Donald Barkel's Online Review Report Card

Dr. Barkel was patient with me and explained what my options were. He saw me through a difficult surgery and recovery. I owe him my life.

I’ve been a patient of Dr Barkel’s for 20 +years. I found him to be a thorough, compassionate, and highly competent physician. He has a very active practice and he is well worth the wait if you need a patient centric physician.

I'd have to say it's one thing when you get a doctor referring to another doctor but it's quite another when you mention the name Barkel to any nurse anywhere and they revere him. The entire group is well respected and I've worked with Dr. Shellnut as well. I feel blessed to have found this group. I really feel they are the right people for me and my major surgery went well. I am on the mend! UPDATE: 2018 - I am still alive. Dr. Barkel got it (stage 3 tumor/s) all ! Update 2019 - 5 + years cancer free!!

The doctor was professional very knowledgeable and he listened I would recommend Dr. Barkel!

I went to see Dr. Barkel to help with chronic G.I. issues. I explained to him that I have a family history of colon cancer, and that I’ve made every attempt to treat these G.I issues with diet, medication, supplements, lifestyle changes, and more, with little to no improvement in symptoms. I thought it would be a good idea to get a colonoscopy and some other tests done to get more information on what could be causing my problems. I should have been more than a little suspicious when he walked into the room late, loudly slurping a big-gulp of Diet Coke. To my surprise and absolute dismay, Dr. Barkel told me that there was no point in getting a colonoscopy. He said that since I’m 26 and otherwise healthy, I would just have to “deal with it,” continue taking prescription drugs that make me feel worse, and continue experiencing severe G.I. symptoms for the rest of my life. I left his office feeling like there was no hope for me, and like I should just give up trying. I’d like to report that I found a COMPETENT doctor, and have improved my symptoms significantly due to having the standard G.I. testing done that I had asked Dr. Barkel to do. Dr. Barkel could not have been any less insightful, any less empathetic, or any less professional in his tone. He took one look at me and “pinned me” as someone who did not “look sick” despite everything I was telling him. I STRONGLY discourage anyone looking to advocate for their own health from seeing Dr. Barkel. I regret the 1-hour and the $30 copay I wasted on my time in his office.

Dr. Barkel made me feel extremely uncomfortable speaking with him about the pain and discomfort I was experiencing weeks after my sphincterotomy. He told me that 95% of patients are FINE a couple days after this surgery and I should be just fine to sit on my butt for 8 hours a day after he sliced my butt (sphincter) muscle in two (while still having constant bowel movement pass through the muscle that was just sliced in half). I expressed that this is not the case for me, and him and I went back and forth arguing about my pain over the phone, because he didn’t believe me. I felt like I was being treated like a lying child trying to get out of school. Or a junkie trying to get pain medicine. After Dr. Barkel and I argued over the phone, I made an appointment to be seen by a different doctor in their office, Dr Ziegler. It was a pleasant experience, as Dr. Ziegler treated my issue on a PER PATIENT basis and also had remorse and compassion for me, understanding the toll this was having on my everyday life. I have not received any follow up call/email from dr. Barkel since him and I argued over the phone to see if my issues have improved. I would never recommend any of my loved ones to be seen by Dr. Barkel and I definitely won’t be going back to see him myself either. Considering I am still experiencing pain/discomfort. I was told my pain would significantly decrease after the surgery, which was completely false. If I could give this review ZERO stars, I would.

They didn't let me know that 10 minute visit would cost me $250 after insurance and put the bill into collections within a month. The bill was for the correct day and month but it said it was an extra year old. Odd.

I went to see Dr. Barkel to help with chronic G.I. issues. I explained to him that I have a family history of colon cancer, and that I've made every attempt to treat these G.I issues with diet, medication, supplements, lifestyle changes, and more, with little to no improvement in symptoms. I thought it would be a good idea to get a colonoscopy and some other tests done to get more information on what could be causing my problems. I should have been more than a little suspicious when he walked into the room late, loudly slurping a big-gulp of Diet Coke.To my surprise and absolute dismay, Dr. Barkel told me that there was no point in getting a colonoscopy for me. He said that since I'm 26 and otherwise healthy, I would just have to "deal with it," continue taking prescription drugs that make me feel worse, and continue experiencing severe G.I. symptoms for the rest of my life. I left his office feeling like there was no hope for me, and like I should just give up trying. I'd like to report that I found a COMPETENT doctor, and have improved my symptoms significantly due to having the standard G.I. testing done that I had asked Dr. Barkel to do. Dr. Barkel could not have been any less insightful, any less empathetic, or any less professional in his tone. He took one look at me and "pinned me" as someone who did not "look sick" despite everything I was telling him. I STRONGLY discourage anyone looking to advocate for their own health from seeing Dr. Barkel. I regret the 1-hour and the $30 copay I wasted on my time in his office.

Dismissive attitude didn't listen. Talked down to me. One week after a visit and examination needed a second opinion based on symptoms. Was told by Dr Barkel to wait 3 months to see if symptoms went away. Second opinion Dr. said immediate surgery is necessary. would not recommend going to Dr Barkel for anything serious. I will be following up with Beaumont services to complain about him.

Sphincterotomy by Barkel who said I would be able to go back to work couple days after surgery. That was not true AT ALL. 3weeks after surgery &I was still in major pain. Barkel didn’t believe me &said that 95% of patients are completely fine few days after surgery. I decided to research myself bc I was very worried about how much pain/discomfort I was in. Come to find out recovery time for this surgery is 4-6 weeks. Felt like I was treated like a lying child by this Dr. I refuse 2 see him again