Center for Pain and Supportive Care

I have never posted on Unilocal before, but I feel it my responsibility to comment on Dr. Stearns and her staff, given the last several posts, including a patient who had never even seen her. I have no skin in the game-I’m just a typical paraplegic devastated by a spinal cord injury 6 years ago. I suffer from intractable chronic pain every day and night. I wish I could report that Dr. Stearns, or any other doctor cured me, but that’s not how it works with patients with my diagnosis. What I will say is that you will never find a doctor who will keep trying and will go the extra mile like Dr. Stearns and her staff. She does not confine herself to just prescribing the standard medications, and is completely open to other treatments, including those considered holistic and «Eastern» in approach.
I moved to Phoenix last year, just as my father was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Given that this is a most painful way to die, Dr. Stearns implanted a pain pump in him. It just took two more months for my father to pass away, but he did not die in pain because she successfully managed the meds in the pump. He was able to live his final moments in dignity.
Being a patient of Dr. Stearns, enables one to be at the forefront of treatment worldwide. She speaks internationally at conferences, including her own. These are attended by the finest doctors who confer and advise on their patient’s conditions. If Dr. Stearns knows of a neurosurgeon in France who might be able to help you, she will readily let you know. I have met several of these doctors on regular office visits, who spend a week or longer at her office to enhance their own practice.
Dr. Stearns’s medical assistants and back office are great people, who really care. Unfortunately, I am one that is able to judge, as I have to go to several specialists a month to treat other aspects of my condition.
As for those who feel otherwise, or are considering seeing Dr. Stearns, I invite you to contact me-​I had to retire after my accident, so I have plenty of time to share my opinions and thoughts with you.

What an absolute joke! We were referred to Dr. Stearns because we just moved to Arizona. First of all, it took 2 months for their office to get back to me and that was after I sent for my husband’s complete medical records. After I called them another three times, they finally called and spoke to my husband. All seemed well at first but then we were told that my husband may not «qualify» to be her patient because he has a complicated health history. She said that she would call back in 2 days. Two weeks later, after I repeatedly called them back, they finally called again and proceeded to chastise my husband for being on a supposedly higher than national guidelines amount of pain medication concentration and that IF my husband was accepted (and they were on the fence) that he would have to come in to their office every 7 days for many weeks to get his dosage down to the therapeutic level. She said that the doctor would return yesterday from a vacation and they would let us know after reviewing the other doctor’s input whether they would take my husband. Meanwhile, he is running out of medication in his pain pump and could die from withdrawing. So, I had no other choice but to call around to find someone else. I did find someone who was very kind, compassionate and willing to see my husband in a timely manner. I called dr. Stearns office and told them that we needed his records sent to the new doctor and they refused. We were told that we had to pick them up in person or they would be mailed to us after they emailed an authorization. They never emailed anything to us. We picked up the 1000+ pages today and the woman we spoke to came up, thrust the files into my husband’s stomach, where the pain pump is and said, «here you go» and walked away. The entire office was also unfriendly. They only greeting we got was, «what can we do for you, guys?» I am sorry, but I am not a guy – I prefer to be addressed in an appropriate and professional manner. This is a doctor’s office, not a ball game. I would never recommend this dysfunctional place to anyone. Thank heavens we did not get hoodwinked!

I cannot disagree more with these reviews. Dr. Stearns, and PA Jennifer Kiser are without a doubt, the BEST doctors a person who struggles with chronic pain, could ever hope to see.
I started as Dr. Stearn’s patient when I was just in high school — having seen about 20 specialists before her, for persistent, debilitating, worsening, and sickening nerve pain which no one could diagnose, and everyone refused to treat. I had been given the runaround by doctors more times than I can count — and it had been years of waiting for treatment, only to be told I needed to see someone else. Dr. Stearns was the FIRST doctor to treat me, and offer me any semblance of pain relief. Dr. Stearns never gave up — trying all kinds of medications, physical therapies, procedures, etc etc etc. She did 3 revision surgeries for me — trying to get better coverage with a neurostimulator. When I went away for college, and then again when I moved after getting married, I experienced other pain doctors. Only upon Dr. Stearns’ recommendation did I finally find a doctor in KY who understood my condition, and was able to treat me. I have NEVER found another doctor who has the tenacity and perseverance and compassion that Dr. Stearns and Jennifer Kiser have. Ever. One of the reasons my husband and I moved back to AZ was for my health; and the fact that I was able to re-​enter Dr. Stearns’ practice gave us such reassurance about that decision. Not having to find a new pain specialist — but instead getting to come back to a doctor I’d known for so long, who knew me so well… it was just the greatest!
I have had a pain pump since 2008. Back in 2012, Dr. Stearns surmised that the catheter that was supposed to be getting the pain medication from the pump into my spinal fluid was broken — and therefore I wasn’t getting the proper dose. She was the 1^st doctor to get a new kind of catheter, reinforced with fiberglass, and she made sure I was one of the 1^st patients to receive it. I am only 29 years old, and Dr. Stearns and Jennifer Kiser have, and continue, to do all they possibly can to encourage and support me in my goals towards an active and fulfilled life; despite my chronic pain condition. I recently started with the Yoga Practitioner for the CPSC, and can’t say enough good about her as well. I feel that I am being given the utmost in care.
Dr. Stearns is not wishy washy, nor is she intimidated by anyone. You cannot push her around. For me, this is incredibly refreshing, and gives me great assurance. I want a doctor who will tell me the truth; who will go above and beyond and never give up, and who will let me know how I can best participate in my own wellness. Dr. Stearns is ultimately skillled, and proactive; and I am forever grateful for her.

I used the CPSC for more than 3 years until I was discharged by Dr. Foxx a few months ago. My experience at this practice was just OK, and certainly did not reflect the glowing descriptions you will find in CPSC’s website and the responses that they have written for the poor reviews here on Unilocal.Just because Dr. Stearns has implanted more pain pumps than «anyone else in the world» (really?) doesn’t make her your best choice of pain management practitioners, unless a pain pump is what you need. Her pain interventions are successful for many people, as some of them were for me; they primarily involve pharmaceuticals, various injection procedures, the aforementioned pumps, and referral to a yoga practitioner sharing her office space. Dr. Stearns also flatly rejects some other treatments that are medically accepted, legal, safe, and non-​addictive, so be careful with the information you share with her if you choose to use any complementary therapy that she does not control.
My issues with this practice are mostly a scheduling problem. Wait times are the worst I have ever experienced at any physician’s office. I was seen primarily by a Nurse Practitioner, occasionally by one of the other physicians, and twice by a Physician Assistant. Wait time for the NP and PA were shorter, but I could plan on at least 30 minutes past my appt time; rarely was it less than that, and commonly up to an hour. I had 4 – 5 appts with Dr. Stearns over the 3 years or so, and those were always at least an hour, and up to 2.5 hours late. I never worried about being late to my appt, actually I usually planned to be late as the delays in this practice were so consistent. If you have a chronic, long-​term pain problem, you will probably have monthly, possibly more frequent appts, so this really adds up over time. DO NOT use this practice if you are easily frustrated by waiting room time.
There was a lot of turnover in the front office staff, but I had no problems with appts gone missing as others mentioned; billing services were flawless. The Medical Assistants (not nurses, people) in the back were friendly and competent. The one procedure I had done there, a facet joint injection that did not turn out to be helpful at all, was uneventful and relatively painless. These are only done at the Glendale office, about a 35 mile one way trip for me. I did enjoy a good relationship with a Nurse Practitioner there for about 2 years, and was sad to see her leave the practice. As I saw Dr. Foxx just once, I can’t really comment on her expertise.

I cannot strongly enough NOT recommend these people. I don’t even know where to begin. It is a toss up whether or not you will actually be able to keep your appointment because appointments are routinely «lost» in their computer system. If you are lucky enough and they can verify your appointment and you get your name called be sure to clear the rest of your day because you will be waiting for hours in the exam room. Do not expect to build a relationship with a specific PA or doctor because their revolving door swings so fast you’ll make yourself dizzy. Be sure to set up a fund for yourself so that you can pay for the random drug tests they like to give on an almost monthly basis. You will need this fund because the tests they give are so extensive they will run you into the hundreds of dollars. (This is WITH insurance) And finally, if you decide that you have had enough of their patronizing deprecation and decide to take your care elsewhere do not ask for a letter of discharge. It will be nasty.

I am writing this for a friend who has had about 40 visits at this Hell office.
They cover workmen compensation cases. My friend was injured on the job. To the point that ruptured some disc’s in his back.
Keeping him in constant pain. This has been going on for about 10 years now.
Seven back surgeries.
He is a young guy, and it has ruined his life.
He can no longer do the sports that he once loved.
Dr. Lisa Stearns is the lead Doctor. However, he never knows when she will actually see him, or if it will be one of the many changing PA’s. Every time he goes in, there are new employees and his appts. are rarely seen on time.
The last few times he has been in, he has had very unprofessional treatment. As if he is nothing but, a number there. He has just been given his 3^rd surgery for his pain pump. They even forgot to turn it on.
If you have to go here, give it a 2^nd thought, talk to others who have been here.