I have been seeing Dr. Flood for over 15 years. He has provided treatment for multiple foot problems, including surgery on my left foot, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. He has always explained what is happening to cause my pain, provides options for treatment, and ensures that I know what I need to do at home to help take care of the issues. The office staff has generally been very good about greeting me when I come through the door. I've not had any issues with any of the staff. I don't feel disrespected or ignored. Overall I'm happy with the care I have received over the years. Dr. Flood is the best doctor I have and I'm grateful to have a doctor that genuinely cares about his patients. read more

Also these people are not real doctors go to an orthopedic person with a medical degree and gives you care according to medical standards not to sell products that are unnecessary and harmful read more

Dr Roeske operated on me and the surgery was botched and completely failed. I had to have a revision surgery by another physician and it was a major fusion surgery so I was non weight bearing twice in the matter of 2 years because Dr Roeske and his partner Dr Ferrari did such a bad job. My new surgeon found that Dr Roeske had not cleaned out the joint well enough causing complete failure of the fusion. Dr Roeske basically wrote me off when the surgery failed and left me in daily excruciating pain until I was able to find another surgeon to fix his work. read more

I dont know how this office gets such good reviews. My mom ws treated terrible. The receptionist was full of attitude because we came when she was chatting with someone in the back and she had to come out How dare we come for our appointment. Then she said we do not have an appointment that someone else made the appointment and it was in another location when I heard my mom make it and make certain that it was the Arlington Heights location because it closer to our home. She got pretty rude and said someone else made that appointment and it is in Des Plaines and it was with another doctor, not the one my mom requested, So we asked for another appointment and she again made it at the wrong location with another doctor that is NOT the one my mom wants to see. She is incompetent and has a bad attitude and she is hurting this business. If my mom wasn't in need to see this doctor (was recommended by friends she knows well), we would not go back there and I want the business owner to see this. This receptionist should not be working with people. This is a service and she needs to come out with a smile and be inviting not try to blame her mistakes on an imaginary person, she is always the ONLY person who is there when we come for the appointments, both times she was the one scheduling the appointment, both times we came and she said the doctor is not there because he is at another location. Is this a game to her? She is disrespecting clients and treating people like they are idiots. I wont stand for that. She has no respect for people or their time. This needs to be addressed. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Ferrari for several years for routine care. He is thorough, patient and pleasant. Then, in 2023 I had a very serious foot problem. He brought me through a lengthly recovery process that ultimately ended with his doing surgery (at Lutheran General Hospital) for a final fix. He did not give up. Dr. Ferrari is one of the best doctors I've ever had, of any type. All of the office and support staff are great at First Step in Des Plaines. Always polite and accommodating when you call for an appointment. Or if you ask for a "call back", or have a question, there is always a response within a few hours. read more

Dr. Roeske is great. Very informative and really wants the best for you in terms of treatment. Wish I could rate him alone. Now the front desk staff....that's a whole different story. No acknowledgement when you walk in, even if they aren't busy. The constant eye rolling to check you in and the unpleasant attitude is far too much and makes the whole experience unsatisfactory. If they are that unhappy maybe they should work in a field that doesn't involve interactions with other people. read more

Shockwave therapy I've got a variety of chronic foot problems. I have had pain with every step I took. Dr.. fFlood has been working with me to relieve the constant pain in my right foot. I've had cortisone shots & new shoe inserts. I was sent for PT which included Dry needling & it helped a little but I still had pain. Dr Flood didn't give up on me and I have had EPAT SHOCKWAVE therapy on my foot. It targets the pain, treats the soft tissue and improves right now circulation furniture. I have had 4 of 5 energizedtreatments and it has improved my pain by about 75%. If you have issues and surgery is not a good option you may want to check into this. read more

I would like to formally express my dissatisfaction with the treatment I received from the First Step Foot Care podiatrist's Dr. Kellen Cohn assistant the named Josh in Des Plaines IL, They were rude and unhelpful,failing to explain how to position my feet on the platform for the foot X-rays.Their demeanor was discourteous & lacked professionalism. It's concerning that individuals without proper training in patient care are attending to patients. I urge you to address this complaint to ensure a more respectful and professional environment for all patients. read more

Best foot doctor ever! Very gentle and caring! I was petrified and Dr. Flood put me right at ease and he's a great shit giver!

This place is a scam. Avoid!!!!! I had several appointments here for foot care. Paid all on-time. Well.... finally I get fitted for my insoles, pay for them. Then they made me schedule an appointment to pick up my orthotics. Honestly, I didn't realize how serious this pickup was... They charged me $50 for not showing up!. I didn't agree with this charge when they called and asked for payment. Naturally, you aren't charged a fee if you don't pickup a prescription on-time. Well they sent me the bill. I sent $10 a month. I'm literally budgeting a missed pickup for foot orthotics with rent and real life problems. They sent me to collections. Just avoid. Pick a place with ethics, morals, and values. This is not one. read more

Billing has no idea what they are doing. No way to get a hold of the doc. They have a totally useless patient portal...it was 'updated' and all my records disappeared. Medical support staff seems more interested in congregating in the hallways vs taking care of patients. Repeat, no way to get a hold of the doc! You can't even call the office directly. You need to go through a central scheduling center and messages/phone calls are never returned. Went three times and it felt like I was being told not to come back, so I wont. read more

Do not go to first step for plantar wart treatment. Save yourself the time, money, and pain. My experience with Dr. Flood was a nightmare. While treating my foot, he changed the treatment plan without telling me or giving me proper instructions. I ended up with a terrible injury on my foot caused by the acid-peeling agents that were used. I could not walk for a week, and their advice to me was to just soak my foot in cool soapy water. When I finally got into the office again and asked Dr. Flood why he changed peeling agents without telling me, he said he "wanted to see if this one would be more effective". It was completely inappropriate to not inform me of the changes he was making. Turns out, the new medication used on my foot should have been washed off after a few hours, and he told me it would be fine to leave on for 2-3 days. read more

All I can say is don't go there. Besides making me wait a long time to see the doctor, the second I said I wouldn't do physical therapy, the dr couldn't wait to walk out of the room. They "sold" me some contraption to help my tight Achilles' tendon as well as a pair of shoe inserts that don't fit in any of my shoes. I truly hope that Medicare has covered the charges because I'd rather not give them a dime of my own and I wouldn't even go back to get the proper inserts. My appointment was a total waste of my time and they don't even deserve the 1 star I gave them but yelp gives me no option for a rating of 0. read more

I would recommend First Step Foot Care!! I have been seeing Dr Flood for many of my foot problems... Plantar fasciitis, bunions and stress fractures! He is very caring and compassionate person! He's there to help not nickel and dime you!! Dr flood also takes the time to talk to you... I don't feel like I'm getting rushed out because he has another appt. His staff is always welcoming at the front desk and the nurses are friendly too! I always am comfortable there. Dr Flood and Dr Ferrari recently did my bunion surgery!! I am very pleased with the outcome and healing progress! read more

I went here to have an ingrown toenail removed. Dr. Cohn was very quick and efficient at removing it. Everything looked sparkling clean and new in the office. I came back a few weeks later for a follow up visit and everything looked to be healing just fine. So glad to be out of pain and thankful it could be taken care of so quickly in office. read more

5 MONTHS...... 7 appointments and I'm still in terrible pain with every single step I take. 5 months is how long it took to get my custom orthotics and they still don't fit right. After my first appointment and being diagnosed with planters fasciitis I was hopeful that I would be back to normal soon. We had a plan... get the cortisone shot, wear temporary orthotics and see how I respond. If you respond well we can order custom orthotics. Second appointment, things were feeling better so we went ahead and ordered custom orthotics. Welp this is where things started to head south..... Third appointment cancelled and rescheduled because my doctor all of a sudden was "no longer with the practice". Finally get an appointment and they don't fit. New doctor said that nobody orders those orthotics so they are going to see what they can do. Fourth appointment, still fit horribly so they decide to continue trying to fix my running ones, but they will get me a new one for high heelsbecause I'm wearing high heels with this pain. Fifth appointment, still not working. Sixth appointment, they call to tell me everything is in. I get there and they only have my high heel ones. At this point I have no words. Seventh appointment, the appointment where they promised my orthotics would be there after talking to the office manager. The day before I get a phone call saying my orthotics came into the Wauconda office. Like for real get it together people. Thankfully, someone was going to the AH office so my the junky orthotics that they kept trying to make work finally arrived. Get to my appointment again and shocker they still don't fit right, but at this point they keep trying to put a square peg in a round hole and I am done. So during the 5 months it took them to successfully waste my time, my planters fasciitis is back with a vengeance because those 5 month old "temporary" inserts only work so long. The moment they thought someone ordered the wrong inserts for me they should have ordered new ones. My overall experience has been AWFUL with First Step! read more

Dr Flood takes time to TALK to me and be responsive to my needs. I can't say enough.

If you are in need of relief of foot pain, go to a real doctor and not this franchise. Sadly, I have nothing positive to say about this place. What was suspected a Morton's neuroma may be bursitis. Also, I twisted my foot and FS dx'd me with cuboid syndrome as well with Mortons Neuroma. Lots of pain and little relief here. Bought the $149.00 running shoes and followed all instructions. After 2 months treatment/ physical therapy and increasing pain, an ultra sound was performed at NCH. No neuroma detected. Confirmed by 2 docs there. Often telling the doctor at FS I would not be doing surgery. He seemed to be spending more time with his shadowing Dr. than with me. Surgery was brought up each visit. I put a $250.00 down payment on $500.00. orthotics Oct 6 and within a week was being contacted about the balance due of the orthotics I didn't have. 3 times spoke with their billing dept. I thought the issue was settled considering I did not have the finished product until the end of Nov . Surprise! Recently (March 2021) I received an email with a balance due plus finance charges. Doesn't look they filled a claim with medicare nor my secondary insurance. Medicare covers 80% of orthotics. I had a struggle to get a receipt for the down payment. They did not supply it at the time of purchase and I was instructed to call the billing dept for instructions to download (?) I found my own fix. If I put the ball of my foot against a wall and stretch both my arch and calf for 30 seconds, the pain is nearly diminished. Thanks fitness blender!(Online free fitness site) read more

It's tough to give a place only one star, but when several things happen that provide a negative experience, I felt it deserves only 1 star. I went to Dr. Flood several years ago when he was at a different office. When I needed to get my two sets of orthotics refurbished, he is who I thought of. The last name is easy to remember, right? I drop off my orthotics and they tell me it's 3-4 weeks to send them out to be refurbished. Meanwhile, I have to walk around (in pain sometimes) for 3-4 weeks without them. It's not their problem, but time is important. I call them about 3 to 3.5 weeks later and they tell me orthotics have been in for 4 days. My first thought is: I've been walking around for 4 days in discomfort when they could have called me? Poor customer service especially given how the service impacts the patient's quality of life. They seem to be too busy to call me. I can't be the first one in this situation. It's a foot care business! I go in to pick them up. The web site says the Arlington Heights office is open until 6 on that day. It's a 20+ minute drive each way. I get there at 5:05. Place is dark. Apparently they close at 5. Strike 2. I wasted 40 minutes of my life in rush hour traffic because their website is not up to date. Another day in discomfort. The final one is frustrating and just plain unacceptable in the year 2012. They have a phone number on the website specifically for each office. They have I think 3 or 4 offices. I call the Arlington Heights office number at 5:05 to confirm they are really closed. You have like 2 options. The number transfers you to their other office which provides you a menu. That number has a voice automated system tells you to hang up and dial another number for the Arlington Heights office. I have to hang up and dial a second Arlington Heights number? This system works the same during the day when all offices are open. Strike 3. For a services company, customer service and the experience are the most important factors to earn our business. read more

The practice has changed recently. I believe it was either sold or merged with another practice, and the changes haven't been good. Dr. Flood has never been the warm, fuzzy kind of doctor...but if you caught him at the right time he could be kinda friendly. He had a great reputation and I thought I could overlook his "eh" bedside manner. Now though, he seems more disengaged than ever before; just going through the motions and not interested in conversation or explanations. When I last saw him, he didn't look me in the eye once. Wondering if he has checked out. Not only has he changed, but the office staff, while friendly, has some new members who aren't proficient in their role. I recently experienced the staff dropping the ball a couple of times with insurance verification. I'm still giving the whole practice a chance, but if things don't improve I'll be searching for a new podiatrist. A great reputation just isn't enough. read more

Come here! Definitely the place to go if you're in need of a podiatrist. I really don't like feet, especially mine, so I leave it to the pros, and they are definitely the pros and very professional. That might be the same thing, but let me break it down for you. I was seeing a different podiatry office in Arlington Heights for a pinched nerve in my foot. The other doctor immediately recommended surgery to cut out the enlarged neuroma / nerve. It seemed very complicated, so I wanted a second opinion. After seeing Dr. Flood at First Step I realized that even though they have the same specialty, the other doctor was not a pro like Dr. Flood. And, the entire office and staff at First Step is so professional here that I would not go anywhere else. Dr. Flood recommended injections / shots that would reduce the size of the overgrown nerve and would reduce the pain as well. NOTE, this is not a cortisone shot, which I was against having. This is dehydrated alcohol shots that target that one area at the injection site. They recommend up to 9 shots spread apart by a couple weeks. I've had 5 shots so far and my pain is practically gone. Maybe one or two more shots and I will be done without having surgery. I've seen several other Doctors here at First Step and along with the rest of the staff everyone has been really great and so nice. read more

Despite CDC and IDPH guideline requiring mask in all Healthcare facilities, none of the staff wear masks. They have staff cough in the lobby. The woman who checked me in was rude and dismissive. She was more worried about complaining that her computer could not scan payments in then letting patients know what was going on.. They also don't listen to patients and are very dismissive or short with patients. I don't know what has change over the years since I started coming here. The technician who gave me my orthodics was no better. The technician was also not on the same page as the doctor with how insert could stay in my shoes even with the orthodics. I had no problem with Dr. Flood. He answered all my questions and explained everything. It is really a shame his staff seems burnt out. read more

Daniela was great with the MRI. She is a knowledgeable professional who made the procedure go smoothly. Thank you!

I went to see Dr. Flood on the advice of a friend. She had bunion surgery done by him and was extremely happy. I on the other hand had gone to a different surgeon. Hadn't talked to her beforehand, big mistake. My surgery, performed by someone else, was a disaster. My foot was extremely swollen and my big toe didn't bend correctly. Original surgeon wanted to do a second surgery. Um, no thanks! Dr Flood said it was too soon to consider a second surgery. Had some different approaches to try first. One month later my swelling is down considerably, laser, and I have a lot more function of my toes. Finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. He listens, talks to you honestly and will do his best to get you back to being active. I wish I had gone to him at the beginning. read more

D. Flood and his team have been phenomenal! From my experience going to this office for almost 3 months, Dr. Flood is experienced and understands the scope of my health issue to an incredible degree. He explains things clearly and effectively so I can understand, too. I feel very informed about the problem I am facing in my foot, and I also feel things are laid out to me in a very realistic way - which I appreciate. After losing a lot of hope previously (I was being seen by a different podiatrist & office), I came to this clinic and I'm very happy I did. I finally have a renewed sense of myself and being able to ambulate comfortably and confidently again. I am not 100% cured of my ailments, but I feel like some day I will be thanks to First Step Foot Care and everything they've done for me. The office is always very clean and the staff is easy to talk to. Whenever there is the slightest concern, it is taken care of in a very professional and serious manner. Overall, I'd suggest anyone with foot/ankle concerns to visit Dr. Flood and his team. This place is amazing! read more

Dr. Michael Ferrari could not have been nicer and provided incredible care. I've had chronic issues with my big toes, yet he gently and carefully relieve my pain and gave me clearly communicated instructions on how to continue my care from home. My appointments were easy to schedule, quick, and all my questions were thoughtfully answered. I will continue to drive more than 30 minutes to see this practice over others! Highly recommend. read more

Doctor Flood was very knowledgeable and great to work with. I unfortunately had two bad experiences that will ensure I never return and will never recommend this place. Firstly, I was set to have a procedure done on my foot that MD said would help to relieve plantar fascial pain. 2 of 5 treatments were covered by insurance, and 3-4-5 would then be charged for. MD ensured slight discomfort but I would be walking around fine in two hours or so. WRONG- at least, how the technician that performed the treatment made this to be the case. She did not listen to patient cues (I was very clear I was in severe pain with how hard she was utilizing the tool) at all. I could not put any pressure on my foot for 3 days without severe pain. As someone who has run on broken bones and torn muscles, I know pain and can handle it. This was unacceptable. I did not return for more than the first treatment. Lo and behind. I receive a statement in the mail about a month later for $600! (Treatments 3-4-5 x200 each). I never even completed treatment 2 but was billed for a bunch of services I did not receive! After reaming out the office, the charges were reversed; as a healthcare e professional myself, I just cannot fathom billing a patient 600 dollars worth of services not rendered- whether or not the charges were reversed, that is, last time I checked, considered fraud. Secondly- and this is STILL not resolved: in July 2020 when I went in for the foot treatment, my deductible had been met and custom orthotics for my foot were only $70; I don't really believe in orthotics but had tried several other avenues and at this time while I corrected the cause, coins use some pain relief, so I ordered AFTER the billing department confirmed the orthotics would only cost $70. Fast forward a few months (November) and I became pregnant, so the office called to come pick up the orthotics- being stricken with severe first trimester sickness, I did not go until February to retrieve them. Fast forward another few months and I receive a statement in the mail for the orthotics. $600?! The orthotics were $70. Because I did not pick up until a new calendar year when deductible was not yet met, I was charged the full price of the orthotics even though they were ordered the previous calendar year when my deductible was met. I have emailed the front desk four times alerting them to the problem, and I've received no response. I continue to receive statements for the incorrect amount with no response to my attempts to get this rectified. Not only that, but the office had the nerve to call me to "attempt to collect a payment on the account" with no acknowledgement of the huge billing error. I have made clear I will pay them the $70 dollars when the bill is corrected but so far no amends have been made. A real shame, because the doctor was very thorough. read more

I had to go here because I had 2 ingrown toenails. As far as the appointment, great. Doctor great,but seriously think about them when it comes to payment time! Terrible as they tack on late fees. Now this is in April/may with the covid19 going on. Husband out of work and my hours cut. Just a terrible way to do business. I would ASSUME that the doctors don't know about this, but if they do shame on them as well!!! read more

I am so happy that I met Dr. James Flood. I'm sure many of us can agree that it's challenging to find a doctor who genuinely cares. They are few and far between. Dr. James Flood is one of these rare gems. Not only is he a great person, but he's an awesome doctor. He stays current on all the latest medical discoveries and treatments. He's the Chief of Podiatric Surgery at Northwest Community Hospital and he also has priviledges at: * Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington * Resurrection Medical Center, Des Plaines * Condell Medical Center, Libertyville Did I mention that he's a board certified Podiatric Surgeon? Not too shabby... Here's the best part: Dr. Flood will exhaust every treatment and therapy that could potentially treat your condition before he will recommend surgery. In other words, he's a physician/surgeon with integrity. What more could you ask for? read more

Dr. James Flood is the one to go to for any foot or ankle problems! He is a board certified Podiatric Surgeon and has offices in Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, Wauconda, and Algonquin. He is also the Chief of Podiatric Surgery at Northwest Community Hospital in AH. Dr. Flood successfully treated my injured ankle a year ago and is now treating a heel spur and plantar fasciitis on the opposite foot. He is truly a doctor who cares about his patients and takes the time to explain everything about your condition and his treatment. He does everything he can to treat your condition before recommending surgery. I was very pleasantly surprised at how quickly the unbearable pain I had disappeared after my first visit with Dr. Flood! The orthotics he prescribed were made very quickly and are very durable. They can also be tweaked and repaired as needed. I can't say enough about Dr. Flood and his staff - Gail and Julie specifically. They do a great job to get their patients back on their feet...and my job requires it! Thank you for being a doctor who truly cares! read more

I came here to have a second opinion about a possible morton's neuroma and have been working with Dr. Ferrari for about 6 months now. Dr. Ferrari has been fantastic to work with. When I first met with him he took the time to sit down and really talk through everything that was going on; I did not feel rushed at all and it seemed as though he truly cared to help. We followed a treatment path which lead to having to have surgery. Throughout the entire pre-op, op, and post-op process, Dr. Ferrari continued to be awesome. He walked me through the surgery and made sure I knew everything he was going to do. After surgery, his team called to check on me and make sure I was feeling okay. At my first post-op appointment, he again explained everything that happened during the surgery and talked through my post-op care. I am very happy with the outcome of my surgery! Dr. Ferrari truly does care about his patients and it is obvious that he is passionate about what he does. I will continue to go to him for needed issues as he is so great and this office is very clean and welcoming! read more

I went to see doctor flood as a recommendation from a customer of mine. (I previously went to see another podiatrist in the area and had poor experience). Dr flood was great and reassured me we were going to get my feet feeling better. I suffer from big toe pain (halux rigidous) and work on my feet every day for a living. Having foot pain (or limitations due to foot pain) is not a good thing when you are a tradesman. They made me custom orthotics which were much better than any other I have ever seen or had worn. I also received a pair of disposables to put in another pair of shoes. My pain is much more manageable now and I will be soon be scheduling a follow up appointment. After being in pain for so long, it's nice to know they felt obligated to provide excellent care and got my feet back on track!! Thanks Dr Flood!! read more

Always great doctors and nurses... Explain everything, answer all questions... With respect read more

Dr. Flood is an excellent Podiatrist! I was a patient not every doctor would take. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the worst, I was a 10. I was afraid of foot surgery, so I waited for years. I am so glad that I had this Hammertoe surgery done. I am proud of my feet again. Recovery time was fast and not much pain. I highly recommend Dr. Flood and his staff. Ann Marie Lundstrom Arlington Heights, Illinois read more

Dr. Flood performed successful hammer toe surgery and treated my plantar fasciitis many years ago. His expertise at that time brought me back to First Step in Wauconda where I saw Dr. Roeske for recurring plantar fasciitis. I immediately felt very comfortable when he presented himself with a warm smile and professional handshake, and was very pleased with his true concern and care. After an X-ray and thorough explanation, he gave me a cortisone injection - Now, I have had many cortisone injections in my life, and anyone who has had one knows that they can be quite painful. Dr. Roeske had such a gentle approach that I must say that I experienced very little "hurt" when he performed the injection. I ditched my twenty-year-old orthotics, bought new ones and am receiving physical therapy. Thank you, First Step. I highly recommend Dr. Roeske as a knowledgeable and kind professional! read more

i made an appointment .they asked about insurance and i specified my insurance . when i went at the des plaines office on river road christina the receptionist told to enter all the document on the checklist screen. after spending 20 minutes of checking in done by me she told to wait. then asked for id and insurance card. then said they dont take my insurance.they could have cleared that before i came there or even before all the checkin on computer by me read more

This office is amazing. I had been injured at work and the whole team at First Step Foot Care have been nothing but professional. From explaining what was going on, to the follow-ups. I originally saw Dr Cohn who explained all of the options and stated that they prefer exhausting all routes before settling on surgical measures. This was very comforting as I am not a fan of surgery. Currently I am seeing Dr Flood who is highly knowledgeable and helping me get back to some normalcy. Daniela is very professional. She was able to do an MRI on site and performed laser treatments which was very beneficial and a non-painful treatment. I would highly recommend this office to anyone looking for a professional podiatrist. read more

I cannot say enough good things about the professionalism, manner and skills of Dr. Flood and his team at First Step Foot Care. I began seeing him for a variety of painful issues and he patiently listened, explained the various options and then worked with me to prioritize which condition would be addressed first. Dr. Flood takes a practical, conservative approach with surgery as the last resort. Most recently, I decided to have surgery on my hammertoe. I went into the procedure with full confidence in not only his ability as a surgeon, but in what to expect in terms of my recovery. He truly cares about his patient as a person with a life outside of his office and does everything he can to keep that life as active and pain free as possible. What a great doctor to have on my health team. read more

Have not had a great experience with my surgery, after care instructions or follow up!

Amazing care and follow up. I have had great success with laser treatments and am grateful to be able to have options vs surgery. Thank you Dr Flood and staff for such great care! read more