Dr. Gretchen Mary Lentz, MD

I started going to Dr Lentz and have been to about 3 appointments. She really listens and takes the time to listen to the patients concerns. Also researches the best ways to help her patients.

If I had to have this surgery I could not find a better doctor or person to do it. She was very relaxed and matter-of-fact with a scary and humbling situation. Her care team was respectful and informed and easy to talk to. Dr Lentz gave me very in-depth information on my options and guidance every step of the way.

This review is meant to be informational and hopefully help guide others’ decisions on whether or not Dr. Lentz is right for their given set of circumstances. It is my intention to be non-biased and to state my encounter as it happened per my own recollection. I have had issues with chronic bladder/pelvic pain for many years. After seeing a number of doctors in the CHI Franciscan system (Gig Harbor/Tacoma) with very little progress (just one gem of a quote - a male urologist told me that Interstitial Cystitis is a “trash can diagnosis”), I decided to transfer my care to the UW Medical system. I researched top Urogynecologists in the Seattle area and found that Dr. Lentz was mentioned on this list. I eagerly booked an appointment with her (6 month waiting period), but I was confident that she would help me with my issues. When I arrived at my first appointment, the nurse was monosyllabic and quite cold. I reminded myself that I was there for the doctor and not to be discouraged… yet again. When Dr. Lentz entered the room she was accompanied by a female 4th year medical student resident. She asked if the student could join her during my appointment. I said yes, not knowing that this would cut down my time with the doctor I had waited 6 months to see. The medical student took my personal history. Dr. Lentz was not in the room. The medical student stepped into the hallway to relay my information to the doctor. Both Dr. Lentz and the medical student returned to perform my exam. They spoke to each other (often in what felt like abbreviated medical codes) and very little to me, other than to clarify if something hurt or what sensation I was having. Dr. Lentz then said I could get dressed and she would return to speak with me in a moment. Instead, the medical student returned with a prescription and information for physical therapy. While in the middle of the medical student’s explanation on my prescription, Dr. Lentz entered the room and moved the conversation in another direction (she was concerned that I was spooked by having to go to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for breast imaging – the resident hadn’t gotten to that part of the conversation yet). The resident continued her explanation; Dr. Lentz left the room yet again to retrieve PT recommendations for the Gig Harbor area (though I attempted to explain that I did not want to see anyone outside of the UW system due to my many bad experiences with CHI), and before I knew it the appointment was over. While I was there, I attempted to ask the resident very specific questions about the side effects of the medication I was prescribed. She took time to explain and alleviate my fears. I left the appointment feeling overwhelmed because I didn’t get to speak with the doctor directly, but reassured because the resident seemed knowledgeable and communicated most of what I said to the doctor. Fast forward several hours, I pick up my prescription at the pharmacy and suddenly all of the side effects (or lack there of in the case of the resident’s explanation) were printed in bold letters on the prescription literature. This made me very anxious so I wrote Dr. Lentz (as I had been told to do by the resident) to clarify and ask questions. Dr. Lentz’s nurse replied within 48 hours – first referring to me by the wrong name and then going on to state very generically that side effects were possible with this medication and if I had a history of high blood pressure, stroke, heart issues, etc that I should discuss them with my doctor before using the medication. Very prescription drug ad type language. I wrote back and asked to speak with Dr. Lentz or the resident because they had taken my history and done the physical exam. The nurse replied that she received my messages as part of my care team and that she would ask Dr. Lentz to reply, but if I had questions in might be better to just make an appointment to come back (my first appointment was Monday, this conversation happened on Wednesday). I called the scheduler to make an appointment. The male voice on the line questioned why I was making another appointment so soon and then read information to me that was included in my correspondence with Dr. Lentz and the nurse. I was shocked to find what I believed to be a private conversation about my lady parts to be so readily available to a male scheduler. He briefly argued about whether or not my question had been answered by the nurse before scheduling my appointment for Friday. On Thursday, I went to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for my breast imaging. Long story short, they refused to perform the procedure because of my age and the lack of severity of my symptoms. I tried desperately to explain that Dr. Lentz and the resident felt that I needed this exam and that I had not requested it myself. I did not receive my breast ultrasound. I called Dr. Lentz’s office, again speaking with the same nurse. She told me that she would consult with Dr. Lentz. When she returned to the phone, she said that Dr. Lentz had told her that she followed standard procedure in referring me for breast imaging, but that Dr. Lentz didn’t have an extensive knowledge of breast issues and now thought I didn’t need the exam (I am still not sure why) and to follow up with my primary care about my breast pain and general health. I am so saddened that on not 1 but 3 occasions my medical issues weren’t severe enough or I wasn’t old enough to warrant being spoken to directly by this “top doctor.” I am yet again defeated and I don’t know the next step to take with searching for someone to understand my pelvic pain and women’s health issues, but decidedly it won’t be through this office.

Dr lentz not only misdiagnosed me and couldn't find the mesh that was left inside of me by a spokane dr. It was found on imaging and she said she couldn't find it during surgery! She gave me 30 pain pills and I requested a refill 6 days after surgery 5 hours away from home and she denied me. Said that I need to be seen! What kind of surgeons does this? One that is in kahootz with a Dr in my hometown and she's trying to cover negligence!