Texas Orthopedics

I was very disappointed by my experience with this group and Dr. Scott Smith. Before seeking treatment, I had received referrals from two friends and expected a much more positive outcome. Like other Unilocal reviewers, I had quite a bit of difficulty getting through on the phone and making the initial appointment. When I arrived in the office, the receptionist was unfriendly, uncaring, and dismissive. The nurse that showed me back to the exam room and took the initial information was also unfriendly and condescending. The worst part of the experience was Dr. Smith himself who spent less than 15 minutes with me (I had 2 fractured bones and was in excruciating pain). His recommendation was essentially «just live with it» and offered no viable solutions. My sister (who is a nurse) accompanied me for this appointment and said the overall experience at the office and interaction with Dr. Smith was the worst she’d ever witnessed. The front office collected payment at the time of the visit. Once my health insurance processed the claim and produced the EOB, I was owed a refund due to over payment. This was never even communicated to me — I had to figure it out myself in an audit of my records (about 2 months later). I strongly recommend NOT going to Texas Orthopedics for your medical needs.

I have seen Dr. Koval, the rheumatologist at Texas Orthopedics, now for the past four years and he is excellent. He’s great at his specialty and takes the time to talk with me. I have been seeing him for several years, and he has helped me overcome many challenges. I have other family members who have also been seeing him, and they all appreciate how sharp he is at figuring out what’s really going on. Every time I have been in his office, his staff is professional, and no issues with billing etc.

Dr. Loeb is completely unsympathetic! I saw him for my shoulder. He did a steroid injection. The next visit we did an ultrasound. That came back negative. He didn’t show an ounce of caring when I was practically in tears because of the pain. He said,“I only write one prescription for pain meds.” I told him I don’t want pain meds, I want to do something to make it heal and feel better. His answer was «I’m a surgeon. There’s nothing for me to operate on. I’m going to send you to pain management.» I told him again that I wanted to treat the underlying cause and not take medication. He said that was my only option. He did not suggest physical therapy. I got a second opinion, and was told physical therapy was my best option. Although his profile on the website says he has different treatment options, he clearly said to me that if he can’t operate he can’t do anything for me.
To top it off, the receptionist was extremely rude. A couple of people in the waiting room noticed and commented to each other. She did not smile the entire time.
When I signed in for my appointment, the man just before me signed in. Our appointments were both with Dr. Loeb and they were reschedule 10 minutes apart. Quality healthcare cannot be achieved in 10 minutes. I expect an appointment with a specialist to be longer than 10 minutes. Primary care doctors at least schedule 15 minutes for a simple runny nose.

Horrible experience. My rheumatoid arthritis had been previously well managed by a great rheumatologist; unfortunately due to insurance changes I needed to find a new MD so I established care with Dr. Koval/​Texas Orthopedics in Sept of 2015. My interaction with him was positive, and he planned to continue my current maintenance medication regimen. However, the clinics are managed terribly, resulting in my missing meds and twice relapsing into arthritis flares in a 4 month period. If you don’t treat a flare asap, It can take weeks to recover. The first time they failed to call in my prescription (in spite of multiple phone calls) was forgivable; I decided to give them another chance. But I should not have. Horrible wait times, prescriptions repeatedly not called in, unable to get through on the telephone, poor clinical followup, messages not returned, no lab followup/​unable to access results. Very unhelpful office staff.
Twice I went almost 2 weeks without my medications in spite of repeated phone calls and requests, even in-​person assurance at a follow-​up appt with a second provider (a CNS, for whom I waited in a patient room for 1 hr 20 minutes) who promised she would call in my Rx that day to avoid another lapse and subsequent arthritis flare. Again, no Rx.
The clinic supervisor I eventually spoke to on the phone to discuss this poor followup was dismissive. When I told her I’m not only a patient but a healthcare provider myself (intending to convey that I understand quality patient care from both sides) she said abruptly, «Then you know how it is.» Appalling.
During this time, of course, I transferred care to another rheumatologist; staff is fantastic and the MD very aggressively treated the flare caused by my lapses in treatment. I’m grateful to have my arthritis under control again, but that 6 month period with Texas Orthopedics was horrific; it truly causes me more harm than good. I obviously would not recommend this practice.

I called 5 times to make an appointment on the appointment line and it hung up on me. Called the main line and they could not make an appointment because I had to go through the appointment line. Needless to say I never was able to get an appointment so I went to another doctor. :(

Unfortunately my doctor referred me here for a shoulder issue. They called this morning asking me my availability. I asked for something this week since I’m off work for spring break. The lady said she would check and call me back. No return call. I left a voicemail for her a couple of hours later, still no call back. From the other reviews, it sounds like I dodged a bullet anyway.

Dr. Smith not only broke my femor during routine hip replace he never told me. He told my husband but ego tooo big to tell patient. I also fell in hospital broke pelvic. Dr. Smith did two surgeries on pelvic and unsuccessful. Refused to do surgery on me again. Left me with bone and wire coil floating in pelvic area. Every time I go for visit he is rude and non caring. When I had my next hip done you can bet I did not go to Dr. Smith. Guess what went perfect. See ya Scott Smith. You are not worthy of the title Doctor.

I will never use this office again, particularly Dr. Davis. His surgery techniques are old and outdated. My mother had total hip replacement by him and has been in pain ever since her release date. He has not acknowledged any of my phone calls to him and dropped the ball on her after care. This doctor went to a bible study while my mom was in the hospital under his care instead of looking at her x-​ray results to find out why she is in such pain. People if u get referred to this Doctor I would request a different doctor. I will be filing a formal complaint against him, once we have my mom taken care of.

Wish I could choose a star minus.
Now for the rant… they did not select the correct settings for my Brain MRI and said I had to do it over, when I told them I didn’t want to they told me to call another doctor, the doctor they told me to call was not even in business in that office, I called Dr. Bunch’s office back for another 15 minute wait to be given another doctor. I called the second doctor and they refuse to make an appointment without an order from Dr. Bunch. I called again for another 15 minute wait and now waiting for a call back.
They said they would refund me and my insurance for the messed up MRI but they have never called me back. I would call again but I don’t have 15 minutes to wait on hold and if I leave my name and number it has been a crap shoot if they call me back.
Save your time and money and go somewhere else.

Recently tried another ortho group with no success to help with my discomfort and pain. Saw Dr Bunch today and he diagnosed me in 10 minutes and knew exactly what we needed to treat and how. Had previously tried another group in Austin and they could not seem to help me with any pain relief or treatment.
Texas Otrho is on top of it and knows exactly what the right steps for treatment is.
Would recommend this group to anyone with ortho issues!!!

Dr Smith did my 2 surgeries on both my knees. Did a great job on my knee replacement.
Just saw him yesterday and his nusre Jerry was kind as always and the girl who took my xrays.

Dr. DeHart’s bluntness and honesty helped me make the decision to have weight loss surgery and save my own life. In doing so I also saved my knees. As hard as it was to hear what he said, it was exactly what I needed. His tough love approach may not always go over well, but it was not his job to hold my hand and tell me everything would be okay. I owe him a debt of gratitude. I would recommend him and the staff at Texas Orthopedics to anyone who is serious about keeping all their own original body parts!

Low pressure is do surgery good doctor !!! I would send all my friends & family here. Way to go people !!

I have never been told for so long and in so many ways that I’m fat. You think I don’t know? Dr Smith was condescending. He talked down to me and over my head, sometimes all in the same sentence. Would never recommend. Will never go back even if my leg is falling off!

Horrible. My daughter needed to see an Ortho immediately and the scheduler gave me Tuesday and entered it into the system wrong so when I called to confirm my own appointment they told me I wasn’t going to be seen until next month. They also couldn’t schedule me in and it didn’t help that they were very rude and snappy. We ended up getting a same day appointment with Central Texas Pediatric Orthopedics. I should have called them first. I don’t know what I was thinking. They have always been above and beyond for my kids.

The front staff and x-​ray techs are very friendly and efficient. Dr. Schoen and Dr. Smith are very competent, informative, and are just as friendly. They communicate well together which makes things easier if you have to see more than one doctor.
I would highly recommend them.

I injured my foot in October and in January the entire branch of nerves on top of my foot began going numb. It was miserable for 3 months. I saw 2 GPs during that time with no luck and the pain and worry was getting worse. I couldn’t even drive without parts of my foot going into absolute pain and numbness when I pressed the gas or brake pedal. Or at night, when I stretched my feet out, I would have searing ridiculous pain. Finally, I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who said the nerves were damaged and would take forever to heal. He prescribed some special Rx compound muscle relaxant rub stuff to help with the misery in the meantime. I was pretty skeptical (how does topical ointment make damaged nerves better?!). But, I was wrong. This ointment is already making my foot feel a thousand times better and it’s only day 3! I can drive without misery and I’m no longer freaking out that my foot is going to fall off. I can’t recommend Dr. Shoen enough so if anyone is trying to find an orthopedic like I was, be sure to check him out. Don’t hesitate like I did. I wish I had seen him a month ago.

I went to see Dr. Schoen for a Morton’s Neruoma. I’d had it for more than 10 years, and before going to Schoen I had tried multiple cortisone shots as well as whatever it is they inject to «dissolve» the neuroma. No lasting cure. Anyone who’s had one knows how painful it can be. I’d toyed with surgery but had heard a lot of stories about people who’d had the surgery and either didn’t get better, or got worse. I found out later that most of those folks had podiatrists operate on them. I consulted with Dr. Schoen and then went ahead and had the surgery. For the first few months I was much better, but still sore and not sure whether I should’ve done it or not. Someone told me, «Give it time.» I’m so glad I did. It’s now been about 9 months and I’m great. So glad I had the surgery, and SO glad Dr. Schoen did it. He has a great reputation, seems truly interested in the patient (rather than the «bottom line.»)

Dr. Schoen was my 2^nd opinion for a broken ankle (fibula) having been recommended by a surgeon friend.
My first doc wanted to operate with plates and screws on my bone even though he did not remove my splint from the ER, examine my ankle or take an X-​ray (ER X-​ray was 4 days old). Dr. Schoen did! He did not even mention surgery (a 6K savings). He examined my foot, took an X-​ray (which he did for all 3 of my visits) and spent time explaining my injury and my healing results. His office rates were great compared to the ‘bad’ doctor. I find the staff fine, the facilities spotless and run efficiently. I live in central Austin but drove to Cedar Park (!) because it is clean and easy for an appointment.

Well, Dr. Schoen was nice and informative. I wish I could say the same for the office staff. I had been having ankle pain off and on for weeks and on Wed the shooting pain became unbearable. I called for an appointment which was easy enough. They took all of my information and made my appoint for Fri.
I looked on their website for patient forms and was happy to see you could fill out most of the forms online including your health history. Great time saver… or so I thought. I arrive at the office on Fri and they hand me a stack of papers, including a health history. I spend 15 minutes filling all this out again. I walk it back to the front desk and tell the young lady that I had filled this out online already. Her response: «Ahh, really, you did?» like she thought that was so cute that I would fill that out and expect it to have been provided to the office. Silly me!
So I see Dr. Schoen, get some x-​rays, and it is determined I have tendonitis. Dr. Schoen was very thorough in his explanation and treatment plan. I left with a brace on my foot that I get to wear for the next three weeks. No problem.
I get to check out and the ask for $ 226. Um, no, you need to bill my insurance first, then I will pay. Well, that’s not how they do things. They want you to pay up front. No one ever told me this at anytime. It would be nice to know that even if you have insurance you need to pay upfront. I offer to pay $ 50 today and pay the rest after they bill my insurance. She had to make a phone call to someone else, but they agreed to it.
So Dr. Schoen was great, but his office leaves a lot to be desired.