All-Star Orthopedics of Austin

I must note that this poor review has nothing to do with Dr Thomas. As a doctor and surgeon he is way above average. He is kind, straightforward and really understood my knee issues. I needed to return, to discuss options for my other knee. Mind you, it had been almost a year since my last visit. My appt was for 2:15. I got there around 2. It’s really hard to describe how clueless and unprofessional the front end employees were. I am handed the dreaded clip board. As I fill out the paperwork, I notice that the waiting room is now at capacity. No one has been called back in the 30 minutes since I arrived. Also notice that Dr Gallagher’s name is no longer on the marquis. All these people for 2 doctors. But no! Dr Thomas was the ONLY doc there that day. Oh jeez, this could take a long time! It did!
Finally, at 3pm, I was called back. Nurse asks basic questions. In fact the same questions that were on the papers I filled out. That’s annoying. 3:15, this goofy guy comes in and introduces himself as someone someone the nurse practitioner. Who is he?! He has absolutely no personality and proceeds to ask the very same questions the other gal did. I feel like I’m in a bad episode of The Twilight Zone. This idiot drones on. I cannot imagine what his purpose is. He tells me that I will need surgery. And asks am I ready to discuss this. Um… NO. I just want a cortisone shot. He persists, But you are open to surgery? Shot please. He tells me that he will get the injection ready. I then ask, Where is Dr. Thomas? Am I going to see him? I don’t want you to give me a shot. I don’t know you and I am not here to see YOU! He shuffles out of exam room. I hear him tell Dr Thomas that I didn’t want him to give me the shot. At last Dr Thomas enters. It is now 3:40. He was his usual great self. I did mention that the office staff seemed very tentative and clueless. I got my shot and could not get out fast enough!
Returned this morning to get my first of three shots. Pay my $ 60. Get called right back. Oh yeah, it’s 8:45am and no one else is there. However I did hear another girl say that she had an 8:45 appt as well. I follow nurse back. She asks the same questions. To which I answer, No, Yes, No. She leaves. And 10 minutes later, Goofy walks in! AHHHH! Before he even started I said I am here for the first of three shots. He quotes the wrong injection type. I correct him. Then he says that insurance hadn’t approved it yet. Well why am I here then? He keeps repeating that he’s sorry. Trust me when I tell you that there was nothing comforting in his insipid apologies. I get up and say that there is no reason for me to stay. I open the door and head to front desk for my refund. He follows me, repeating that he is sorry. I am trying to maintain my composure. I ask for a refund. Front desk girl asks why. I tell her. She agrees to refund me. That’s when goofy guy comes up to the front desk and says that since I paid already, I would not be charged when I come back for shot 1 of 3. I respond with, I won’t be coming back. I’ll take the refund.
As ticked as I was, I was really happy that I got this sign from a higher power that it was time to find another office. I love you Dr Thomas, but your front end staff and goofy guy nurse practitioner could quite possibly be the cause of your ruin. GUT THE STAFF AND START FROM SCRATCH!

Dr Hyde was great; however, the office management and subsequent customer service was substandard. I rec’ed my surgery info on 17 DEC. We discussed what I thought was all relevant information. Fast forward to 06 JAN and I receive a call fm the office stating they need $ 760.00 before the sked surgery in a week or they won’t do the surgery. Naturally, I’m taken aback. I call the office and discuss the issue. I offer to pay $ 200 up front and the remaining balance on 19 Jan/​pay day. I was told they would call me back to let me know if this was acceptable. No call for 24 hours. I called back. No new info. I was told they would call back that day (Before COB) with an answer. No call. I called back today. No one seemed to know anything abt the issue. I lost confidence in their ability to track my pertinent information. I had hip replacement surgery in May 2013 and I had ZERO issues. Not only did they walk me thru the process, but discussed fees/​expenses at the same time! I never felt anxious or worried. Exact opposite feeling for this surgery. I cancelled my surgery and will go elsewhere. As much as I my shoulder hurts, I don’t want to trust it to an office that can’t seem to get their stuff together. Unfortunate.

I will not return. I’m giving one star only because it won’t let me give zero. I made an appointment with Dr. Thomas at the Lakeway office two weeks ago to have three body parts x-​rayed and checked. I disclosed this to the scheduler. Today, after arriving, filling out forms, and waiting 10 minutes, I was told I would have to pick just one of my issues as the doctor did not have time for the three. After considering leaving then and there, I decided to stay. After another 25 minutes of waiting, so now 10:35 for a 10:00 appointment, I checked on the status only to be told the doctor was already seeing 3 patients and that they had no time frame to offer. At that point, I left and will not return.

Although I am not speaking to the competence of Dr. Thomas, I will say that the cost for the visit was absolutely obscene! Since I do not have health insurance and was paying cash, my rate was apparently cut in half. The fee for the «half» was about twice what a normal rate should be. I was in the office for less than 5 minutes to receive a cortisone injection at my request. No comprehensive eval was necessary or performed. My bill for the 50% was $ 369 which means that the full price for my 4 minute cortisone shot in my elbow was $ 738.00
I will not return.

Doctors as good. Front staff is average. But how can you now have online billing?

To be fair, this review does not comment directly on Dr. Thomas skill as a physician. When I finally did see him at my appointment (1 hour and 20 minutes after my appointment time) he was courteous and professional. The reason for this very poor review is my horrible experience with the front office staff. After my visit I was to be scheduled to have an MRI and XRay at the hospital that same day. Having already spent nearly 2 hours in their office due to the huge delay in being seen, I told them that I needed to get back to work and would be available for MRI/​XRay sometime between 2−4pm that afternoon. The person who did the pre-​authorizations for MRI was at lunch at the time I finished my appt, so they said they would set it up as soon as she returned and get me scheduled during the times I indicated, calling me to let me know when to go to the hospital for the procedures. This would have been fine had they ACTUALLY done it — but they didn’t. At 2:15pm I called them back and NOTHING had been done.
As noted here, the doctors could very well be amazing, but unless you have endless hours to wait beyond your appointment time and to deal with their incompetent front-​office staff (can’t wait for the billing, that’s sure to be a treat!) then don’t bother with this practice.

I received amazing care from Dr. Thomas at All-​Star Orthopedics. He is extremely knowledgeable and personable and let’s you know you are more than just a case number. He truly cares for each patient. I was so lucky he was the doctor on call the day of my injury. I could not have been in better hands!