Walter Smithwick Iv's Online Review Report Card

Dr. Smithwick is the best doctor ever. I have had him for many years and he is very thorough. I am convinced that I have the best doctor ever. The staff is awesome and very accommodating and friendly. He is treating my condition very successfully and I appreciate that. I appreciate everyone at the Riverside office and in Orange Park. Thank you.

My experience with Dr. Smithwick and his team was excellent. Everyone was so nice. His team consists of knowledgeable and well trained staff - from the pre-op nurse, anesthesia and post-op care. Everything was flawless.

DR. Smithwick has treated me for a serious facial, eye injury over the last year and several surgeries. I have never had a more professional, dedicated, kind and caring doctor…..ever. He has guided me through a difficult, frightening time with skill and care that have always left me comfortable and confident. His staff are all excellent, too. Just as compassionate and professional in all their duties. I cannot recommend Dr. Smithwick too highly. Aside, I initially went to another surgeon, and the experience was very, very poor so that I immediately left and went to Dr. Smithwick.

I was diagnosed with a cancer of my lower eyelid. After consulting with several doctors, I chose Dr. Smithwick to perform my surgery to remove the cancerous area. He was kind, confident, and to the point concerning what would happen next. His acknowledgement of my anxiety and his assuring attitude was exactly what I needed. 6 weeks after my surgery, one cannot even tell that I had a portion of my eyelid removed to rid the cancerous area. I healed quickly and the result was how Dr. Smithwick described from the very beginning. I would recommend Dr. Smithwick to anyone. You will not be disappointed! I am grateful for him.

I've never written a review, but I was spoken to in such a demeaning and disparaging manner, I have to say something. Perhaps if I say what I experienced I can help someone else, who would be very sensitive to such treatment, avoid it. When I made the appointment for my yearly exam I was told the doctor was now with a company and I needed to fill out their forms for my medical history. They were mailed to me. When I checked in I gave them to the man at the desk. Forty three minutes later (I knew exactly because I couldn't believe I had waited so long and still wasn't being taken back) he called me up and handed me several forms to fill out. I was perplexed. I looked through them and said 'these are the same forms I handed you when I signed in'. He said 'please fill them out and we can get you back for the exam'. Why did it take so long to tell me to fill them out again? Did he misplace them? It didn't make sense. He was so dismissive, I knew it wouldn't do any good to say anything else. That was my appointment at the beginning of 2019. Now, to my last appointment. I told the doctor I had made the appointment for a regular exam, but since then I had experienced something driving at night that was very concerning. I said I had planned to find a new provider, but I had waited too long to find one and needed to get in before the end of the year. He asked if something was wrong. I had told him at the end of my appointment in 2019 what happened, at which time he said that shouldn't have happened. He had forgotten. So, I told him I had been there two hours and twenty seven minutes the previous time and why and that I knew it wasn't his fault. When the exam started I told him what I had seen driving at night in relation to lights. I hadn't driven at night since before the pandemic started. When he positioned the lense he said 'can you read that?' I said 'no'. I saw a brightly glowing rectangle. It was very disconcerting, to say the least. I was so upset I was suppose to be seeing words. He was looking down at something and I just basically whispered 'that's scary'. I didn't interrupt him. I just reacted to something about my sight that was frightening. He said, 'we're going to be here two hours and twenty seven minutes if I can't get any cooperation.' I had answered his question immediately. I was stunned. He had taken what I had told him, what he asked me to tell him, and threw it back in my face, in such a rude and sarcastic manner. I said 'I'm sorry, (I wasn't sorry. I hadn't done anything to be sorry for. I was so dismayed, I didn't know what else to say) I didn't know I wasn't cooperating.' He said, very derisively, "when you're saying things like 'that's scary', that doesn't help me get this done!" I didn't deserve a harsh, belittling, acerbic rebuke. I was so concerned with what I had seen in the screen, I quietly uttered two words. I didn't waste any of his valuable time ( you know, the time I was paying for). Never have I been spoken to with such disdain, but one thing for sure, I won't experience it again. I don't trust anyone who can speak to decent people like that, especially with my sight. I could tell he's quite comfortable speaking in such a condescending way. My friends know I'm a fair and honest person. This means something to them. If compassion means anything to you, go elsewhere.

Extremely pleased with Dr. Smithwick. He performed a procedure in office that I was nervous about but it went very well and he explained everything along the way and was very calm and knowledgeable. Also made sure everything would be covered by insurance for me. His staff is also very kind and helpful. Highly recommend.

Dr. Smithwick is by far the most caring doctor. Best Opthamologist in Jacksonville! His staff is awesome!

Dr. Smithwick is clearly the most kind, most knowable in his field than any doctor I have gone to in many, many years. He is the best!, and truly special.

Dr Smithwick is a excellent Dr. one of the best I’ve had acquaintance with. He did a excellent job on my surgery I was very pleased

My cataracts had gotten really bad, like I was seeing through wax paper. I was extremely nervous to go through surgery. Dr. Smithwick put me so at ease that I learned to trust him. He is very personable, reassuring and skilled. My outcome has been so dramatic that I can't remember ever having such good eyesight before. So far, have not needed my glasses; had worn them for about 36 years. Friendly and efficient office staff. True, decor is dated, but I like that. Neat, clean, comfy and pleasant.