I saw Dr. Wickstrom for depression for a couple years now, up until today. The experience has been less than desirable, even if results are not considered, especially if they are.
The Office Environment:
First, he only accepts cash. Who carries cash around these days, enough to cover a Dr. visit especially? All other businesses I know that only take cash are doing something bad that credit/debit cards could reveal.
Next, the receptionist there most days, Ramona as mentioned in another review is rude to most everyone and feels she has some power with collecting the money. She has no regard for discretion and your financial business/missed appointments will be known by all in the waiting room.
If someone specifically tried to be as rude and abrasive as she is, (s)he would likely fall short. Today, after the office moved to a difficult place to find, she had the audacity to sternly lecture a patient about a missed app't.
Said receptionist had an "in your face" attitude, as always, and was willing to produce a document signed by the patient, notifying her the office was moving. The poor lady was not at all arguing to the contrary, but did not remember.
She constantly lectures patients over bookkeeping matters, so this is not an isolated incident. I went up there when called and she was joyous in telling me I missed an app't. I did not think I had, I actually did, but her words were so belittling, I chose to ask if I left the practice as a patient, would all be even. She said it would and I hit the door.
Be prepared to wait sometimes up to 2 hours and 30 minutes is the quickest I have been seen from app't time to seeing Dr. Wickstrom.
The Treatment Experience:
Are you a drug seeker? Well, this could be the place for you. My goal was and is to reduce my medications, but as I explained I believed one was causing me problems, he increased another med he prescribed. I specifically asked that a lower dose of the one be given. The effect of his increase had me nearly falling asleep all day, something I have never experienced prior.
The man is not a fraud, but he believes highly in medicinal treatments alone, with maybe a, "Get out and get some fresh air," as a supplement, the only non-pill solution he ever gave me.
He is writing refills, giving short answers to major questions you have with issues in your life in the 10 minutes you are afforded each visit. He even casually mentioned he thought I was bipolar, something no doctor has ever said of my condition. I was not, at least until I became hopped up on his prescriptions, 4 in all. My temper had changed for the worse.
Whether or not all or needed, I can say, from 1st hand experience, they are physically addictive. If you run out of meds, you will feel horrible until you get back to see him for your fix. My wife monitors the pills so that I take them all, and not too many, so that I do not fall into the trap of mental addiction/abuse. I feel it, if I miss one of the pills, after an hour or so. That is not a great way to live for me.
The way he handles folks may be fine for some, but I sincerely hope his methods are not the ideal approach to solving typically embarrassing problems one may have, thanks to the stigmas attached to mental illnesses.
The mental health world is filled with Dr's that are FAR worse. However, when you add Miss Battle Axe, the receptionist, into the headache that is this practice, you might want to look elsewhere.
I'd love to know how many patients he has that feel they are in the best hands possible compared to those that accept his treatment because they do not know another option that is available.
Dr. Wicktrom is a nice enough guy, soothing when you speak with him, but he does not have to walk in your shoes or carry wads of cash around to ensure he gets treatment. My advice is to keep looking to avoid more stress than you may already feel.
I wish you the best of luck and you are not alone, no matter the affliction from which you may suffer.
by Anonymous
April 18, 2011