Szabo Robert M MD MPH Orthopaedic Surgery Hand

I had over a year of hand care with this facility ending with Dr Szabo. I had arthritis in my dominant hand at the base of the thumb. I jumped through every hoop from PT to three steroid shots in both the ligaments and the joints. Nothing worked and I had lost all ability to function doing normal things, like pulling up a zipper or opening a ziploc bag. Dr. Szabo reviewed the common surgeries used to relieve this problem that would put me in cast for 6 weeks, and then 3 – 6 months of PT. I asked him about arthroscopic options and his opinion was that it could not be done. I researched that option and found a hand surgeon in Phoenix that does the surgery arthroscopically with 4 – 6 weeks recovery. I set my appointment to get it done. It was clean and quick, very little pain. Two tiny cuts compared to the filet style of the traditional surgery. When I returned from Phoenix with my orders for PT, Dr Szabo came into the room asking what I expected from him. I explained that the PT orders were faxed over. He asked why I went to Phoenix. I explained that I thought it was a better option. He was clearly irritated at me. He said he casts for six weeks and then starts PT. He ordered a cast. I told him what Dr Fitzmaurice had ordered was a splint and PT. I explained they had cleaned up the bone, and used stem cells and hyaluronic acid in the joint. He condescendingly said to me, «you make stem cells.» Then he later said in front of his whole staff, «It is people like you they can sell snake oil to.» He also said that Dr Fitzmaurice did not to arthroscopic. He claimed it was the same surgery that he would do, (well then, WHY is it casted for six weeks and 3 – 6 months PT?) I went home and called Dr Fitzmaurice and asked him to send the orders he faxed to Dr Szabo, and they CLEARLY STATE, a brace and what the PT script was. When I went back the next day to get the cast off and get the brace, his staff was very cool. The lady in the cast room that casted me the day before hardly said a word. The nurse was polite, but when I asked her to cancel my appt to get my cast off in six weeks, she asked «you do not want any follow up with Dr Szabo?» I said all I need is PT. SHE DID NOT ASK ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN, WHERE, or HOW I am getting PT. It is all in the same group right there! She just turned and walked out without saying a word. My Dr in AZ tried to make contact with Dr Szabo’s office and they were extremely rude, and as far as I know, Dr. Szabo never returned the call. I HAD OVER A YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS FACILITY ABOUT MY HAND, and because I made a choice to try a less invasive procedure, they became very rude and condescending. So, if you are the type that just does what the Dr says, take your steroids as told, let them filet you without question, take all the prescriptions they want to stuff down your throat, then Dr Szabo is the right Dr for you. If you dare to go anywhere else or question him, good luck. He is the definition of arrogance. However, he is apparently good at what he does. I would NOT recommend him based on this experience. I am going to Sutter for my PT. SO DONE WITH UC DAVIS!

If you want the best ortho surgeon for an elbow, you better go to this doc. He is the best in Nor Cal, and very hard to get into… but well worth the wait if you have a serious issue. Dr. Szabo did an intricate repair on my non-​existent elbow a few years back. When I recently went back to plead for a total replacement, he turned me down, feeling that the procedure was not in my long-​term best interest. He shoots from the hip, is honest, isn’t out to win any popularity contests, will NOT do any unnecessary surgery, and only has the patient’s best interest at heart.

I hate writing reviews for offices when the Dr is not involved but both females who answered the phone for this office were the most unprofessional, rude and condescending people I’ve ever experienced with ANY place I called.
I called the number I had and the first lady gets on me for pressing the wrong prompt and that I need to learn to listen better to the message. Never mind the operator transferred me to her. I stayed calm and asked her if I could get the number before she transferred me so I wouldn’t make the same mistake and she rudely says I don’t have the dang number I just transfer you! The person who picks up after this lady asked who she was speaking with and I simply said oh I’m not a patient but my name is Mike. She said very snippy and condescending «in this office we use you know. last names now you want to give me your last name?». I asked if she was having a bad morning and she rudely told me just give me your full name!
Sometimes I wish Unilocal had a negative button when you get service like this. I for the life of me cannot understand why in this economy with SO many qualified people unemployed and would work their butts off people like this are still hired that have terrible people skills. I think it’s safe to say if I or any of my friends or family needed a specialist these workers scared away potential patients to who might just be a good Ortho.