Stephen E Hanks, MD

Today I waited 2 hrs. to see Dr. Hanks to see my daughter whom is 11 and fractured her arm. After waiting 2 hrs we were called to the back where Dr. Hanks came in and did not introduce himself or give a hand shake. He did not acknowledge my daughter or I . He sat down to quickly review my daughters X-rays for less than a minute. This is where I felt the need to explain what the emergency room explained to me of my daughters elbow. He right away interrupted me with the first thing out of his mouth was, and I quote, "never listen to northwest emergency room doctors." At which point my phone rang and it was the emergency room we were at. I quickly told them we were at the orthopedics. I hung up the phone when Dr. Hanks then proceeded to explain to me he was the best in tucson and had a lobby full of patients and was to busy to build a rapport with me so I could understand. I then asked if I could have a moment to speak. He instantly interrupted me again and said, no! Dr. Hanks proceeded to tell me in front of my daughter I was banned from Tucson Orthopedics. I wrapped my daughters arm back up personally. Where we were given a paper to check out. My 11 year old daughter looked at me while crying, and said, "mommy, aren't doctors supposed to help people?" With out an explanation as to what was wrong with my daughters elbow/ arm. He was completely unprofessional and rude. As I am a school teacher I could ever imagine why people like Dr. Hanks is in a public service profession and has little to none people skills. I will never go back to Dr. Hanks.

Recently this doctor had done an operation on a neck injury that one of my parents had sustained. While not wanting to keep him in the hospital very long, he discharged him after only 2 days after the neck surgery. Unfortunately, as we were getting to leave, he suffered severe pain once moved and ended up in ICU for 2 weeks. Dr. Hanks never showed after the surgery or the incident. he never even returned phone calls. And now my parent needs another surgery in order to fix a problem that should have been fixed the first time.

My name is Sergeant First Class Michael DiNicola. I am Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) veteran and currently still serving on Active duty with the AZ ARNG. I sustained a back injury while serving in Afghanistan from falling off an Apache helicopter and landing on a rocket pod onto my spine during a rocket/mortar attack. A few months later, I sustained an additional injury from falling while trying to make it to my assigned bunker while under a mortar attack, wearing my IBA (50lb protective vest). When I landed on my fall, I snapped my back at the back seam of the vest, in the same place I previously injured it a few months earlier. When I got back to the states, I endured 2 series of steroid injections in 4 years which were not successful for my pain management. After about 4 years of seeing pain management doctors, I was ordered by my PCP & Pain Management doctor to get a new x-ray, & MRI taken prior to being referred to a neurosurgeon; Dr. Steven E. Hanks (Tucson Orthopedic Institute). My MRI reading stated that I have a herniated L-5/S-1, torn & bulging disc, and my siatic nerve was being pinched. My X-ray results stated that I may have a possible fracture on my L-5, as well. I took all my records (from 4 years) & made a referral appointment with Dr. Hank's. Although, I was set with an appointment with his assistant. Dr. Hank's assistant read my MRI, x-rays & Pain Management doctor's notes and was genuinely concerned that I had 2 fractures on my L-5. He referred me to "Radiology Unlimited" for a cat scan. I was told that upon the cat scan arriving to Tucson Orthopedics Institute (3-5 business days), I would be called for a follow up appointment for a cat scan reading. I was not called, so, I called them 2 weeks later to make an appointment.When I arrived, I waited approximately 20 minutes to see Dr. Hanks. He spent approximately 3 minutes looking at my MRI & told me that I only have congenital spine disease like 99% of the population who are bipedal. I asked him if he was looking at the cat-scan & he said he can tell everything from my MRI. HE DIDN'T EVEN EXPLAIN MY CAT SCAN, the reason why I was there in the first place.I had a few frustrated words with him & he didnt seem to even care about what I was saying. As I was leaving the examination room, he argued with his assistant that I did not have any fractures or herniated disc right in front of me.Dr. Hanks had then nerve to even refer me to their pain management specialist.To conclude, as you can see by his rating of "4", this doctor is of poor quality. I suggest doing research on what surgeon you will have the opportunity to select. I sincerely regret investigating his ratings prior to setting an appointment with him. Not only was he unprofessional by not reading my cat scan, he spent about 3 minutes with me. He actually agued with his assistant who was a former USAF combat veteran. This doctor is of poor quality and wasted my time. I will be getting a second opinion. I will also be working with the Tri-Care referral management department to have him removed from future referrals for other wounded warriors in the future.Watch yourself with this doctor. What a waste of time!!!

Dr Hanks is the best. He spends as much time as needed, answers questions and is always available.