Actually Joel Hoekema doesn’t deserve any stars, but Google forces you to leave at least one star. This “doctor” was very rude to my wife who was there for support. First he asked if I smoked, then he asked her if she smoked. What kind of question is that to ask someone who isn’t even the patient? It’s not any of his business if she smokes, and it had no relevance with my appointment. Then he asked us about where we would go on vacation, but before we could answer, he abruptly said we would only be able to afford to do so with the money we would be saving from not buying cigarettes.He also was not compassionate at all about the amount of pain I was in. He said to me if I could lose some weight, that would probably help too in a not very nice way.He said he couldn’t help me after barely looking at my MRI results; he wanted me to try other options which I already have tried and didn’t work. I’m having very bad pain in my right hip going into my leg and groin. This pain has been going on for almost 6 months now and only has gotten worse. He made me feel like I was wasting his time. After insulting both myself and my wife, he abruptly said “I can’t help you and we’re done” and left the room. My wife and I were speechless.We will be reporting him to the better business bureau and looking into a lawsuit against him. It was especially unnecessary asking my wife personal questions when she was just there for support. He treated her awfully.I’m in a lot of pain and and he didn’t seem to care at all. He showed no compassion whatsoever. Both my primary doctor and the ER doctor I saw said my MRI didn’t look good and most likely my hip would need surgery. Dr. Hoekema didn’t seem to care about what my other doctors had said, and it felt like he didn’t want to deal with me. I’m very unhappy with how I was treated, and even more unhappy with how he treated my wife. 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

Two or three years ago I consulted Dr. Hoekema regarding pain in my lumbar spine and he told me there was nothing he could do for me; basically I was getting old, I had arthritis, and I was just going to have to live with it. No offer of referral to a specialist, pain management, nothing. I was devastated.After getting about two steps away from a wheelchair, I found a wonderful, fearless surgeon (Dr. Lu at Skagit Northwest Orthopedic Surgeons) who recommended a TLIF surgery for my lumbar spine (L3, 4, 5 & S1). There is an excellent video on YouTube that explains the procedure. I am happy to report that six weeks post surgery I have no pain (other than normal recovery soreness/stiffness) and have regained my balance and stability. I am now happily enjoying the rest of our beautiful summer in my garden.I hope Dr. Hoekema gets up to speed through continuing education or, at the very least, shows his patients some compassion and gives them referrals to someone who can help them.

Very good doctor!!!!My wife is so happy with her new hipShe recovered faster than expected

This doctor could possibly have a better career as a psychic. Without seeing any old images, he categorically stated that my condition is unchanged in the last 30+ years, although my symptoms have increased significantly. I had my first and only appointment with him. He could not have been much more uncaring. Felt like I was just something to get checked off of his to do list.

A highly skilled surgeon who produced results in my back operation that exceeded expectations.A no-nonsense and detailed approach in explaining the root cause of the problem, the procedure, anticipated results and recovery.Highly recommended.

I am 65 years old actively loving life. All thanks to Dr Joel. Id be in a wheel chair today if Dr Joel had not performed a double knee replacement back in 2009. And since then he has replaced both my hips and repaired my shoulder. I am grateful for having him in my life, and still smiling each morning as I open my eyes.

Excellent surgeon - my achilles rupture healed nicely and the leg works great! He has a wonderful bedside manner; I was nervous about the surgery and he calmed my fears, even letting me know the anesthesiologist was the one he requested for his wife, a person he truly trusted. That really helped. He is a kind, skilled doctor.

These people are probably the worst provider group I have ever had the occasion to encounter. Frankly, they dont deserve any star rating at all. My wife was referred to them by our Primary Care physician for good reasons. Namely, she broke her toe a week ago saturday and like most everything in the medical profession these days it is expected that you be referred to specialists by your doc before you get any care. Before seeing her Primary Care doctor on Tuesday this week ~ who by the way have been the only voice of reason in this journey, she was seen by a completely incompetent MD in the Urgent Care Clinic who had as little in the way of professional manner as this group. So her referral and X-rays get sent to this group Tuesday late afternoon.... they are supposed to review and contact her to schedule an appointment. So no call ~ obviously no substantial suffering being experienced on their end. Wife finally has to call our clinic and then in turn has to call them to start a conversation about getting an appointment. She has been in significant discomfort (understated here) and in her distress is in tears and attempting to get heard by Linda, their administrative lead and by a nurse in their office. These people had about as much compassion as a mustard seed..... someone ought to water them with some skills in managing patients in serious distress. These people need to be trained in some basic communication and listening skills. Their response was an outrage. I would highly discourage anyone seeking care from this group who has any kind of urgent need or significant pain to avoid these people at all costs. Do yourself a favor and ask for a referral to somewhere else. Apparently people with broken bones dont rate the decency of a contact from this office when bumping up against holiday weekends. Absolutely pathetic!!!!! Husband of the wife.

I am thankful to have crossed paths with Dr. Joel Hoekema, he has been an outstanding surgeon that has now performed 2 lower back surgeries on me , repaired my girlfriends shattered wrist as well as just doing my bi-lateral total knee replacements. I highly recommend him to everyone I talk to.Hope to not have to see him anytime soon, but if I need to, he will be the first call I make.Thank you Joel & your outstanding staff.Shawn Snow. Bellingham Wa.

Dr Hoekema was my physician when I tore my MCL in football practice 11 years ago. He suggested no surgery and allow the injury to heal after immobilizing it, then putting it in a bend restriction brace for several more months after that. I made a full recovery.My injury inspired me to go into medicine, and I during my training, I was able to work in cases alongside Dr Hoekema in surgery. I feel that I have a rather unique perspective in not only his clinical skills, but also his procedural skills as well, and found them both to be exceptional.I now work at St Joes in their cardiac cath lab, and occasionally see him in the hallways, something I think is just a cool turn of events.

I was shocked to read the email regarding Dr. Hoekemas resignation.He performed two surgeries on me in the past three years and I have so much respect for him and his surgical skills. My total knee replacement went exceptionally well. When I ended up in the ER after breaking my wrist and found out that he was the ortho on call I did the happy dance. So sorry to see him go.

Dr.Hoekema performed a spinal surgery on me and practically left me hanging in the balance post-op. I shared with him and his staff how much pain I was still in and other symptoms that had come up post-op. And I was told to “take ibuprofen and Tylenol”. I was not taken seriously and was ridiculed most of the time I was face to face with him. I then found a new surgeon and come to find out, the surgery doctor hoekema performed on me had failed. And now I have to play catch up and try to save the surgery that he botched. In short, DO YOUR RESEARCH. GET A SECOND OPINION. AND DO NOT TRUST THE FIRST DOCTOR THAT SAYS THEY CAN FIX YOU.

Dr. Hokema is a surgeon of the highest quality. He did a hip replacement on me in March of 2015 and the results have been remarkable. He and his team were professional in every respect. Highly recommended if you need an orthopedic surgeon.

I consider Dr. Hoekema to be Superman. He fixed me twice and repaired one of my kids. Highly recommended.

Im adding a review only because I received an email stating that Dr. Hoekema is resigning and if I wanted to continue to get treatment at Pacific Rim, Id have to associate with another physician. That got me to wondering why, so I Googled him only to find all of these interesting reviews. I was referred to him and Pac Rim for a meniscus repair by my family doctor after hurting my knee playing soccer. Initially, he seemed to be fine and was helpful in explaining the process and procedure of a meniscus repair. The staff was fine too. The day of surgery I went in and had the procedure done. Or the one I thought I was going to have. It is when I woke from the anesthesia that things seems off. He handed me pictures of what he did, but didnt spend time to explain what I was looking at or what he decided to do, which was different from what he told me he was going to do. Instead of just fixing the meniscus, he completely removed it. I was never told that there was a possibility that he would perform a full meniscectomy. I was told to come back for a follow up. I did at my appointed time, but he wasnt there. It was his PA. I asked his PA about the pictures and what was done, but he didnt have them nor did he have access to them. He couldnt really even articulate what it was that I should do to continue to rehab beyond riding a bike. That appointment was a waste of time and in retrospect, caused me to believe that I could, after normal rehab, return to my active life style of running and playing soccer. I did rehab and stayed off of my feet for 6 weeks. I slowly started to build up my strength using a recumbent bike and eventually began to do small runs. This was a good 3 months after the procedure. My knee became swollen and it was a little uncomfortable. I was concerned and made another appointment, but insisted on seeing Dr. Hoekema. This is when I was told that I was to never run again and never play soccer again unless I wanted a knee replacement. He wasnt polite or empathetic. In fact, he seemed angered that I was trying to run and was put out that Id waste his time with another office visit. Look, Im not a high payed well educated doctor, so when one sits in the office of someone who is, it is intimidating. I was embarrassed for coming in to see him and like a few other patients whove provided feedback, I left there with a sense of being treated poorly. I felt dismissed and marginalized. So, I go back to my original thought. Why did he resign? Poor bedside manner leads the Pac Rim to force him out or what? I wish I had gotten a second opinion about the meniscus repair. Ill never know if it really was needed or if there could have been some alternative. I suppose that is neither here nor there. What lasts for me are those feelings I had when I left that appointment and my continuing knee problems.

So, its been 2? 3? years since my hip replacement? Wish Id had it done MUCH sooner, but dealing with Dr. Hoekema and his team made it the surgical equivalent of a walk in the park. Friends still ask me hows your hip? and I have to think for a minute what theyre talking about... Another thing? I went back to him for knee pain & a back issue; he did the xrays, said nah, your knees in pretty good shape & surgery would probably only move your back pain from one place to another. This is a guy you can trust!

Horrible doctor Joel Hoekema is hands down the worst doctor I have ever had!!! All he did was ridicule me for my weight and talk crap about it the whole time. Then he has his teachers pet of an assistant thats just as bad. The only thing I have to say is idk what his problem was but its not my fault he and his pet didnt get it on the night before.

Went to him first time tried injection didnt work did another MRI went in was with me 1 min said nothing I can do for you live with it out the door I will never go back not even to take my dog, my pain is so bad, so I hope he never go through what us patient have and he gets a better doctor then he is Ive never had such a non caring doctor