Garden State Pain & Orthopedics — Local services in Clifton

I would like to start by saying that it took me a long time to decide whether or not to write this review. Dr. Dev Sinha was really nice. I really liked him, however, the rest of the doctors I dealt with left little to be desired. Specifically Dr. Dang (I just learned his name today...3 months after my interaction with him). This is my story.

I came to this practice in hopes of finding relief of my severe back pain. Dr. Dev told me that he would do an injection that was different from the other injections I had. He walked me down to the woman who does the scheduling and I made my appointment for a Friday. The day of my procedure, I saw Dr. Dev walk into the surgi-center. He said hello to me and then they called me in. The staff was very nice, running IVs and getting me prepped. But then the doctor came out and introduced himself to me. It wasn't Dr. Dev, it was some guy named Dr. Neil. I was too nervous to say anything so I shook his hand and kept quiet. Then the anesthesiologist came out and took me to the procedure room. He asked me what I was allergic to. I told him all generic drugs. Yes, it's strange, but this is my life. He made a comment about being allergic to jewelry that wasn't Tiffany's and everyone laughed. I was starting to get loopy so I just kinda drifted off. When I got home, I started having a bad reaction to something I was given. When they called to follow up, I told the nurse that I had puffiness in my face and redness and heat coming off of my skin across my neck and shoulders. She said she would tell the doctor and someone would get back to me. The doctor called the next day (I don't know who it was and the center doesn't know because it's not in my chart but everyone thinks it was Neil because it "sounds like him") and said that he wasn't concerned but he would do a follow up with me in a week. I actually had to cancel the original meeting and move it to another day that was a little further out, but on the day of my appointment, I was met with another man whom I had never seen before. I learned in that meeting that he was not actually a doctor and halfway through, he called in a doctor. Enter Dr. Dang. I spent quite a bit of time trying to explain that I wasn't trying to blame anyone for the reaction. I know that I'm prone to bad reactions because hospitals and medical facilities ONLY use generic medications. Dr. Dang then took it upon himself to tell me that I can't actually be allergic to generic medications because all it means when a drug becomes generic is that it comes off patent. He also said my reaction was probably environmental. Like I suddenly became allergic to my couch. As if I'm stupid and couldn't possibly know anything about how my body reacts to medications. I tried to gently explain that what it actually means is that companies can then make the drug at a cheaper price. The problem is I am allergic to the fillers certain companies use. Brand name drugs don't do that. I asked him to not speak to me as if I had no idea what I was talking about. The appointment came to an end quickly after that. Dr. Dev eventually called me, but by then I was so soured on them I wanted nothing to do with them. I was referred out to another doctor and that also was a bust. I am not the kind of person who likes to write bad reviews and I'm sorry that this happened, but I was never told that Dr. Dev wouldn't be doing my procedure. I'm sure the anesthesiologist was joking, but he was making light of my allergy. Dr. Neil showed no concern for the fact that I was having a reaction, he didn't even try to get me in sooner. Dr. Dang...I just don't have words for how pompous he is. If you enjoy going to this practice, good. If you were unsure, now you have another...

This “pain management” center has the most incompetent front desk/scheduling department I have ever experienced! I was suppose to have an epidural for a herniated disc in my lower back. I was informed at the time of my initial visit to call Isabella in the scheduling department to set up the epidural when I was ready. After a little research on what the procedure entailed, I was finally ready to call and set up my appointment. When I called the front desk I was immediately transferred to the scheduling department, unfortunately, there was no answer so I simply left a voice message to have someone call me back so that I could set up this appointment. I waited a week and I still hadn’t heard anything from Isabella, so I attempted to call the office and was transferred to her voicemail yet again. Another week passed by and I still hadn’t heard anything from Isabella, so my husband and I went to the actual office in an attempt to get this epidural scheduled once and for all. When we arrived at the office, of course “Isabella” wasn’t there but we were able to speak to a Michelle who was filling in for Isabella and she said she would tentatively put us in for Friday, March 22 and that Isabella would call me the next day to confirm. Needless to say, I never heard anything from Isabella regarding this so-called appointment. My husband, after losing all faith in the competency of the staff at this place, called two days ago and left yet another message for Isabella to inform her that we have no idea whether or not I actually have an appointment scheduled and, if so, he requested that the appointment be canceled. My husband, of course, never heard anything from Isabella, so I called the office today and I was informed that I do, in fact, have an epidural scheduled for this Friday! Obviously these people do not listen to their voicemail at all, otherwise my appointment should have been canceled as my husband requested! The doctors in this office, particularly Dr. Patel, are wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but they really need to reconsider who they have working for them at the front desk and in the scheduling department because it’s a shame for such wonderful doctors to lose their patients due to the incompetency of the front...

I have been struggling to find a pain management practice since my former PM doctor unexpectedly (and without warning!!!) closed down his PM practice. My challenge is that I have NY State Worker's Comp, which for some reason is like garlic to vampires with NJ PM providers. I had no less that FOUR PM providers in Bergen County initially say that they WOULD take me on as a new patient--and some went so far as to even PUT ME ON THE SCHEDULE--but then a week later I would call the office to conform the appointment only to be told by the nervous desk attendant that "oh, ah, I'm sorry, we don't take NYS Worker's Comp"--at which point I would blow a FUSE and ask WHY it took them a WEEK to come to that conclusion when I told them in the beginning that I HAD NYS WORKER'S COMP so where was all the confusion??? Talks with office supervisors went nowhere. I didn't have an attorney standing behind me so therefore I was relegated to the ship of fools--and that was that!!!

In sheer desperation I found the office for Garden State Pain Control. It was a far hike from Englewood, but it was either that or going into NYC. I was relieved when I SAW JUST HOW LOVELY THIS CLINIC WAS!!!! Spotless and modern upon arrival. The beautiful waiting room was comfortable and clean, and the nurses were friendly and helpful.

When the doctor came to see me he was friendly and caring. Unlike my previous PM doctors, he was not just about "dosing me" with poly-pharma. Instead, he suggested some alternative treatments for my back pain, which I really appreciated!

Everything at GCPC was very professional, yet very congenial; I could hear a birthday party even going on that day in a break room--yet even that did not seem to interrupt the stellar level of service a saw being dispensed that day. So glad...