Triangle Orthopaedic Associates, Durham

I had a less than stellar experience with triangle orthopedics. I was recommended here by my physician to get a second opinion on my c7 fracture that I got checked out by duke after I was involved in a car crash.
The front desk staff was alright, the man who attended me seemed nice; no complaints so far. I sat down with my paperwork in hand that I filled out the night before per instruction in order to speed up the waiting time. Sadly, that didn’t seem to matter as I waited 45 minutes.
Once I was called back I was sent to the waiting room right next to the doctors office. I won’t say names but the I could hear the doctor aggressively speaking to his assistant about not having my files from duke. The assistant walks in and asks if I went to UNC instead. I told her no, and she asked if I was sure… I think I know which hospital I went to.
Sure enough she goes back outside and all I hear is more angry yelling by the doctor saying he can’t believe they sent me here and won’t attend me without my files from duke. The assistant returned inside and told me that I needed to pick up the files. I told her that I spoke with duke and all I needed was to give them authority to check my records and that’s that but she insisted that duke was like the White House and wouldn’t give them my files.
They canceled my appointment and said «when you get the files and a cd with your x-​rays, then we can check up on you.
I ended up going to another orthopedic doctor and they attended me with absolutely no problems whatsoever. If I were to ever be referred here again, I’d plead with my doctor to send me somewhere else.
It’s that bad.

I have had nearly an all around terrible experience with Triangle Ortho. The positives: Dr. Musante is a very thorough and confident surgeon. I was impressed with his efficient, polite and competent assessment of my back issues. It appears that he demands the same from HIS staff. Dr. Zimmerman provided my CSI. She was very informative and reassuring. I had heard from friends that these injections are often very painful. Dr. Zimmerman ensured that I felt no discomfort. The nursing staff and tech working with Dr. Zimmerman were exceptional. Dr. Arnston was oncall when I called after hours. His bedside manner was so sympathetic and patient. He went out of his way to leave a prescription and a doctor’s note for my employer for us to pick up. ON A SATURDAY! I met Deborah, a PT assistant, for Aqua therapy after a 12 hour work shift. I was cranky, tired and in lots of pain. Deborah was patient, sympathetic and jovial the entire visit. She was very observant while we worked through exercises. When she noticed increases in pain, she immediately instructed me to modify the motion or stop altogether.
Based on my experience, I would like to say that this excellence is due to these individuals and NOT representative of Triangles Ortho’s standard of care. Negatives… The check-​in process is slow and inefficient. In general, Information that should be populated in the chart, across all locations and departments, is not present or noted. Pertinent information slips through the cracks, such as updated medication lists, primary care provider, changes in providers within the practice and orders for changes in frequency of PT within the practice. Indirectly, this breakdown in communication resulted in me having to endure increased pain. I voiced my concern to a front desk attendant and was informed that all of us were in pain. The lady might as well have said «Suck it up, Lady!» When concerns were voiced to a doctor, I was to to take a hike. The quality assurance officer informed me that leaving patients waiting in the dark, in pain was all within the accepted general guidelines and their policy of care.
I hate to leave Triangle Ortho, because I do feel the providers mentioned by name are exceptional. However, I would try persuade anyone with a problem that requires ongoing appointments with multiple doctors to try another practice. This practice treats patients like we are DISPOSABLE! Just like a shoddy fast food joint on an isolated highway. Out with the disappointed customers, more desperate customers seeking relief will limp in to take the disappointed patient’s place.
Shame on you Triangle Ortho for leaving patients hanging in pain, adding to their frustration, discouraging patients from advocating for themselves and perpetuating this idea that patients should settle for slow, inefficient or poor treatment and service, because it is the current norm in our medical system. When did we all start striving for average? Especially when average is poor.

Fuck these people! Rarely do I get angry with a place of business, but this place is simply horrible. I’ve been here 4 — 5 times trying to diagnose a sporadic issue. This issue raised its head today. My instructions were to call back and make my way in immediately for another diagnosis.
My issue flared up while I was out of state. I called first thing in the morning. I wish I could remember the bastard doctors name! I left two messages for him between my meetings. I had my cell phone on all day. Theses asses wait to call me at just prior to 5 pm. I was told they would not write a prescription to help with the pain and swelling. Thanks assholes! I could’ve at least moved on to plan b if you told me earlier in the day.
I can’t control that I have a sporadic issue. I can’t control when it flairs up. But when I listen to what you dumbasses tell me to do, then you don’t even bother to help??? Hippocratic oath my ass!
To further compound my anger the last time I was in the Doctor poked his head in and said he’d be right in. Well, that fucker went into the hallway and had an almost hour conversation with one of the ladies there about their weekends. I didn’t blast them on this, but now I will. You can forget my business. You idiots don’t even deserve to be in business. Thanks for stranding me!!!

My regular doctor referred me to Triangle Orthopaedic Associates after she and I had talked about my heel spur and plantar fasciitis issue, as well as what has become some pretty severe hip pain on the same leg. She explained to them when she referred me that I would likely need both a hip xray and potentially a foot xray, though I didn’t really need that because I already know the foot issue.
I saw a Dr. Veins, only after I was ushered to a room and a nurse took me for xrays — on my foot. I said to her, «I need an xray on the hip, too.» She replied that she could not do that, as Dr. Veins was a foot specialist. I said that I had not been referred for just a foot issue, but a hip issue also. I was told that I’d have to get referred to someone else for the hip. Yay, specialists. Sigh. Then, when I did see the doctor, he prodded on my foot a bit, showed me the xray picture of the heel spur (which I already knew was there) and basically said, «Well, the spur isn’t your issue — you’ve had that for a long time. It’s the inflammation that’s the issue.»
No kidding. He then proceeded to tell me all of the things I could do to treat the plantar fasciitis (he wasn’t interested in discussion of any procedure that would break up the spur so that it would no longer contribute to the inflammation) — all things I was already doing and had easily learned online. Of course, when I said that I was already doing those exercises, stretches, and icing the foot, I felt as if I got quite skeptical look, as if he didn’t believe me. He was nice, otherwise — not at all a jerk — just not the specialist I needed to see.
He also prescribed me a night boot — I later found that the boot was billed through a medical supply company for approximately 4 times pricier than I could have found on ebay. (That’s the one GOOD experience, actually — when I phoned the company to return the boot, they simply said, «we’ll take it off the bill, but don’t ship it back — give it to a charity or someone who needs it.» Nice).
Above and beyond my specialist copay, I received a bill two weeks later for services my insurance refused — $ 198 worth — an xray I didn’t need, and an office visit that taught me nothing and lasted about 5 minutes.
I think I’ll stick with my regular doc from here on out, as this visit didn’t do anything for me except empty my wallet. Do better, Traingle Orthopaedic Associates.

Excellent and highly recommend! Dr. Kerner was fantastic with my son, Hayden’s ankle injury from soccer. When I injured my knee from a fall at home, I saw Dr. Silver. He too was helpful, knowledgeable and honest. I will always recommend the doctors at Triangle!

These folks have a couple of locations. I went to the location in Raleigh. While everyone seemed really friendly and interested in my case I had several issues. I was taken in for x-​rays for a shoulder issues and told I had a SLAP tear and immediately prescribed 3 weeks of pain killers and given a cortisone injection in my shoulder. I then went to a well known and more trusted doctor in California for a second opinion and she informed me that a SLAP tear cannot be diagnosed via an X-​ray. She also informed me that the location on my shoulder that I was given the cortisone shot is not even the correct one for a SLAP tear! When my trusted doctor back in CA did all the tests, the SLAP tear one was benign! The DR over at Triangle Orthopedic also told me that PT would make my condition worse, but 90% of SLAP tear treatment is PT.
Another issue: I had asked them to send over X-​rays to my CA doctor. They assured me that they were on the way, but come time for my CA appt, the office had absolutely idea about receiving them. I called them on the spot and they were totally unhelpful. I then asked them to at least fax them over since I was in the waiting room for my appointment, they assured me they would, and that did not happen.
Because there were so many mistakes, I really would not trust this hospital. I would recommend going to a private practice that is more concerned with the patient one on one.

Great for acute injuries, but beware… they just added rheumatology and even though I have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and bone spurs that impinge the spinal cord, despite the fact that my white blood cells have been elevated for 18 months, their «rheumatologist» pressed a bunch of trigger points, told me I had fibromylagia, then referred me to «someone who treats this.» That would be their psychologist!!! I’m not even 40 and had cancer twice .yet I am dismissed as crazy or a drug seeker. The icing on the cake? I had an appt at their pain clinic and called when running late due to my engine blowing up in the driveway. I was told that if I was more than 15 minutes late I would have to reschedule. I got there with 2 minutes to spare and had already been no showed. The practice manager said I could be seen in 2 ½ hours and spent the next 10 minutes arguing with me about their policy while my appointment time expired. I’ve got FANTASTIC insurance and have been a patient here for years with PT and surgeries too. I just cancelled all of my appointments. I have never been treated so poorly or shown so little compassion.

BEWARE – orthopedic supports provided at the office are billed from a separate company in California. Insurance will not cover. Practice is misleading about billing for this. Knee braces, ankle braces etc are NOT billed through the office to insurance so most insurance companies see this as an outside vendor NOT a doctors office.
Josh, PA was misleading and billing will not call us back to help resolve this.

This is a review for the Orthotics and Prosthetics department at Triangle Orthopedics. Many years ago I enlisted Harry Phillips’ help for a rather difficult situation, and he went out of his way to do everything he could for it. Overall outstanding. He and Carin are true assets to Triangle Orthopedics.

I have been a patient at Triangle Orthopedic in Durham since 2004. It has changed quite a bit over time. I have 3 doctors there currently. Their administration is top notch and they run things like a well oiled machine. As they have grown though some people are being treated more like a number than a person. I’ve had several new patients tell me this recently. I think It depends on the doctor you see. I can recommend Dr Robert Wilson in pain management and Dr Linda Belhorn in Rheumatology. Both are friendly and take their time to know you and your issues. I had Dr Dimmig a few years ago and he was pretty good but always seemed in a hurry. He did help me to fight my insurance co when they denied a claim. He also did surgery on me and was good about follow up care and communication. Dr Lebeilt has been the least friendly and although I had a successful surgery with him — I’ve not seen him since. Just his PA’s see me now. Very little follow up or communication. The Rehab and physical therapy is really good — especially the aqua therapy.

I couldn’t ask for any better care! Dr. Eissinger has been top notch. I have suffered with my back for years and she has been able to pin point the problem and alleviate the pain. It flares sometimes but not at all like it was. Everyone has been especially helpful and nice. I think they set high standards and stick by them. Highly recommend.

RUDE DOCTOR. RUDE STAFF.
I agree with another opinion that the PT staff is pleasant. My experience with pain management was okay, the suregeon, Dr. Musante, was rude cold and extremely unhelpful There are great back doctors in the area. DO NOT waste your time.

Will never go back…
had previously good experience and my first visit with the ortho doc was great. but, then, got the run around, no returned calls, transfer, voicemail, etc and basically an «i don’t care about you» attitude. At the end, my MRI was denied, which i was told was common with Cigna. So, why didn’t you start the conservative treatment immediately? well, the doctor doesn’t know your insurance??? What? how about asking? how about an assistant asking? so, basically wasted 2 weeks of being in pain. hello, i’m not here because i’m bored. I don’t go to the ortho unless i’ve tried everything else.
Course, i’m pissed at Cigna too, but that’s a different story. While i like the doc, i will not go back once i’ve finished this course of crap.

I went here because it was close to my office and the doctor I saw for my knee was horrible. He had absolutely no personality and after having spent (out of pocket) $ 170 for x-​rays and $ 600 for MRIs (even with good insurance) he basically said to me (I’m paraphrasing), «well there’s nothng I can do — go to physical therapy.» Bear in mind, my leg wasn’t even weight bearing at this point and the best he could do was tell me to wait 9 days (he couldn’t get me into physical therapy any faster). I do have to say the physical therapist (Elizabeth) was wonderful. The saga continues when I decided to get a second opinion and it took me 4 phone calls, more money out of my own pocket (for a copy of my MRI & X-​ray scans) to attempt to get my medical records sent to another doctor. The only thing I can recommend about this place is the physical therapist. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone else unless you just want to stay in pain, pay alot of money and get absolutely NO customer service at all.

Since «the wreck» back in October, I’ve been referred to various places for treatment and further testing and diagnosis. I landed here for Occupational Therapy to try to get my hand working at some level of normalcy again. My first visit has left me with very mixed feelings about this location for Triangle Orthopedic Associates.
Beth, the OT specialist who worked my hand over was awesome — terrific sense of humor and very professional/​personable work ethic. It was a pleasure to work with her and I look forward to the future visits for more personal torture in this process of getting back to normal.
Unfortunately, one of the gals at the front desk did not appear to be a people person and IMHO should not be greeting people, helping patients set up appointments or checking them out. When it was my turn to check out and set up my next appointment, I was greeted by «the hand and index finger» and asked to wait as the gal picked up the phone, dialed an extension and started complaining to someone in another department about how busy they were at the front desk; very unprofessional to do this in front of a line of people trying to get checked in or out.
Yes, they were busy, and the inefficiency only increased by picking up the phone and complaining to someone else about it. I waited about another 2 – 3 minutes while the gal did her thing on the phone, and another person at the front desk finished up with her check in and prompted me to get checked out at her station instead. Another minute went by and I was almost checked out when the gal on the phone finally hung up and started helping the next person — however, her attitude and demeanor toward this person did not give off a friendly vibe — instead she seemed like she wanted to be combative. As I finished up my process and got my next appointment with a much friendlier and more professional receptionist, I couldn’t help but hear the sharp edge in the tone toward the gentleman the first gal was «helping» and I just needed to leave and get away. This was a perfect reminder as to why I’m an accountant and not in a field that interacts with very many people.
I’m going to be back once a week for the next several weeks to continue through this healing process. I hope I can bring an update that suggests the gal in the last paragraph was just having an off day.

The welcome into Triangle Orthopedic is great, they definitely have their act together administratively. However the doctor I saw there was much more interested in discussing the company I work for than helping diagnose the problem with my foot. Very disappointing.

Recent back troubles have sent me in search of care. Normally this ends in long waits in uncomfortable waiting rooms, only to be referred elsewhere. This was not the case at Triangle Orthopedic.
I was delighted to walk in and see a sign encouraging patients to check back with the desk if they are waiting past their scheduled appointment time. In all of my visits they have been committed to on-​time, high-​quality care.
From the front desk to the lab techs on to the doctors, Triangle Orthopedic is high quality health care.