Tri-State Orthopaedics — Local services in Evansville

I was reccomended to them from a doctor at the S. Greenriver rd Urgent Care (which is also practically useless) to treat what was thought to be (and was/is) a sciatic issue. I could barely walk and couldn't stand up straight at all. I hadn't gotten the cane I use now yet so I just had to sorta shuffle all hunched over and take breaks every 10-20ft. Twice I visited in that condition and neither time did anyone so much as ask if I needed assistance or offer any help though both times I saw others getting the use of a wheelchair. I don't know what made them qualify and I was in too much pain at the time to think about it or ask and being a poc I just assumed they weren't for me. At the desk I was told I had to pay 100 up front since I'm uninsured and would have to pay for any tests or treatment. What they didn't tell me is that that was a downpayment on $230 for the visit. When I saw the doctor he said I needed an MRI and that they charged $500 up front for it but payment arrangements may be possible. He didn't know. When I called to schedule they told me they needed the $500 up front because they're the cheapest place around to do it. Cause that makes sense somehow. I said I couldn't do that and assumed that was the end of it but then they called me back saying they'd spoken to a supervisor who said it was ok. The person who did the MRI there had more interest in getting it done and me out the door as fast as she could despite the fact that I was in ridiculous pain. She practically shoved me off the table. I hadn't even finished dressing when she'd brought the next guy into the room. And then when I got the bill I had not only the $550 charge for the MRI but I had a separate $250 bill for the radiologist. I know they need to get paid too but it would've been nice to have been told I was getting charged for that. I'd decided to go to Deaconess after having to go to their emergency room when my back finally gave out for real and I couldn't move at all. I'd been telling them at Tri-state that it was getting worse but they just gave me weak meds that didn't do anything. But everything about Deaconess was better and they were super informative about every part of the process and after a few hours there I could stand up straight and walk again and for the first time in like 2 months I didn't have any pain. I definitely wanted to be treated there. I just needed the MRI info from Tri-state and after telling me it wouldn't be a problem to send the information suddenly I had to physically go there, fill out release forms and now wait 5-10 business days to get it. Healthcare is a business true, but how you treat people matters and if you're upfront about costs people won't feel ripped off or lied to. Also if you want to compete in business you need to stay current with the trends and technology. I had to call or physically go into Tri-state to get any information at all but through Deaconess I can do everything from communicate with my doctor to seeing my test...

Tri-state is a mixed bag. This is a long review, but it will explain why I say that:

I have nothing but great things to say about Dr. Daines (my son's and my podiatrist) and Dr. Perry (whom I saw for frozen shoulder). They are both personable, knowledgeable, and take the time to properly evaluate you. I've also found that the staff I've encountered are friendly and eager to provide you with whatever information you need. However, I can not give this facility a higher review due to my other experiences. (One back surgeon was never able to help after years, but he is no longer there so I won't even mention him.)

My most recent two experiences have been the worst so far. If I had to review based off of just those, it would be 1-star! I was referred to Dr. Wetzel first in 2023 after hospitalization from Guillain-Barre. I needed a followup EMG/NCS done. He stated that he did them, but didn't want to "bother" because I "should go to IU." Even after explaining that I had no transportation there and I was still wheelchair-bound at the time, he wouldn't do it. He never touched me for a physical examination either, which I thought was weird. I was supposedly referred to IU, but never told to whom and I never received a phone call.

This year, I have been experiencing gradually worsening neck pain that became unbearable in May. Certain head movements cause extreme pain to shoot straight behind my eye as well as down my arm and back. I went to Tri-state's walk-in urgent care and almost walked out when they assigned me to Dr Wetzel because he was on-call, but I knew I needed help, so I stayed. The wait wasn't too long...at least there's a plus!...But, yet again, he didn't ask me to move my head/neck not once or touch me at all to feel structurally. He ordered an MRI w/o contrast, which I disagree with. I had to wait 3 days for the scan and a week for a follow-up. At the follow-up, he said my neck was "perfect," and only amended that to "age-related degeneration" after I said that was literally impossible. No movement evaluation or palpations until I demanded he feel a particularly distressing spot. He barely grazed it for a millisecond and said he didn't feel a thing, which is insane because my OT had recoiled after feeling it just the day before. Worse, there was a student observing this visit and I feel that was bad modeling. All that was recommended was to ask my neurologist if I can have Botox injections.

I honestly don't know whether Dr. Wetzel is lazy and likes to pass off issues to other doctors, has lost the ability to care for the well-being of patients, or has some aversion to ME in particular. I will never recommend him in a hundred years. Therefore I can't recommend this facility for urgent care, neck and back pain management, or physiatry just in case you lose the coin toss and end...

My arm was paralyzed due to nerve damage and muscle damage from an accident.The first visit was swell, a fellow named (doug?) noticed my cast was improperly fit and gave me a new one that would help. The next two visits however: i waited almost two hours just to be given a pamphlet, and the next i waited two hours to be given a stress ball (which i couldn't even hold because my arm was totally paralyzed). They charged me $250 for a pamphlet, $250 for a foam ball, and $250 for a fourth visit i actually cancelled and got treatment elsewhere, (and i had insurance, still $250 for a piece of paper and a 10 cent ball). There is only two helpfu personel on staff there, the rest are apathetic. Otherwise, this establishment's personel only exploits people in need of help. Btw my arm is now functional a year later, but Tristate Orthopedics had little part in that as physical therapists besides the first visit where i was given a more practical cast by the only staff member who takes their job seriously. There is a really awesome surgeon who works there too who happened to be the same guy who saved my life and knit my arm back together in the icu at a local hospital, but that was his own merit as a surgeon, not TSO, and his great work should not give credit to TSO as a whole. 100+ stars for him, if only i remembered his name - truly a life saving genius. Most of the rest of the staff is just acting like they work at starbucks. In summary, i was offered no physical therapy from this physical therapy clinic but charged a few thousand dollars for a foam ball and a pamphlet. Fyi though, the doctor there actually saves lives at...