Diabetic Foot & Wound Center

I am a long time patient of Diabetic Foot & Wound Center. Not only does the staff make me feel comfortable during each visit, but the Doctors are very knowledgeable and friendly! I have been seen at this office for a few different things over the years: plantar fascia, overall foot pain, and Orthotics to name a few. On each visit, I was kindly greeted by the receptionist, offered coffee or water in the waiting area, and was seen in a timely manner. Dr. Jaakola always takes his time to assess my issues and breaks it down in terms that I can actually understand. I always left the office feeling confident that my foot concerns were being addressed. I would recommend Diabetic Wound Center to anyone who needs this type service! Thank you to the team over there for always making my visits pleasant!

I’ve been having foot pain for a couple years, and finally decided to go to a foot doctor. I searched and found that this place had decent reviews. I agree with the first reviewer that the receptionist is a bit icey — but she seem to try to eek out a smile sometimes. The medical assistant and the x-​ray guy were friendly. Dr. Weber was friendly the first time she came in but she didn’t seem to take me seriously. I just don’t think she listened to me.
I waited in the waiting room after the x-​ray and 2^nd talk with the doctor — as they checked with my insurance to see if they’d cover their custom orthotics. I waited for about ¹⁰⁄₁₅ minutes as I heard the doctor, assistant and x-​ray guy talking down the hall about some research or something the doctor worked on in school. I stuck my head out the door. The x-​ray guy saw me and came down and said «oh, do you have to go?» I said, «yes, I have to get back to work.» He said my insurance didn’t cover the orthotics, but brought me something I could buy from them. I was rather annoyed, and said I’d think about it. He goes okay, and started to walk out. I stopped him and said «the doctor said she was going to prescribe physical therapy too.» He goes, «oh she did. Let me go get her, or there she is.» (The doctor was still talking to the assistant about whatever she used to do in school). Dr. Weber then came in and started writing the prescription and said «so, what’s your name?
So — I’d have to say — that put a bad taste in my mouth. You don’t know my name after talking to me a couple times before? At least fake it and go find my file or something. Needless to say, my visit started out with promise and I wanted to like this place, but I won’t be going back or listening to the suggestions of that doctor who didn’t think I was important enough to stop talking about med school research to finish my appointment and then in the end forget my name.

I developed plantar fascitis very late in 2012 — for those who don’t know what that is, you can Wikipedia it; but in short, it’s «a painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the sole (bottom surface) of the foot. It is often caused by overuse of the plantar fascia or arch tendon of the foot.» My doctor recommended I go to these people when I’d been suffering from it for over a month after a concert, and although I was wary about going to a specialist because I was paying out of pocket, one of the great unwashed that don’t have health insurance yet, I went — mostly because the pain could wildly change from a ‘2−3′ level on my left foot to an ‘8/​10′, where I felt like I’d stepped on a hand grenade of acid — that had then blown my foot off. Like those movie scenes where the thugs holding the hero rub some salt into an open wound and you hear that shriek come out… yeah, like that.
Out of pocket costs were $ 120 for the initial appointment, and $ 65 for a follow-​up consultation. That did not include x-​rays, which I fortunately didn’t need. I thought I had a stress fracture in my foot… close, but not quite. There are two primary doctors there, Dr. Erik Jaakola and Dr. Anna Weber. I was supposed to see Dr. J, but after juggling around some dates and times I ended up seeing Dr. Weber. Dr. Weber, and her entire intake/​prep staff, are godsends to people who have this kind of issue — they were professional, they cared about what I had to say, and they were very focused on getting me to improve and having some relief from this. My primary doctor thought it could be the onset of something much much worse… which very fortunately it was not.
There are a number of treatment rooms, some of which had various complex-​looking machinery; so since it sits less than a block from Rose Medical Center, I can only assume it’s totally state of the art tech there, if you need it. The business name is slightly misleading; one might think you have to be a diabetic to go here — but that’s not the case. It’s 5 words that don’t quite jumble together any better than they do here, so I guess that’s why the name is what it is. They do treat diabetics with foot and lower leg issues here, but I don’t know if that’s their primary focus. Either way, if you have a foot issue that requires a specialist, this organization’s doctors are amazing.
I am docking off 1 star for the receptionist, who I have dubbed in my mind the «Ice Queen». She does not smile. She does not exude any warmth towards people coming in the door — not just me, I saw it with others too. Questions seem to be answered with a faint wafting scent of irritation; definitely curt and to the point, no reassurances or lengthy answers here. You could probably replace her with an android and cut back on personnel costs… just sayin. –_​– I probably would not have mentioned it except I saw it twice our of 2 visits, so… if you go here, keep in mind your primary goal is to get better. A moment’s chill at the front desk, and you’re in to the good folks.
Here’s to your health. (raises glass o spirits, smiles)