Andrew Gutow's Online Review Report Card

I want to do this review because I think it is important to share the experience and that others can decide whether to choose this doctor or not. My first appointment was in September, I arrived because my general doctor referred me because I have had hand pain for more than 1 year. that first appointment was encouraging because the dr gave me advice and told me that if it didn't work we had other options. I didn't get much better so we had a second appointment a month later, the only thing different was that he gave me some pills in case I had pain and if it was still wrong, they could do some nerve studies (I don't know why they weren't done from the beginning) . I didn't get better and I wrote to him to please send me to do the studies, that's how it was. Last November 18 I went to the studios and after that I didn't get any feedback, so I wrote what was next? They told me that I had to have another appointment with the doctor. Today, December 7, I had it, the appointment was scheduled at 9:30 am, it was almost 9:50 and I was still waiting for the doctor. I asked her assistant if it was going to take much longer because I had to attend a work call at 10:30 to which she answered and you barely found out? that doesn’t matters, respect for my time is that if the appointment is at 9:30 and they ask me to arrive at 9:15, I assume that I will be attended punctually. I don't know if my question made her and the doctor angry because everything went wrong from there. The doctor came with a negativity saying that there was nothing wrong with my studies and that then he could not do anything. They sent me to see him, because he is a specialist in the hands. His responses changed appointment after appointment, but I don't understand if my problem was the same from the beginning. Today he told me that he could no longer do anything for me, and that he was going to refer me. It makes me a little sad that since September I have had the same problem and after 4 appointments he tells me that he can't do anything. I feel like I wasted my time. and I'm not saying that he is a bad doctor, probably for many it worked. But this is my experience and I didn't have any solution.

I want to do this review because I think it is important to share the experience and that others can decide whether to choose this doctor or not. My first appointment was in September, I arrived because my general doctor referred me because I have had hand pain for more than 1 year. that first appointment was encouraging because the dr gave me advice and told me that if it didn't work we had other options. I didn't get much better so we had a second appointment a month later, the only thing different was that he gave me some pills in case I had pain and if it was still wrong, they could do some nerve studies (I don't know why they weren't done from the beginning) . I didn't get better and I wrote to him to please send me to do the studies, that's how it was. Last November 18 I went to the studios and after that I didn't get any feedback, so I wrote what was next? They told me that I had to have another appointment with the doctor. Today, December 7, I had it, the appointment was scheduled at 9:30 am, it was almost 9:50 and I was still waiting for the doctor. I asked her assistant if it was going to take much longer because I had to attend a work call at 10:30 to which she answered and you barely found out? that doesn’t matters, respect for my time is that if the appointment is at 9:30 and they ask me to arrive at 9:15, I assume that I will be attended punctually. I don't know if my question made her and the doctor angry because everything went wrong from there. The doctor came with a negativity saying that there was nothing wrong with my studies and that then he could not do anything. They sent me to see him, because he is a specialist in the hands. His responses changed appointment after appointment, but I don't understand if my problem was the same from the beginning. Today he told me that he could no longer do anything for me, and that he was going to refer me. It makes me a little sad that since September I have had the same problem and after 4 appointments he tells me that he can't do anything. I feel like I wasted my time. and I'm not saying that I'm a bad doctor, probably for many if it worked. But this is my experience and I didn't have any solution.

Clearly explained the reasons of my wrist pain in no time including the possible treatment. Very confident in his management of my case.

Dr. Gutow is perhaps the worst hand surgeon in the bay area. He operated on two fingers on my right hand. The results were disastrous. The middle finger was rendered useless. When I asked just what had happened, he looked up and sheeplessly said, "I don't know". And that was it. Such a coward, and an extremely incompetent surgeon. I took all legal steps provided, which included reporting him to PAMF's advisory board. All to no avail. Of course I was offered the opportunity to have him "repair" it. Why would I trust the person who created the problem, to fix it?

Dr. Gutow saved my son's arm after he got an accident from jumping during the High school activity. His case was the worse from our 3 physicians we went to see that day. We found out after they reviewed to us later on. My son did not have breakfast/ lunch so, Dr. Gutow was able to operate the same day with his magic hands. A year later my son had to remove the heavy metals. ( many pieces inserted from the first operation ) Both operations went amazing well. Now my son has no Problem at all. We have to tell our side of story since Dr Gutow calmed us down and acted so normal during the Parents' nightmare?? He was very though with his evaluations. Both times, he was on our side and we never forget his Kindness and Hospitality. Grateful to His Help and Support.

Took mom to Dr Gutow for a hand injury. He spent a lot of time with us analyzing the problem and was very thorough. My mom had been seen by another local doctor who had misdiagnosed her. Dr Gutow ordered an MRI and then he called to discuss the various options. We really appreciated not having to make the long drive to the doctor's office and having to possibly be exposed to Covid since my mom is elderly. Dr Gutow's findings helped my mom to get on the right track for getting treatment. We are very appreciative of Dr Gutow's thorough review. Also the occupational therapist (Paulin Nguyen) in Fremont with Palo Alto Medical Foundations was also great following doctor's physical therapy orders. More doctors should be like Dr Gutow that actually care about their patients no matter what age they are.

My EXPERIENCE with Dr. Gutow was VERY BAD and left me with a deformed hand. He was to operate on my index finger and the one beside it. The index finger was in pretty bad shape, arthritis. The finger beside it had started displaying the same issue so it was decided to do both fingers at the same time. Post surgery, when bandages were removed, the index finger was a good as could be expected. The finger beside was horrible. I was shocked as was Gutow. I keep asking what had happened, all that he could say was "I don't know, I don't know". Basically the only way he could "fix" it was to run a rod through finger to palm, resulting in a straight non-bending finger. No. Went to a hand specialist in the City (SF) who looked at it, and said he would never have performed the surgery in the same manner as did Gutow. He said to rectify he would put a rod in from the tip of finger to the first joint. The hand was too swollen at that time so he wanted me to wait 5-8months before proceeding with surgery. Gutow did / would not own up to or acknowledge his responsibility in this botched surgery. This was my first, and hopefully only experience with a BAD SURGEON.

I don't use Yelp, or else I'd write one there. I broke my wrist prettyyyyy badly. Pretty gruesome. Had an orthopedic surgeon at Good Sam in San Jose (who was the on-call orthopedic surgeon at the ER) go in there to fix it with a single plate. Saw a doctor up in Humboldt County three weeks later for follow-up who took a look and instantly was like, "This is bad, you need to see a top hand specialist in the Bay Area ASAP." Certainly not what you want to hear. Found Gutow, who did revision surgery and inserted four plates. He probably saved usage of my right wrist/hand. I have had a lot of PT, and my mobility (primarily extension) is definitely not ideal, but at least I can use it. I can't help but wonder how things would have turned out if I had seen Gutow right away... I think I would have full mobility (basically, those four weeks of bone healing out of place before the revision surgery made them weird shaped and hard to fit back together). I did get all of the metal taken out 6 months later. Moral of the story - see the specialist right off the bat. Thanks Gutow! PS. All the complaints about wait times - the dude is just being thorough with his patients. Chill out.

I am forever grateful that dr Gutow is honest, capable and conservative in his diagnosis and treatment. Two years ago I had a De Courvain tendinitis that another surgeon was eager to do surgery but thankfully I found dr Gutow who treated me successfully with a one single steroid shot! The technique dr Gutow used to apply the steroid is very thorough compared to the previous surgeon that I went to who simply jabbed my wrist in 3-4 seconds lacking the intention to heal my wrist without surgery. I never have any de courvain Problem anymore since he cured me with one proper application of steroid.

Funny how different people react to the same person. I've seen the reviews claiming Dr. Gutow's bedside manner and acumen in diagnosing maladies are lacking. That was not my experience.I found him to be congenial, precise, informative and patient with me. He saw me in April of 2018 when I was getting a node in my palm and suggested I wait until August. I saw him next in early November and we decided on surgery to excise it. I was in there yesterday. He met with me before surgery, introduced me to the anesthesiologist and his crew, and came in after the procedure.I suppose I should wait until I fully heal but at least at this point, I couldn't be happier with my choice. Thank you Dr. Gutow and thank you PAMF, and thank you Menlo Park Surgicenter. If things change, I'll update this review but as far as I'm concerned, he, and his team deserve an A+.