Recommendation for Dermatologist/Allergist?

The best dermatologist in the area is in Panama City Beach, very near Lowe's.

His name is Jon Ward, and I can't say enough good things about him. He has a very well run practice -- he's busy but he still sees you within minutes of your appointment time, they understand how to bill so you never have to get involved with the insurance company for them, and everything is state of the art. He's on the young side, which I like. His # is 233.3376, and he's worth the drive.

As for an allergist, I'd be darn sure I needed an allergist, that it wasn't something a good internist couldn't handle, before I put myself under the care of the Allergy Nazi (think Soup Nazi a la Seinfeld, but with allergy shots, and you have an accurate picture, except that the Soup Nazi did not have a 70 year old woman hand-writing out his bills and trying to balance bill his customers at every turn).

Dr. Arrowsmith in FWB is very good. Very direct w/a sense of humor and very prompt with appts. - I don't think there are any derms in this immediate area. don't know about allergists.

I didn't know about the dermatologist in Panama City Beach. We see Dr. Friedman at White-Wilson in Fort Walton Beach, and we are very pleased. However, getting from SoWal to FWB isn't as easy as it used to be, particularly when you have to be there at a certain time.

Can't help you with an allergist; mine retired.

Bluewater Bay Dermatology (just over the bridge past Destin Commons) was the only one I could even find in the area! I liked them fine - but their schedule stays slammed.

Emerald Coast Dermatology- Dr. Bender. Has office hours at Sacred Heart a few days a month, and there are plans for a new office building across the street. We like him a lot!

If you schedule an appointment, make sure you specify the location, or you could end up in Crestview.

This thread was started last summer; any additional recommendations or
comments about the recommended docs from others who have used?

I tried Dr. Ward in Panama City on Rapunzel's recommendation and was extremely displeased by the entire experience.

I can't really say anything about Dr. Ward, as after waiting for an available appointment with him, and then another hour in his office, I never saw him or another Doctor, just a PA (who was nice, but not who I drove from Sowal to see).

Not "worth the drive" and not "a well run practice" IMO. I'd say maybe they were having an "off" day, but every aspect of the visit was such a severe Scooterbug thumbs down, I doubt it!

I know David Adams, MD personally. I have never been a patient, but he is very nice and (I know) intelligent. 689-1740

I tried Dr. Ward in Panama City on Rapunzel's recommendation and was extremely displeased by the entire experience.

I can't really say anything about Dr. Ward, as after waiting for an available appointment with him, and then another hour in his office, I never saw him or another Doctor, just a PA (who was nice, but not who I drove from Sowal to see).

Not "worth the drive" and not "a well run practice" IMO. I'd say maybe they were having an "off" day, but every aspect of the visit was such a severe Scooterbug thumbs down, I doubt it!

oh no, Mr. IBD is going there next week b/c of Punzys recommendation. hmmmmmmm, what to do???

I'd definitely call first to see how backed up they are and verify that you will actually be seeing the doctor, but still go.

Would love to hear your opinion after the visit.

I know David Adams, MD personally. I have never been a patient, but he is very nice and (I know) intelligent. 689-1740

Apologies for slamming your friend, but I had a completely dissatisfactory experience with Dr. Adams. I had to go to his office in Crestview (1 hour and 15 minutes drive from Seagrove), because I had a problem on short notice and couldn't wait two months for his next available opening at Sacred Heart. I waited two hours, then watched him walk out of the lobby to go to lunch with a sales rep.

His partner, Tom Bender, finally saw me nearly three hours after I'd arrived. And yes, I had been pestering the s**t out of the receptionist every 30 minutes after the first hour. Why didn't I walk out? I'd already invested 2 hours and had to get on a plane the next day.

Maybe he's nice, maybe he's smart, but he's definitely not my dermatologist.

Apologies for slamming your friend, but I had a completely dissatisfactory experience with Dr. Adams. I had to go to his office in Crestview (1 hour and 15 minutes drive from Seagrove), because I had a problem on short notice and couldn't wait two months for his next available opening at Sacred Heart. I waited two hours, then watched him walk out of the lobby to go to lunch with a sales rep.

His partner, Tom Bender, finally saw me nearly three hours after I'd arrived. And yes, I had been pestering the s**t out of the receptionist every 30 minutes after the first hour. Why didn't I walk out? I'd already invested 2 hours and had to get on a plane the next day.

Maybe he's nice, maybe he's smart, but he's definitely not my dermatologist.

And when you contacted Dr Adams to let him know about your negative experience his response was.....?

I took my daughter to Dr. Adams this week and we loved him. Time will tell if it's doing any good. We did have to wait 2 months to get a Santa Rosa Beach appt. Our previous dermatologist in Bluewater Bay was a horrible experience, so I was very happy talking to Dr. Adams who listened to us.

And when you contacted Dr Adams to let him know about your negative experience his response was.....?

You know, that would have been the right thing to do.

At the time, I was too cheesed off to handle it constructively. For me, sometimes the experience is just a little too negative to want to give someone a second chance. Call it my fault that I didn't handle it as well as possible. But call it his fault for leaving a patient in the lobby while he goes to lunch.

I like Angelina's too, but SJ won't go back there. Your mileage may vary...

All comments sum up what I already knew- not enough doctors around here. Funny, I don't consider Bluewater, Crestview, PC, or FWB "local"- getting to those places kill half the day for one appointment.

We love Dr. Bender, but we hate the fact that he is only at Sacred Heart twice a month. If it is not an emergency, but you want that once a year derm check, schedule a first of the day appointment. After that, take a good book. His scheduling staff has not figured out the multiple office thing.

You know, that would have been the right thing to do.

At the time, I was too cheesed off to handle it constructively. For me, sometimes the experience is just a little too negative to want to give someone a second chance. Call it my fault that I didn't handle it as well as possible. But call it his fault for leaving a patient in the lobby while he goes to lunch.

I like Angelina's too, but SJ won't go back there. Your mileage may vary...

The reason I asked is that blowing off a patient doesn't fit with his personality. My guess is that he didn't know you were even there...sometimes there is horrific communication between front office staff and physicians. I once left to go to a meeting at the hospital at noon and left a patient in the waiting room;they had been added on and were not on my schedule. Bottom line-that was my fault, and now I ask if anyone is still needing to be seen if I scoot at lunch. Dr Adams still might not know he missed you, and he HAS to know that this happened so it can be avoided in the future.

I have been to so many dermatologist, I've been on everything from Accutane to Retin-A. I am so pleased with Derma File, it's electric wand that kill bacteria under your skin you can actuall see a difference in one visit. It's cosmetic and only at Bella Day spa in Destin between Outback Steakhouse and Barnes and Noble, It's $85 a session and so worth it. You could call and speak to Rachelle at Bella Day Spa 850-424-3222, tell her Andi recommended you.

Funny, I don't consider Bluewater, Crestview, PC, or FWB "local"- getting to those places kill half the day for one appointment.

Going to the doctor doesn't always kill half the day? What do you know that I don't?

Going to the doctor doesn't always kill half the day? What do you know that I don't?

She's got a doctor in her back pocket. I hear one of her kids even got a before school house call. :funn:

Oh, and I'm sorry about the Dr. Ward experience. When I went, I had a very different experience...but that was last spring. I know his practice has grown, and sometimes that causes the wheels to come off because the doctor can't keep his eye on the front office.

I always encourage people to write the doctor, marking it personal and confidential on the outside of the envelope.

I've yet to see a practice here where the office staff wasn't underpaid, under-trained, or under-supervised.

I have an appt with Dr. Holly Ward over in Shalimar - anyone heard anything about her?

thanx

Mr. IBD went to Dr. Ward's office at the referral of PUnzy. He did have to wait a bit though but heard the nurse's in the hallway talking about some emergency that had the Dr. running late. To me, as long as someone explains the reason for running late then that is ok.

Anywho, Mr. IBD enjoyed his visit. Dr. Ward was knowledgeable, easy to talk to, etc etc etc. He said he would go again.....THanks Punzy!!!

In general you are going to be pretty safe with any MD dermatologist. Believe it or not, dermatology is the hardest residency to get into from medical school. In the last 10 years, you basically have to be at the top of your class to get considered. So any of them under 40 years of age, are all extremely intelligent. I would recommend to call for wait times. If it takes more than a few weeks to get an appointment they are probably too busy to provide or even care if you are going to get good service.

There are only a few groups in the area:
Emerald Coast Dermatology (Drs. Trapp, Kulow, Adams, Bender) in Crestview and occassionally at Sacred Heart Hospital. Drs. Holly Ward and Arrowsmith in Fort Walton. Dr. Friedman in Ft. Walton. Dr. Milum in Niceville. Gulf Coast Dermatology (Drs. Ward and Stickler) is in Panama City Beach and Panama City.

Too deal with high patient volume and to keep wait times down, most dermatology practices use PA's and it is important to specifically ask to see the doctor if that is what you want; however, there are many great PA's who can manage most simple problems.

You can not be as sure about quality with DO dermatologists. Many of them are good, but they are not the best of the best like their MD counterparts.

Regarding allergists, my son was a patient of Carla Jean Hinds in Destin when we lived there. We were always seen on time, yet she takes time with you. Her office is on Airport Road.

Bluewater Bay Dermatology (just over the bridge past Destin Commons) was the only one I could even find in the area! I liked them fine - but their schedule stays slammed.

They've got a Miramar Beach office on Wed & Thurs. Great Dr. Spwnt an hour with hubby on 1st & 2nd visits. Very thorough. 897-SKIN is main office number.