, arrogant, greedy judgmental team under director Andrew McNeil and lackies are the complete opposite. The practice is quick to judge and condemn if you don't agree with their " minimally invasive treatments." They push this and condemn any pain medications that may be opiate related or not. Selfish and cruel treatment from McNeil. He even forbade me to see my actual provider Dr Hillier , calling his colleague a "push over" and "too nice"to me. That's called a Dr/ patient trust, compassion and actual professional care. Something sorely lacking now. Don't waste your time here - no one seems happy in the Silverdale office; neither staff or patient. To be fair -the PA's seem okay but it appears they have no autonomy to make their own decisions.

These people are very good at bait and switch. They are happy to accept you as a patient. But when…read morethey learn that all you need is pain meds, not surgery, they leave you hanging. When you object to this, you are a "difficult patient" and they're not interested in helping you anymore.

Dr. Bauer is amazing! My initial visit was everything that I hoped it would be. Dr. Bauer is…read moreboard-certified in internal medicine, and my 75-year-old body, needed more care than I was receiving from my previous, family medicine physician. I have type 2 diabetes, that is fully-controlled by diet, but Dr. Bauer fully-evaluated my feet, and that was a big plus. He went over all of my present ailments, medications, and specialists that I am seeing. He ordered lab tests, that were drawn in his office. I love the patient portal software. It is far superior to MyChart. And Dr. Bauer is independent, so I am not rushed and limited to 15-minute appointments, like Virginia Mason physicians are. If you call the office, someone actually answers the phone, unlike the under-staffed phone-banks that Virginia Mason uses. His office staff work well together, and seem like a family. I have a follow-up appointment in a month. It was a very, pleasant experience.

I have been a patient of Tanya Spoon since approx 2017. I have visited both of her offices, i.e.,…read morein Manette and Poulsbo. It is a first-class setup. She is totally professional and makes things simple. Tanya Spoon's staff are totally nice and once, when I went in with a hearing loss a couple of years to make an appointment, I was initially told it might be a week or two. However, another doctor in her office came out and took me right in In less than 15 minutes, my hearing was fully restored. I had a wax build-up, and he squirted some saline in there, and presto. I was ready to go. It is a hard-working team of doctors caring for their patients you do not get anywhere else. I started with the $60 payments, then my Medicare kicked in, and now I am covered for free. Such a deal

Wow! Wow! Wow! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for this clinic and the medical care I…read morereceive. THIS is how medicine should be done always! I've been so discouraged for years with the way my health has been managed. Reflecting back to the days that doctors were in medicine became they felt compelled to help you in all ways possible. Rather that currently where most don't even look you in the eye and their answer is to push drugs. None of them want you to get well anymore. None of them feel they need to keep you happy. They could care less. They get paid if you come or not. This clinic is everything medicine used to be and more. I was hesitant for years because I paid for health insurance. I can say 5 minutes into my meeting with them to discuss how the program worked I knew I needed to switch. The cost is so minimal compared to what they give to you. I've not regretted my choice and I tell everyone who is fed up with the system, actually I tell everyone how happy I am and that this clinic is worth thousands a month and they only charge 60 so man what a value! Thank you Tanya for the courage you had to see your vision through and provide our community with medical care that is world class.