Dr. Picken is a fine surgeon. Caring and compassionate, she is an excellent physician, on every level. She recently performed successful sinus surgery on our daughter, and, later, was available by phone for advice in middle of the night, when our daughter had an adverse reaction to pain meds and needed to go to the ER. Dr Picken was also extremely helpful at the follow-up appointment, not only in terms of the post-surgical steps, but also regarding another medical condition that was unrelated to the surgery but had had an impact on it. She is excellent at her specialty and explains things in an easily-understandable way. She respects her patients: listens to them and understands their concerns... which makes her a model physician in my book. read more

The review is only for her office staff who answer the phone and sound like they're doing you a favor for doing so and/or are on the verge of laughing at this pathetic, prospective patient calling. It's not just one bad apple--I called weeks ago after being referred by my GP. Since I have ringing in one ear (not my only stated ENT complaint though), I was told that I'd have to see an audiologist first. OK, fine, but it was the condescending, almost cruel tone of this person that struck me most. Since then, I've called twice to make an appointment, and both times (different people!) get someone who, after confirming that I'd be a new patient, seems to *enjoy* saying that the first available appointment won't be until (x number of weeks in the future). What is it with this office staff?! read more

I came to Dr. Picken for a 2nd sinus surgery in just a few months. My first "Doctor" botched the work and I was unwilling to return to him. It's now been a year and I've had no problems. The followup visits are easy to schedule and I've never waited more than 15 minutes to be seen. In fact the 2nd surgery was much less painful and the recovery time was less too. It had something to do with packing which is highly recommended. I would truly recommend her as the BEST! read more

Long story short.....well i'll try to make it short.........I had left my original doctor for poor communication and even poorer administrative confusion and found Dr. Picken thru some random website while searching.......i came across a page that had some pretty rave reviews......great bedside manner etc........so i made an appt. Upon meeting her i felt she was a professional....nice and knowledgeable......and seemed a great choice to perform my surgery for sleep apnea plus it would be at Georgetown Hosp which i preferred over Shady Grove Adventist........i was having 5 procedures in total. Tonsillectomy/Uvula removed and Deviated Septum with reduction of turbenoids fairly basic surgery for ENT's Well.....i had a window of time that i needed to have the surgery performed because of work................. these days with insurance companies when you are dealing with non emergency surgery......you (meaning doctor) needs to have competent staff in place to make sure that all loose ends are straightened out with insurance carriers. I was told that her surgical coordinator Carmen.....was a total genius/guru at handling that.......so i set up for the surgery with Dr. Picken. In the following days/weeks i was dealing with Carmen who had assured me she understood what they needed and would take care of everything....... This was not the case.......i rarely reached her when calling.........her voicemail was always full............when i did speak to her she barely knew what process/stage we were in with insurance approval.........after 2-3 weeks of lettering her deal with them........i finally get a call from the insurance company stating that they have only approved 2 out of the 5 procedures........granted the two they approved were the bulk of the work.......but still........every ENT will tell you which i know now....you want to have all of the procedures done at the same time..........LET IT BE KNOWN that after my first appt with Dr Picken not once did i EVER here from her again.........she doesn't even have an email address on her card...........when i did luckily catch Carmen or she did call me back.......when i would ask for the Dr. she always coincidentally JUST left for the day. I then agreed to have the 2 approved procedures completed and showed up at the hospital that Monday.........to my dismay....having not had surgery before I mistakenly drank a cup of coffee the morning of my surgery........when i got the call from the hospital maybe i wasn't paying attention to the exact directions but all i remember was no alcohol 48 hours prior and no food after 12am the night before. Either way.......because of that Dr. Pickens cancelled the surgery once she was notified by Anesthesiology......the interesting thing was everyone in the surgery ctr felt that it wouldn't be a huge problem they said that i may just have to wait a few hours for it to digest.......however, Dr Picken just cancelled it.........she never came in to see me or talk to me......even that day........and here's the kicker......i STILL have not heard from the office staff or the DR to this day...............not one phone call......... Now in no way am i blaming the dr for me drinking coffee......but it actually turned out to be an omen.......a good one.........i went back online and found more reviews even on YELP for Washington ENT.........apparently the communication level of Dr. Pickens office is worst EVER....there is none basically........she is completely dis-associated with what is going on in the administrative part of her practice.......she has an incompetent staff and she does zero follow up or heads up for patients...........THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.........My first instinct is....."HEY she doesn't care about people she is all about the money" but its not even that........its really that SHE doesn't care........ In the end......i found a new doctor with a staff i love..........turns out this doctor did his due diligence.....actually did a thorough exam of me........and recommended a CAT scan as proof of the deviated septum which is all they (insurance co.) had originally been requesting.....to WHICH DR. PICKEN never thought of...nor did her so called Genius surgical coordinator who every time i spoke to her all she would say is "I don't know why they aren't approving it....why don't you call them" ARE YOU KIDDING ME?...I personally feel Dr Picken has no clue what is happening on the business side of HER business........ Now my entire surgery is approved.......i had to push it forward to March........i love the staff of this new Doc.......and the doctor just makes me feel soo much more comfortable..........thank god i found him.......to think i was gonna have to go under TWICE for a procedure that should only be done all at once....... My suggestion......steer clear of this office and Dr.......she is asleep at the wheel.... read more

I had thyroid surgery 6 weeks ago and Dr Picken was fantastic! She explained everything before the surgery and answered all my questions. Her staff took care of logistics and insurance. She came to visit me in the pre-op room and was very calming and reassuring. Surgery started on time and she called my husband right after to explain what had happened and what to expect after. My incision was 3 inches long and I experienced Zero pain EVER after the operation and to this day, so NO pain medicine of any kind required. I went dancing five days after. I could eat without discomfort almost immediately. The scar is so perfect, almost the work of an artist! It is healing fast, to the point many people do not notice it at all. She ordered a blood test a week ago, and personally called my home to deliver the results. I feel super, like it never even happened. Thanks Dr. Picken! read more

I had deviated septum surgery done by Dr. Picken. I knew something was wrong as my nose was still full and I couldn't breathe for weeks which is not the norm. I was only given one days worth of antibiotics. I felt I had an infection. We know our bodies. I went back to her and explained and she was entirely dismissive in all her pearl wearing glory. She arrogantly told me "no" and that I was fine. Later I went to urgent care and was so sick and they told me I should follow the advice of my ENT specialist and I should be fine. Because she is the expert - right!? I went to the car and cried. So I suffered and thought it was just something I was going to have to live with. Months later I had to have an MRI (mind you I have been suffering with on and off...mostly on...sinus issues for my head as well as migraines) and the doctor who read the MRI discovered that every sinus cavity was full and infected. He sent me to an ENT specialist in Chevy Chase. I told him that i had been having mind numbing migraines since the surgery and sinus issues. He asked who did the surgery and I answered - Dr. Picken in DC. He nodded and said that he knew her. He said I had a sinus infection for certain and probably since the surgery. He asked what antibiotics Dr. Picken put me on afterwards and if I had informed her of my pain. I told him she didn't put me on an antibiotic regime and that I had complained and was told I would be fine that it just took time to heal. I did tell him about the one day supply of antibiotics and he was stunned. He shook his head and said deviated septum surgery often results in infection as blood stays in the sinus cavities and that breeds bacteria and infection grows. He explained that he always puts his patients on antibiotics after surgery. He also said that the surgery can cause terrible headaches and asked if she told me about this possible outcome. I told him she never said a thing. Then he explained that a sinus infection will also give one bad headaches especially if one is prone to migraines. I am now on cipro for 10 days. After the medicine is finished he asked me to make sure i have a CT scan done so that he can verify if the infection is over. I am so angry that I suffered for months. I would not recommend Dr. Picken because she will not listen to you and I don't know why she doesn't see an infection when one has one. She is the specialist. Go to someone who will put you on antibiotics so you don't go through months of agony with a raging infection. read more

First thing I want to say is that the office staff were really nice, both during several phone conversations before the appointment and while I was there. Second, seeing Dr. Picken to talk about my tinnitus made such a difference. I had gotten treatment for a sudden sensory neural hearing loss at another ENT and I just wanted to try a new place and doctor, to talk about the tinnitus. While there is no definitive treatment and there will always be spikes now and then, I got some lingering questions answered that had really been bothering me. I really appreciated the time she took and that she listened to me -- even as I was, almost a year later since my profound sudden hearing loss, still a bit bent out of shape about it :). But I think she understood that. When I left I felt I had a plan, and some confidence that with my current approach, and watching it on fatigue and stress, which she said are the two major causes of spikes, that I could learn to live with this. And hopeful too that I can successfully try the CROS hearing aid again after some more time has passed. I had tried it at the earlier ENT and it was very effective but caused severe tinnitus. But that effort then was likely too soon. I shall be returning to their Audiology department for a new try at a CROS next year when it's been a full 18 months since the hearing loss. read more

I went to her and I thought she was amazing. You will see most of her reviews are stellar. The few that are not talk about deficiencies in her office admin staff. No excuses, but even with the best doctors this seems to be not uncommon. I am definitely going to return to her and I referred my wife there. The folks with an attitude and those that have insurance trouble and can't follow pre-surgical instructions...I don't know what to tell you. read more

So one person had a bad experience with Dr. Picken and goes online and floods the interweb with poor reviews . Maybe there is complete legitimacy to their complaint. I haven't had that experience. I'm a big fan of Dr. Picken. I first went to her a few years ago with symptoms that potentially indicated a scary condition. I went through all the tests. She explained everything in advance, why the tests were being done and what they would indicate. She was not alarmist at all, and her calm demeanor resulted in me being calm as well. I returned more recently with a condition that two other doctors failed to diagnose. Dr. Picken was very thorough and was able to make a diagnosis. What do I know about rating a doctor. But she strikes me as being knowledgeable and professional. And very personable. read more

Dr. Picken removed my thyroid, my brother-in-law's thyroid, my mother's parathyroid, and roto rootered my husband's sinuses. She was fantastic each and every situation. We all love her. She is the very best. read more

Dr Pickens was recommended as one of the best in DC. She was wonderful. She has a very calm manner and explains exactly what she will be doing during the exam so that her patient knows exactly what to expect. Her staff was disorganized, I agree, but I was there for her expertise and I was extremely comfortable with her. I think she's great and would recommend her to anyone, especially if you have anxiety about doctors. read more

I had a great experience with Dr. Picken. She treated me for a terrible sinus problem and ultimately operated on my sinuses. She had a great demeanor, I never had any problem reaching her or getting an appointment. My surgery went perfectly, and I couldn't be happier with her follow up. It was a very stressful undertaking, but she was awesome all the way through. I was very comfortable (as I could have been, getting wheeled into surgery) with her in control of the situation. My recovery went perfectly and I was back to work after just a few days. read more

I switched from a large, impersonal ENT practice and just love Dr Picken. She is caring and personal. She got me in same day yesterday when I was having sudden ear trouble and assessed the problem. Office is nice too. read more

Dr. Picken is an outstanding surgeon and a remarkable human being who is thoroughly devoted to her profession. She operated on my mother several times and I will always be grateful to her. If I ever needed oral surgery, I would hand her the scapel myself. read more

Finally Carmen, Dr. Picken's office manager provided me with a handwritten envelope on October 27th 2015 containing what they represent is my operative report from my surgery performed on December 2013. Before this date I could not get my operative report from their office. I had to send faxes and get the Administration from Sibley Hospital involved to obtain my records. The office did provide me with some of my medical records on October 26th. They were very brief and scant. read more

Dr. Picken is the best. I am in NC now but I always remember her patience and help with my smaller than usual ear canals. She's a great doctor who definitely gets a thumbs up. Miss her. read more

She seemed too busy to do a thorough exam, but did so reluctantly. She had no other options for a hearing issue other than seeing her buddy in Geotown for experimental ear surgery. read more