I think Dr. Shimamoto is a very good neurologist. If I was only rating him, I would give him a higher rating. However, I am rating my "experienceʻ which includes him, his staff, and the customer service I received.
He did a thorough exam and asked me a LOT of questions about my condition. He ordered appropriate imaging. His office staff are pleasant, but not efficient. The phones go to VM from about noon on and you cannot leave a message - you have to keep calling and calling.
He has a patient portal, but one of his staff said they donʻt look at it.
There wasnʻt anything definitive shown on the imaging and Dr. S didnʻt offer much advice except donʻt bend backward and donʻt pick up anything heavy; I already knew this. I had to request physical therapy - he seemed reluctant and said most patients donʻt do the PT at home. Well, I always do. So, he told the staff to send a prescription for PT to my PT clinic.
Later, the PT staff requested an additional Rx from Dr. S so they could help me with balance issues. After 3 faxed requests from the PT clinic, and numerous phone calls from me, we both gave up after 2 weeks and I asked my PCP for the additional Rx...which she did that day. At one point during the 3 attempts to get that additional Rx, the staff told me the PT request was "on his desk." That was 8 days after the PT clinic had sent it, and the second request.
I had a post-PT appt. with Dr. S. I mentioned the difficulty in contacting his office and the problem with the PT prescription. His answer was that he is short-staffed. Maybe he should spend some time rectifying that - his business would be so much better. A competent, caring doctor stuck in an incompetent, non-caring environment. Usually itʻs the other way around. read more