Christopher Nieman Md's Online Review Report Card

He keeps saying he will send me for this test and that, but never actually does the referrals. I am constantly calling to remind him every few months, and he still doesn't get them done. Apparently it's not just with me either.

Caring, listened to my health care experience and ordered appropriate investigations. Recommended next steps for follow up with my family GP.

Was told that he feels it’s a waste of his time to follow up with me.

This Dr works in Cranbrook BC now. He lacks punctuality, doesn’t bother to read charts or letters sent by specialists until he’s asked for results. Seems to have an aversion to physically examining people. He seems to lack medical knowledge.

If you like to get 30sec to 2minute telehealth visits, have him call you later than your appointment (30mins or amd hour) or have your complaints dismissed, teports not read, referrals not done - this is your doctor. Not to mention he allows his personal beliefs cloud the care he provides. This family doctor made OVER 400K in 2020. He made more than many surgeons and between 100-200k more than many other family doctors in the community. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/practitioner-pro/medical-services-plan/blue-book-2019-20.pdf

I was feeling suicidal and when I went to Dr Niemand, he literally said "you're not that screwed up" and sent me home. I had chronic pain and he wouldn't do any investigations. He told me he would sent in a referral for an x-ray and he never did. He just blows smoke up your a$$. Every time he said he would send in my prescription, I would go to the pharmacy and it was not there. Then I would have to call the doctor and remind him. I told him I took Tylenol#1 and he freaked out and accused me of drug seeking because there's 20mg if codeine in each pill then he studied with me when I told him there's only 8mg. (I'm a nurse I know what I'm taking about! Plus it's says so on the label....) I got a new doctor and within a week I had answers!

If you want a doctor that fits the following description, then Dr. Niemand is your guy: -unfairly profiles people and their conditions -does not prepare for appointments (even when calling to tell you that you have an invasive cancer (still says "What can I do for you today" and had obviously not read the report or prepared for the call!) -communicates report findings extremely poorly especially when confronted with more than one report to deliver (had to get another doctor to call me to explain the findings and read the reports myself) - refuses to admit a mistake even when it is obvious he has made one (will not give the patient any credit for knowing when they actually had a scan done or what was discussed on your last call with him -will walk out of the office when your 10 minutes is up even though you are still talking to him! -has to be reminded to send in requisitions for previously recommended routine cancer MRI's -dismisses and contradicts the advice you have received from experts in fields for which he is not well trained and for which the clinic he works for sent a referral for you to see that expert -contradicts the medical advice of an emergency room physician who you saw in person when he himself has not seen you and is just talking to you on the phone! If that is what you are looking for in a doctor, then you are in good hands with Dr. Niemand. I understand and appreciate that people can have very different personalities and backgrounds and that they can still be good doctors. But, for all of you that have given Dr. Niemand 5 stars, I would say this....tread carefully. I think there is a reason why Dr. Niemand gets either a very low score from people or a very high score. It seems we are not all receiving the same level of care or perhaps some people are posting reviews without a lot of experience. It's not just a personality thing. As for the clinic in which he currently works, I had two great doctors previous to Dr. Niemand but one had to leave and one had too many patients already. I was disappointed when my previous doctor there did not reach out to me before switching me to Dr. Niemand but I guess that's how things work there. When you are struggling hard to maintain your health just to stay working at your lifelong career it's really important to feel that your GP is on your team. My previous doctors were on my team. This one is not...it's as simple as that. If you don't trust in your doctor's abilities that can have really bad outcomes for your health and your stress level too. I need a real doctor. I need more than just prescription re-fills and untimely referrals...I need an actual doctor who will read reports and prepare for appointments and respect the expert advice of other medical professionals. Is that asking too much? After seeing Dr. Niemand for several months, I asked to be put on the waiting list for another doctor. This was about 2-3 years ago. Despite repeated attempts to get switched doctors within the clinic, it has taken until I received a new cancer diagnosis for them to take my request seriously. I know there is a doctor shortage, particularly female doctors, but this clinic’s inability to consider and deal with repeated requests in a timely and professional fashion is really not acceptable. It seems like they have used the doctor shortage as an excuse to not even try to make a good doctor/patient fit.

Im a nutrition student, I was talking about veganism with my coworkers and how people in blue zones tend to live longer. Dr Niemand came up to me at the store, introduced himself and proceeded to lecture me on how veganism is unhealthy and dangerous and a ketogenic diet is a lot healthier. Not only is this opinion not shared throughout the dietetics community of Canada, he also used his title to endorse it. He also questioned my ability to read and claimed “If I read actual studies about it I would know.” His actions were very unprofessional. His perspective that the ketogenic diet is superior is not shared by most medical and dietetics organizations. For these reasons I think Dr. Niemand should keep these opinions to himself.

He took over for my family doctor in Cranbrook a few years ago and although at first I was a little intimidated because of how forward he was, I quickly grew to appreciate how he works. He's great at asking questions and providing options for treatment when it's appropriate as well as sending out referrals when needed. As much as I miss my old family doctor, I'm thankful for having Dr. Niemand step in

Dr. Niemand treated me several yrs., ago in Peace Arch Hospital in White Rock. He immediately arranged an x-ray which showed an impacted bowel and following his instructions I was back to normal.. later he started his own practice at Hilltop Clinic and my husband and I along with my sister and several of our friends made him our family Doctor. We are all in our 60 + yrs., old and certainly have been to previous doctors. His knowledge compares with and sometimes surpasses others., no problem referring us to a specialist if needed. Dr.Niemand has a relaxing persona which enabled me to speak openly re: my health problems. I would highly recommend him. Cranbrook, you gained what White Rock lost. “Yes” he did speak of the Great Healer God and No it did not offend me at all . Matter of fact don’t we all need that?