Dr. Mary Frances Bergum, MD

In my opinion and experience Bergum and her staff are lacking knowledge, professionalism and accountability. There isn’t any oversight with doctors in private practice, it’s always better and safer for the patient when there’s a team dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s when it comes to you and your family’s medical health. I wouldn’t refer her to anyone.

I was in to see Dr. Bergum and had a blood draw that was requested by my Oncologist. I was assured that they would send in the blood results to my oncologist before my appointment. They had 2 weeks to accomplish this task from when my blood was drawn. When I got to my oncologist (who is out of town), I was advised that there were no lab results. We called Dr. Bergum's office twice and were advised that I had not been in. Total Fail.

Gave blood on my first visit for labs to be done. Was quoted 2 days and Id hear back with results. After 2 weeks of not hearing I call and the front desk person is completely clueless, basically tells me to call back later. So I call back 3 days later, I am told that the blood tests are on "back order". What does that even mean? Is my blood just sitting around this whole time? Blood doesn't last that long. I ask him to elaborate and he's completely incompetent, has no idea. So after a month of no labs back I finally just go in there. Front desk person again is clueless on his job. I get the doctor to come out and find out that my results are in, she's just been too busy (lazy?) to review them and get me my results back. She promises me I'll have them that night. 1 entire month of those labs just sitting there when I was told It'd be 2 days. Holy crap, I could be dead by now if I had anything serious!! Totally unacceptable. Where's the systems in place to make sure this doesnt happen?… Total dysfunction. Oh and guess what, I never got the labs that night either. Few more days have passed since, and now I'm writing this. I wish there was somewhere I could turn her in to. I would never recommend someone subjecting themselves to this doctor and would never trust and single diagnosis or things she says after this impression. If you got treated like this at McDonald's you'd be upset! Completely irresponsible and down right dangerous for a doctor to act like this!

Dr. Mary Bergum is the first Doctors I have found who has taken the time to listen to me! I highly recommend her. One of the best in Spokane.

I've been seeing Dr. Bergum for a few years - not sure how many. I've been reading the reviews, the criticism which prompted me to write this review. Interesting what people expect of a doctor. I asked Dr. Bergum why she had let go of her former (wonderful) staff and she honestly told me there had been some problems and she now was hiring family members and she also hired a new young nurse. I figure it's her business to choose who works for her. Her son is the receptionist and her husband does the books. Granted her son is not as pretty as the former girl, but he is efficient, polite and personable. Her nurse is new, young and easy to talk to - she's efficient and friendly. Getting an appointment is easy - with other doctors, I wait for weeks. With Dr. Bergum I have been able to get in the same day or the day after I call. It's true Dr. Bergum is not always prompt but I have never had to wait long - she spends as much time as I need to deal with my problem and answers my… questions so, if I had to wait, so does the next patient, but I leave satisfied I have been listened to. She never talks down to me and gives explanations in layman's language. She has not offered pills to mask my symptoms but she is looking for the actual cause of my problem. I appreciate that. Dr. Bergum is up to date - virtually. All my medical files are on her website and I can access all of them at any time using my user name and personal pin number. She follows up by email - and I check my records for test results or message. If I ever need to go to the ER, my records are easily available - that's invaluable. I'm 80, I may well have to visit the ER sometime. For her honest appraisals, her dedication, her manner, her treatments, I award her 5 stars. Last year, I changed my insurance company to continue to be her patient because I trust my well being to her care. Last, but not least, I am responsible for my body and my health, not any doctor, and I inform myself and see to it I get proper care - I do my bit and Dr. Bergum does hers. And she does it well.

I like Mary but she doesn't tend to her patients very well. I was suppose to get a phone call back from her office for a problem I am experiencing and it's been a month now and no phone call. I was suppose to get a phone call within a week.

Some people do not like to wait. That is fine. However, some people like it when their doctor will spend time with them and listen. With Dr. Bergum you may have to wait a little bit to see her, but only because the person before you needs a little more time/caring for them. Some doctors cure with a pill and push you out the door. Dr. Bergum may do that too, but she also cures with her soul, and allows her patients to feel like they are actually taken care of; not just another piece of paper.

I switched from a larger clinic to Dr. B's office in the hopes of getting more personalized care. My initial consultation went well. I have been living with hip pain for the past 3 years; my last doc told me I was getting older and would have to live with it. Hello I'm 43! Dr. B examined me and asked me some questions and was able to determine that it was my BACK not my hips that was the problem. She was right the xray showed mulit level degenerated discs in my lower back. Yea! I finally know the reason behind my suffering. But since the diagnosis I can't get her to call me, prescibe something for pain, refer me for PT, Nothing!!!! I didn't know until reading the other remarks that she had 2 jobs. I've only been her patient for a couple months and at first she seemed very caring and smart. I see now that she can tend to let people fall through the cracks. The thought of searching for another doc causes me serious anxiety; I hope she improves.

Was 30 minutes late taking me back for my appointment because she was speaking with pharmaceutical reps. Provided me contradictory directions on how to take the prescription she was providing me; first advising that I could take as needed and then advising it should be taken daily. Seemed surprised when I wanted to pursue a cause of my problem rather than medicate the symptoms.

At first I liked Dr. Bergum. She is a nice person, but isn't organized enough to keep up with care. A few years ago, I called to get some prescriptions refilled. The pharmacy told me several times they did not get an ok from the doctor, they sent repeated requests via fax. Dr. Bergum's office told me they never received them. I had never had problems with that pharmacy like this and never did with any other doctor. After 2 weeks and my final and frantic call to her office I finally got them refilled after talking to the doctor on call (it was after hours). I think I worried the other doctor I was crying and had actually completely run out of my blood pressure medication. She told me a few times I should think about gastric bypass surgery, when she didn't even ask a single nutritional question. She only assumed I eat too much, she told me because she "understood" she likes food too. I don't, I have other issues that make me gain weight, in fact I asked to be referred to another doctor… to help me in that area. She didn't know what to do with me but made excuses as to why she couldn't refer me to this other doctor. I found one that was supposed to be great and I waited for two months to get her to refer me. When I asked for about the 5th time, she finally said she tried but this doctor wasn't taken any new patients. I called this doctor when I got home, and he WAS taking new patients. She just simply lied about it. I was never able to get my lab results from her, I always had to get them from the lab. I too was told about her second job and how it was difficult for her. If it is so difficult, maybe she should just do the other job and quit her practice, she is going to hurt someone if she doesn't keep up better. She did spend plenty of time with me, and seemed to be thorough with tests, I just could never get those results and wondered if she even looked at them. I have family members that go to Dr. Bergum, I see the same care with them. I want them to find a new doctor, as I did.