RE-Review... DR SCHMITZ DID MY LUMBAR FUSION SURGERY FEBRUARY 2021. IT WAS A TOTAL SUCCESS!!!!! HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR ALPINE ORTHO I WOULD NOT BE WALKING TODAY!! Which leads me to my next bit of info.... People people people. Please IGNORE these 1 star "I would give less if I could" reviews. This doctor is quite good. He's also done neck surgery on a friend of mine and basically have her her life and mobility back. OF COURSE he's going to run behind. He doesn't set a timer and say ding, sorry patient but your time is up. He takes his time with you, goes over all your tests and diagnosis and makes sure that you are well informed of not only your condition but what treatment options you may have. If you want fast and don't give a shake about your health, go to Chas. If you want to be taken care and not treated like you're on an assembly line, then go elsewhere. read more

STAY AWAY from this place. Doctor Miguel Schmitz is very mean. I had to wait for over an hour with not a single word. When I decided to ask how long it will be, he pushed past me asking me "why are you here, are you in pain" I said I have been waiting for a while and I am leaving, he then shouted at me "what do you think this is MCDONALD'S and waved his hands at me telling me to "just go". The receptionists did nothing at all, besides acting physically uncomfortable. He called to offer a fake mumbled apology that I couldn't make out all the words of. The only thing in the message he said clearly was to let them know if I want to reschedule. My feelings are beyond hurt and all trust and respect in this office is now lost. I will be finding another clinic who has more compassionate and consideration for their patients. And after reading these other reviews both on yelp and Google, now I am wondering how is he still in business and why did I try to go back after Dr. Kovach left. read more

Dr Schmitz is top notch! Very caring and skilled surgeon. Everyone in his office is so caring, from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Unbelievably terrible experience. I didn't even get to see the doctor because they changed my appoinent so much that I gave up!! It took a long time to find someone who could do this surgery and I'm coming from a long way away, so I booked the B&B for my stay and the office called and changed my appointment!! I got lucky and was able to reschedule the b&b for the next appointment only to have them call AGAIN 5 days before the appointment to change it! I'm supposed to now just eat the cost of the B&B and not even get to see the doctor. They offered an "initial appointment" with their PA, which would mean multiple appointments, if I could drive 3.5 hours there and be there by 8:30 in the morning. I said I didn't trust them not to cancel on me so forget it. Now I have to search for another surgeon and wait several more months to be seen while in pain. read more

They consistently leave you waiting for 45+ minutes past your appointment time. Dr Schmitz told me he would only put on a mask if I asked him to, DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. (Which was kind of moot by that point anyway because hed already gotten within 6' of me with no mask.) This clinic does not value patients' time. They scheduled in-person appointments that could easily be telehealth, during a time when we are supposed to be limiting our exposure to one another. Alpine only seems to value how many patients they can pack in a day, not actual patient care. read more

I would so give less than 1 star for Alpine Orthopaedic if I could! THEY scheduled my appointment for 5:30PM; however, THEIR office closes at 5:00PM. After I go there and the lights are off, no one around, and doors are locked, I called their office number only to reach an answering service. The next morning I call, Vicky tells me "sorry YOU didn't understand YOUR appointment was 3:30PM." What??!! All of my paperwork says 5:30PM. Vicky was so argumentative and unfriendly. I would go somewhere else if I REALLY didn't need to see a doctor and I've awaited weeks to be seen here! Then I get a text message saying I missed my appointment. ‍ FYI for others, go to Northwest Orthopedic Surgeons! read more

Dr. Miguel Schmitz is my surgeon and I've had help from all staff members and his surgery team. I suffered a bad accident, and he came in highly recommended. I'm not done with healing, but after one year I can whole heartedly say that everyone is caring, compassionate, and highly skilled at what they do. I would recommend to family and friends. read more

While the lead Doctor appears to know his stuff. Good luck actually seeing him! Ryan and Chase are the 2 people you are mostly likely to see. One is a bit arrogant and doesn't listen. Jumps to the easy answer. The other seem very caring and concerned. That being said the office is slow and enaficent. Oh and by the way if you are in any type of pain. You should know befor going there that they won't treat the pain. They will make the necessary treatment for the problem. But the pain is your problem! read more

They didn't even DESERVE a star... waited 35 minutes in waiting area, so they can put me in a room where I've been here close to an hour. They weigh over book themselves. I explained to the receptionist after waiting the 25 minutes that I had to be to work at a certain time and she says oh well we'll have to reschedule. She said you need to make the appointment when you have more time and you're not going to anything. What kind of business is that anyway? What kind of business is this. An hour and a half is ridiculous going on an hour and a half I might add. Well it has been over a month since I was there. After my appointment when I finally got waited on when the dr. Schmidt came into the room he asked me how my day was and I told him I was irritated with the weight and on how his receptionist was rude. He told me he was the only one in Spokane that took my insurance that's why he was so far behind. I understand how places to get behind but don't book yourself for people in 1 hour knowing that you can only be me see one person. I felt like my consultation with the results of my tests were fine he ordered me an MRI for my neck and was going to get a referral for my carpal tunnel. For that is what he felt I had. I felt the appointment went well I told him as I was leaving that I was sorry I was upset it's just that I had started a new job and I was going to be late and I just didn't want to start that way with the job. I felt everything was fine he told me to check back in 2 weeks to see if the MRI had been approved. The two weeks came and went the three weeks I decided to call. Speaking to his nurse she told me yes they had received the paperwork and the authorization however after some too consideration they felt or he felt I was not a fit for their office. Apparently he got his feelings hurt so she says because of my first review of having to wait in the office. So he refused my service he refused to help me and turned me away and send my information back to where I was referred to from. I asked her and I explained about the wait and I asked her if I would have been 10 minutes late you would have refused me but yet people have to wait two and three hours. She said actually know if you would be 15 minutes late then we would. She agreed the office does not run ahead but behind. All is said to her was if she would just pass that on to him people do make appointments they can do so accordingly. I would have gladly have made it at the end of the day if I would have known this is how their offices run. But after some other reviews I've read on Google and Angie's List this is not the first time this office has went through this. She told me that well she would try to talk to him and she really felt bad maybe if I took off my remark off of Yelp then she could maybe talk him into maybe seeing me. Really really really??? And this is how we run a business? All I can say is for anybody interested read Angie's List and the Google remarks. And that will make your decision a lot easier. read more

I was referred to Dr Schmidt after going to ER with hips issues. Surgery! After a year he did fix my back however he never did the hip surgery. In fact he went so far to do the back surgery through the hips! Ryan is every bit as bad. On surgery day I reminded Ryan and Schmidt about the hips and Ryan said of course and and they'll fix what they find. BS!! To top it off they broke a instrument in me and didn't even say a word. It was on my release papers. After the 4 weeks I find out through the X-ray tech they do not fix hips!! Crappy Dr and PA. Dont trust them! Run from them! read more

I recently worked for this clinic as a Certified Medical Assistant. First of all, nobody, staff and providers wear masks unless you request them too. Including Dr. Schmitz. We found out all of us were exposed to COVID a week after the Nurse knew she was exposed! I tested positive and wasn't allowed back without a negative test. Rick, the owner and manager fired me because my test results took so long he thought I lied to get out of work. He also altered (illegally) my time card to remove overtime! Apparently he doesn't think being in the office to set up before patient gets there is considered work. I know Vicki and she is very friendly and a friend of mine. This office is in need of an hr department bad! Staff is overwhelmed and overworked cause Rick can't keep employees. Also, he allows people to work as a "medical assistant " without having gone to a reputable school! I have student loans and these girls get the pay of a CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT! Without the proper training and knowledge. Not fair by far! Don't work at this place. Rick is very passive aggressive and doesn't listen to your concerns or seem to care. read more

I had shoulder surgery with Dr. Schmitz a few years ago, probably 5, and things didn't go well. I woke up from surgery with the brace already on. At home, when I took a shower neither my daughter nor I could figure out how to put the brace back on. No one prior to surgery showed me how to put it on. We had to go back to the office to get it put on. His assistant did some modifications on the brace so it would be simpler to put on and off. One of Dr. Schmitz's assistants was very rude to me, and I was feeling bad enough from the surgery. A short time later she was fired. The bottom line is my surgery was a complete failure, and I have to have a shoulder replacement, not just a repair. read more

I have nothing but good things to say about Dr Schmidtz and his team. I've had 3 lower back surgeries, both elbows, and my right wrist done by Dr Schmidtz. Everyone there has been polite, prompt, and professional. Any time I've had a question, concern, or medication need, they've gotten back to me quickly and addressed the issue. All of my surgeries have been very successful and massively reduced my pain or removed it entirely. The one mistake they've ever made was made by a PA, who took my cast off about 10 days early and they had to put a new one on, which they apologized for, repeatedly. If you need a surgical procedure done that they handle you are unlikely to find anyone better in this area. I was at the point where I couldn't walk without being brought to tears before Dr Schmidtz fixed my back. Now I'm able to exercise, work on my property, and play with my kids. If you need a better recommendation than that, you probably won't find one. read more