Innovative Dermatology

This place way overbooks! Plan on a 2 hour wait minimum for a simple follow up. Bedside manner lacking too. During my procedure the Dr and his assistant spent the entire time complaining about a fellow worker and never addressed me at all.
After the procedure and a three hour wait, I had to ask them if the procedure worked or if I had to go back for more. One of the nurses said in passing ‘oh, hasn’t anyone talked to you? It’s all clear now… it won’t be too long to stitch you up’ jeez! Another hour and a half and I was stitched up. Lowly recommend to say the least

Dr. Krunic is fantastic! He diagnosed & cleared up a rash that I had for months that had been misdiagnosed by someone else. I highly recommend him for any dermatology problem. He is rushed sometimes but that’s because there are fewer dermatologists treating problems. More are doing cosmetic instead.

Dr. Krunic is worth the wait! There were long wait times in both the waiting room and the exam room. Nevertheless his diagnosis was spot on and his treatment plan was direct and effective. ¹⁰⁄₁₀ for Dr. Krunic!

1 appointment to get a mole checked out. Dr. Krunic literally spent less than 2 minutes doing a mole check that was more like a prison search then anything else. He even looked at his watch before he started the exam. He went so fast I didn’t understand anything that he said. No time for questions. His assistant, Sasha, came in and I thought he was very personable. However, the mole not being a problem at all and not even a mole, they decided that I needed elective surgery, a prescription for something else, a wash and lotion — all to be bought in their office. After waiting to check out — I gave up and left sans items that I don’t need. Oh yeah — and asking for a credit card to have on file? I don’t think so. I won’t be back.

There is no denying that Dr. Krunic is an intelligent man because he teaches at UIC and NU. He also has a lot of experience treating patients. However, I am giving this practice 1 star because he rushes through his appointments with me and does not seem to have time to listen to all of my concerns. All of his intelligence might not be useful if he does not listen to all a patient’s concerns.
I did wait long to see him but I am not complaining about it because waits are often long with doctors. I find his PA, Sasha, unprofessional. I thought that he was a nice caring PA that makes up for Dr. Krunic’s lack of patient/​time but I was wrong. Dr. Krunic told me to wait in the office for the PA, Sasha, to give me my prescriptions so that I can leave. He left the door open and I heard Sash tell story after about how Sasha doesn’t like some patients. Sasha also said that he used to talk to patient but now just want to get them in and out. I understand that people vent but there was a long wait in the waiting room and I was taking up space in an examination room. Is this really the time to vent? I was angry but I rather not waste more of my time on them and got my prescription and left.

Absolutely horrendous experience! The receptionist was very rude when I asked about the need to provide my SS#. This is not information I want floating around. She also insisted that I provide a credit card for their file… uh, no. She gave me a dirty look the second my back was turned, but my mom was behind me and saw her! What.a.jerk. I waited 40 minutes or so before I got put in a room, then the PA asked me all of the questions I already answered on the new patient form. After a hour past my appointment time, I redressed and asked the receptionist for my copayment back. She pointed at the first gal and said go see her. No question as to why I might be making such a request. Dr. Krunic finally arrived and said come on, I’ll see you now. I declined. He said he was in a meeting, as if that explained everything! No apology for wasting my time. Going to the doctor is stressful enough, especially after over 50 biopsies. I’m going back to Rush.

First I would like to say that I was looking for a great Dermatologist for years, and finally I have found him, he’s not just great his AMAZING! I have tried every product out there for my adult acne, and didn’t know why it was coming back until Dr Krunic found the answer, thank you so much for making me feel confident in my own skin again! I love the products I have purchased from your office Avene and Glytone, both products are original brands from France, I love nothing but the BEST and all I can say this Dr is the BEST and His Staff as well! Thank you!

Let me preface this with I had the most amazing experience with a dermatologist in Seattle, so I knew moving here I might have to lower my expectations. But little did I know they would have to be lowered this far. My first couple visits to treat psoriasis (which the previous dermatologist diagnosed and was treating with photo therapy) were fine. Dr. Krunic is not very attentive or thorough. I would have been able to deal with this if I actually could just do my light therapy without harassment. His front desk staff is hit or miss. The younger woman who checks you in is very friendly if not a bit scattered. The other woman who sits at the front desk is terse and unhelpful. On my last visit (I have been going there nearly three weeks now, with two visits per week), I waited over an hour for 45 seconds in the light box. Then I was told that it was my fault for not having an appointment. The funny thing is it was their staff who told me NOT to make appointments for light therapy. When I pointed this out, the woman at the front desk YELLED at me that I didn’t know what I was talking about. I told her I didn’t appreciate having my time wasted AND being abused. Very disappointing. The nurses in his office are also unwilling to help. When I asked if they could consult Dr. Krunic about the amount of time I was in the light box, they told me «only if I make an appointment to see him» — which would take 2 weeks to get. I strongly recommend you consider another dermatologist instead of visiting this office.

I am writing a review after 3 visits in this office. Dr Krunic diagnosed me and gave me a treatment that never worked. Just like other reviewers said, the waiting is horribly long and the dr will give you about 2 minutes. Dr Krunic sent me for some blood analysis and it all came fine, however my treatment did not work and they did not seem to care to explain anything or care to schedule a follow-up.I am thinking that probably I was misdiagnosed. Please read these reviews and do not waste your time and money. Also I asked how much I will be charged and the charge was 40 dollars more than initially told. This was a horrible experience. Too sad that some people become doctors just for the money:((

Dr Krunic is kind of a jerk. He does not care about his patients he only cares about them dolla $igns!
He crams as many patients as possible into the same time slot so he can make that moolah — therefore your appointment suffers because it is completely rushed and you have to wait 45 minutes to have the guy only give you 5 minutes of his time, IF that. The waiting room is always a madhouse.
He does not listen to you. A skill most dermatologists lack for some reason. Maybe cuz they’re blinded by all them $$$ in their eyes. The quest for a good dermatologist ensues…
Oh yeah, and watch out if you purchase any of the RIDICULOUSLY priced products he «recommends» and sells in office, because if it doesn’t work out for you, he will not only refuse to refund your money, but try to make you feel like crap for even trying to return the product in the first place. Because, ya know, the Doctor is always right (yeah, right.)

I brought my 89 year old mother to Dr. Krunic. on the first visit:
We waited a full hour to see him. The office staff refused to allow her to use the rest room in the office, the closest rest room was approx. 200 feet away at the opposite end of the long hallway (this office is at 5120 N California MD office building). My mom moves pretty slowly with her walker– this is a bout 6 minutes for her– and has typical bladder problems for a woman her age.
He prescribed a medication she to which is allergic, though I had noted the allergy in the new patient intake form we filled out during our wait. (luckily the pharmacy caught it)
On another visit:
We waited 1.5 hours to see the doctor, After finally seeing the doctor they refused again to allow her to use the office bathroom, which was right across the hall from the treatment room she had been in. After a bit of cajoling the receptionist gave me the key, and my mom used the facilities.
On the subsequent visit:
After an hour or more wait, and yet more waiting in the examination room, that receptionist declined to allow my mom to use the facilities because, she said, she had gotten in trouble for doing so on our last visit (these were weekly visits) This time my mom would not make it the 200 feet to the public rest room, and the situation was, delicately put, urgent.
I made a scene– in view of the office staff and waiting patients I said in loud, clear voice, and yes, in a perturbed tone, «How outragesous! You refuse to let an 89 year old woman use your bathroom, so, she now is is going to have an accident»
Everyone looked up from what they were doing, and Sacha, the male assistant and apparent office manager, who had been singularly unhelpful, came forward with the key.
In addition to all this, the staff, who were supposed to, according to Dr Krunic, give instructions to my mom’s home health care team in writing failed to do so, or did it insuffuciently on several visits.
In the end, her problem was not solved, we will go to another doctor, of course.

I found Dr Krunic and his intern/​assistant, Sasha, to be very personable. What I marked them down for are a few things.
First, they overbook patients. Therefore, the wait is long and the waiting room doesn’t fit the number of people there waiting so you sometimes end up standing for long periods of time. If I’m going to wait so long, you could at least make sure I have a place to sit. Even if I do finally get to sit, there have been several elderly people who come in and you end up giving up the seat you finally get because Chicago has so many self-​absorbed people, parents will not tell their teenagers to get up so the elderly can sit. But that’s a whole other issue.
Second, even if you were a patient at Dr. Krunic’s previous practice, be prepared to get billed as much or more than $ 268 as a «new patient» fee, which your insurance may or may not cover. Number one, shame on his for charging that just because he moved to a new practice. Shame on his staff to not disclose it and third, shame on him practicing what I see as bilking my insurance company for his profit which translates into higher premiums for me and everyone else. This is the third time I’ve been hit with surprises from medical practices here in the short time I’ve lived in Chicago. When I called to complain about it, they told me that it wasn’t disclosed because I didn’t ask and they would not reverse the charges even though I was not a new patient.
No wonder we need insurance/​medical reform.
Swedish Covenant, they too didn’t go over what tests the doctor had requested to question whether it was a concern for me if my insurance didnt cover them. They also said «you didn’t ask» when I asked them why my bill was so much for the tests.
So folks, just be aware and ask lots of questions.

UPDATE: Sadly, Dr. Bulj has since left the practice to strike out for the burbs and I miss her terribly. I made an appointment to see Dr. Krunic just to get refills on my creams and he tried not only to dissuade me from getting them, but suggested that what I really needed was a skin peel. EXCUSE ME?! Who the FUCK do you think you are?! I am 27 years old and with the help of previously given meds that were working just fine, thank you, my skin was perfectly clear and lovely. I first laughed so hard I fell out of the chair, and when THAT did not give him a hint, he continued to try to sell me on it, telling me it «was no big deal, just a ‘little lunch peel’, I could get it done in an afternoon.»
Are. You. Serious.
I told him «no», he did not listen, obliviously yammering on to try to get me to agree to one, and when I told him «no» once again, he finally wrote my scripts but STILL told his assistant to get me the pamphlets and talk to me about the damn procedure, which they did try to do! What is WRONG with this man?!
Needless to say, I am never going back there and could not possibly ever recommend that anyone else do so.
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old review:
I saw Dr. Bulj at the Halsted office and I can’t be more pleased. I’ve seen a handful of dermatologists in my life for acne and have always gotten the same response — a lifted eyebrow and «it’s not that bad, just use otc meds.» If otc meds worked, I wouldn’t be in here!
Dr.Bulj not only did a thorough examination of my skin, but she also took my concerns very seriously. After one month of taking a combination of pills and creams, my skin has never looked better. I remember the day when I was washing my face and I stopped because it felt so smooth, I was surprised. The creams are expensive, but to me, worth it after 26 years of breakouts.
Not only that, but she spent a lot of time discussing medical history with me, and after hearing my family has a history of melanoma, went over every inch of my body with a magnifying glass to check out any suspicious areas.
In all, I felt very well cared for, and she was also incredibly nice and friendly, as was all of her staff. I’m done looking for a dermatologist: I’m sticking with this one!

I saw Dr. Thrash for years. I have serious skin issues and am on injections for psoriasis. She always treated me with kindness and took seriously my concerned about the biologic meds and the immunosuppressant side effects. Then she moved and I was sorry to see her go.
Her replacement, Dr. Krunic, is a nightmare stereotype of a rude, entitled, arrogant doctor. Oh, and sexist. I don’t need a doctor to hold my hand, but I do need one that will actually know what he’s talking about. Without listening to a word I said, he started writing a prescription for a med I’d been on three years earlier. I told him I’d already tried that, but he didn’t believe me. I told him to look at my chart (it was there, which I confirmed when I had them send my records), but he said that I’m wrong and he knew what was best and threw a pile of scrips (all of which I’d used before to no effect) and sent me on my way. He was, in a word, a dick.

Life truth #66: most medical office staff are rude. Perhaps the bitterness comes from being low on the proverbial totem pole, or perhaps the virus is injected during the hiring process. Knowing this truth, I’m prepared for Surly on arrival at a doctor’s office, or when I pick up the phone.
But this practice adds a major dose of Self-​Important to their Surly creating a potion that many of us label as a word that rhymes with witch.
This place charges no show fee. Really?
They keep you waiting 45+plus minutes.
Your time with an actual doctor? 1.5 minutes.
They send everything for biopsy whether needed or not, creating the circle of futility called Communicating with Insurance.
There has to be a better option on the north side. I’ll let you know when I find it. I hope to start my search after I quit the second job I get to pay for all the creams, salves, lotions and shampoo I was told I «needed».

Okay, so after reading these reviews, I waited until I had three separate visits with Dr. Krunic before passing any Unilocal-​related judgment. Here is the deal — I have had monthly outbreaks of acne since I was about 17… at 25 I am damn sick of it. The thing is, I have been to a new dermatologist, pretty much once a year, to no avail. Not one of them had been able to do anything — and the acne wasn’t even all that bad to begin with, so I was kind of stumped as to why no one could just fix it! They all genuinely sucked.
After one visit with Dr. Krunic my acne was literally gone. Instead of just giving me one prescription, he actually used a combination of oral meds and creams and 2 months later I have yet to get a frigin pimple. Amazing!
It is true that you wait f-​o-​r-​e-​v-​e-​r if you go to his office at Swedish — but I learned the trick — he has office hours at Masonic on Halsted and Wellington and it’s a HUGE office, so you get seen much more quickly. As far as bedside manner is concerned, I get that he is not the most attentive, but I guess that depends what you are looking for — personally I just want him to know his shit — which he does. If you have questions, he will answer them, but he’s not going to sit there and hold your hand and tell you what to ask. If that’s what you need, then just heed the warnings from other reviews. As far as what I am looking for, this guy is A-​OK.

**Please Note: Dr. Thrash moved to Texas**
I was really upset when I left after my visit with Dr.Krutic. I will be cancelling my next appointment tomorrow, for sure. I found him to be incredibly rude, and did not like the way he spoke to me.
I had to tell them they forgot to give me my shot, as he was more concerned with removing a mole off my arm than what I originally had come in for. Concerned to the point where he was rude.
I got my shot, 8 prescriptions for bullshit, and runny mascara because he actually made me cry he was so rude. I will have that mole removed, and it will be elsewhere.

FYI: Dr. Thrash is leaving this practice in November 2008. Frowny face. (wait…nevermind, straight face. Frowns cause wrinkles, which cause the need for dermatologists in the first place. Well, like… not for me (yet), but eventually… nevermind).
Of course, when I find a doctor I like, they are hitting the road. Damn the luck…
I found Dr. Thrash on Unilocal,thanks to Erika G. I like Swedish Covenant Hospital (where her office is located), and the location was convenient. It took me about a month to get an appointment to a «mole check» (I know, so sexy, right?), as she is quite popular. Check in process was smooth, papers filled out, right into an exam room, decked out in an ultra glam large paper towel with strings, and set to jet…
Now, I have a large variety of mole friends. Seriously, I don’t even know where I got them, no one in my family has ‘em. I’m all «connect the dots» and everyone else got olive skin. BOGUS. Regardless, I must go for a yearly mole check. So, I go. I’ve been to several docs in Chicago, and I really liked Dr. Thrash. Through, explained things, knowledgeable, good bedside manner…
She didn’t seem rushed, either. Which I find to be very important.
The good news: NO CANCER today!
The bad news: tanning beds are bad for you. Go figure. Sigh. ;)
Highly recommended, though she is relocating to Texas… so I’m not sure the good that will do anyone. Regardless, let it give you faith that there are very good docs in the city of Chicago.

Dr. Thrash is great. She explains things well and is reasonable about what needs to be done. I’ve been begging my husband to go see her.
Her office staff is ⁴⁄₅ stars.

This is my dermatologist. I adore her. Don’t let me convince you, look at my skin next time you see me, and judge for yourself.