I was sent to Gastroenterology due to elevated liver enzymes. My family doctor ‍ made the referral…read moreto this clinic. When I was given an appointment I was never told that my appointment was with "Susan," who is apparently Dr. Rusynyk's NP. This really disappointed me because I feel I should have been told who I was going to see. I quickly learned that at THIS clinic, you must submit to an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy before you are granted the privilege of an office visit with the actual Gastroenterologist. Right away, I let them know this made me uncomfortable. I have a gene for a genetic liver condition and these tests were not part of a work up for this condition that I am familiar with - my son has the worst form of the gene and has the disease. I have cared for him with many gastros over his sixteen years. He has never been scoped- up or down. They scheduled the scopes for me anyway and when they called a week out to "remind" me I canceled them. At this point I shared it was important for me as an individual to meet my physician in a clinical setting where I feel safe before undergoing a procedure at the hospital. I explained that I have PTSD from an active shooter situation at a hospital and was very forthright that I did not want to waste the doctor's time or procedure space by getting panicked right before the procedure because I do not know my doctor. The gals that work reception were very impatient with me. They insisted that they just could not accommodate my needs and it just wasn't done. Finally, they booked me an office visit with the doctor- for over six months away. My scopes however, could have been done with only a two week wait time. ‍ I took that appointment. A couple weeks later I called in and said I was have RUQ pain and asked for advice. I was given an appointment for the next week with Susan the NP. The next day I ended up going to the ER and found out my liver enzymes were up again. The following day, a receptionist from this clinic calls and tells me Susan is unwilling to see me because I won't have the scopes. Even though I've just been to ER. Even though my liver function is not great AGAIN. I'm told my appointment is canceled. Move forward to the week of the canceled appointment: I get a phone call reminder I have to come in to see Susan. I tell them my appoint was canceled. I start to wonder wth is going on over there. They tell me it was never canceled. The receptionist was very rude to me. I feel very confused and unsure if I can trust this clinic at this point. So, I end up changing Gastroenterologists and have to drive over an hour away to see someone else. I feel small accommodations for PTSD and mental health should be routine in medical offices. I started feeling very gaslighted by this office and that is very unprofessional. My expectation to meet my physician in an office setting prior to a procedure is not a lot to ask. Furthermore, if a patient needs an endoscopy and colonoscopy the patient should be told why these tests are needed for their specific case. Not a blanket, "that is what everyone gets. That is how he does it".

Dr.Rusynyk is the most professional, kind and caring Doctor. He took time to go over every worry…read moreand issue I had, explaining every little detail so I understood. He gave me honest answers and had a great personality. I felt at ease and so comfortable to tell him everything. His staff was very sweet and kind. I left there feeling very positive and knew I was getting the best medical help and that his whole office cared. I highly recommend Dr.Rusynyk!

For the past few years I have had some serious health problems. For my digestive needs my doctor…read moreis Dr. Gao. She can be abrasive at times but I have a lot of respect for her and value her knowledge. Digestive Disease Clinic is excellent in making sure that I have the test that I need in a timely manner. Due to my condition, I have to have one of the digestive testing and blood work about every 3 months. It was Dr. Gao that gave me the referral to Mayo Clinic Liver Transplant. For this I am thankful. My cons for Digestive Disease Clinic is the amount of time that it takes for an appointment. I was in ICU at the beginning of December and it took 5 months for me to have my post-hospital visit. My blood work and everything had completely changed by that time. What she was telling me was not pertinent to where I was at that time. However, I have had a very bad experiences with Dr, Gao's APRN Angela Smith. I found Angela very arrogant and rude. I make this statement for the following reasons: 1.) She never was prepared for my appointment. She would come in the room with the test or hospital notes, read them to herself until she came to something that she felt I needed to know, and then read them aloud to me. 2.) She would not really listen to me. I would tell her how I felt and she would just dismiss it; usually telling me why I was wrong. How does she know the pain I feel? Even if you think the test/blood work does not clearly show something that will cause the pain: I FEEL the pain. 3.) I know this will maybe be insignificant to some, but it was BIG to me. I have liver cirrhosis that Moffitt Cancer Center stated was due to a bacteria. Angela constantly told me that this type of cirrhosis was due to excessive drinking. The problem is that I have never drank in my life due to my religious beliefs. Also, I saw from an extended family member what an alcoholic looks like vs. the good life that my parents lived; and I did not want that. Even the last visit I had with her, she had to put in my notes: " to not consume any alcohol." I asked Mayo Clinic could they tell by the type of cirrhosis I had, if it was caused by drinking. They stated: no and that there were several other things that could cause liver cirrhosis. 4.). Angela crawled all over me asking why in the world was I on a certain medicine. Does she think that I can write my own prescriptions? I explained that Dr. Gao put me on the medication for intense itching. Angela was satisfied with taking me off the medication with no empathy for the constant itching; could not tell me why I was itching so bad; and did not give me any other alternative. Do you know what it is like to itch as if you are having an allergic reaction to something day and night? I refuse to see Angela Smith again as I feel my visits with her are a waste of my time. I have another appointment for a consultation and then my endoscopy coming up soon with Dr. Gao. I plan to continue to use her as my gastroenterologist doctor with confidence. We will be discussing at my next appointment if I need to also have a hepatologist included in my health plan.

Everyone in the small office seemed rushed and impersonal in my two visits. The P.A. provided…read morelittle information about the tests he ordered or about the results. I left with questions unanswered.

I see a few reviews that only mention an office staff member not doing something with regards to…read moreprescriptions and I wanted to mention that prescriptions are refilled in several ways: You contact the pharmacist for a refill, you log onto the patient portal and submit a refill request, or you ask Dr. Smith to submit the refill while you are there in the office. I never had any issues with any of these three methods. I've been with Dr. Smith for twenty years, as has my daughter. She's always done the right thing, with thoughtful consideration of requests, a thorough knowledge of everyday healthcare issues and a concerted effort to learn more about healthcare issues that are less common. This has led to spot-on referrals to specialists as necessary. I could not begin to say enough about how delightful and wonderful Dr. Victoria Smith is as a doctor and much of her staff is pretty good as well. She does have healthcare students do their internships with her on occasion - so far, they've all been nice. As for the office staff - I, personally, have never had any issues with them. I have heard from my daughter that she doesn't always get the questions answered that she asks when she calls, but when I have her send the questions through the portal - she does get the results she wants. I'm not sure the turnover of secretaries there, so it may be the person who answered the phone when the review here was left (or when my daughter called) is not the same person anymore. I do know that judging Dr. Victoria Smith's practice based on one experience with a secretary is not a reflection of the overall experience I've had there for two decades. Also, any doctor won't know your experience with the secretary if you don't tell them. I know her well enough to know she'd have totally straightened out any situation that would impact the healthcare of her patients. She's got a huge heart.

I've never had any issues with Dr. Smith's office. When my family and I first moved to Tallahassee…read morefrom South Florida it was important for me to find an office that would help him manage my husband's diabetes and neuropathy pain. I wanted an office that would refill all of his medications including his gabapentin without having to send him to a specialist every 3 months for pain management medication. Her office has been extremely helpful and accommodating with helping his condition.