This guy has been sued in multiple states did a surgery on me that was done 20 years after other Drs were no using i anymore becauseof the after effects

Submitted March 23, 2023

I had a ruptured brain aneurysm in 2000. Dr. Jefferson saved my life. He may not have great bedside manner, but I am here today because of him. Bedside manner won ‘t save your life, but Dr. Heffez might. What’s more important??

Submitted Aug. 2, 2021

I doubt that Dr. Heffez will ever see this-or care. But I'm a person who's life matters and I will not sit idly by as the medical system and it's counterparts let us fall into a black hole. Dr. Heffez had the opportunity to help me with a condition that he and few others are uniquely qualified to address. He chose not to-which leaves individuals as myself and millions of others drowning in a sea of medical bureaucracy. This is how this works-you have something, "x" happening. You get pushed from doctor to doctor, often waiting months or years at a time for a 15-minute appointment. They do nothing-they guide you no where. You end up back at square one. When you finally get something, say a referral, to someone who can help, they decide not to. Or worse-they do see you- you get 1015 minutes of their time as they check their watches as it's close to 5 PM and they want to go home-and send you home with no results. Now you have a record that you've been seen at "x" facility and no one else will help you-despite the fact that they did absolutely nothing. People suffer, people die of diseases and conditions that could have been prevented, people commit suicide because they're hopeless. Dr. Heffez is a prime example of someone who could have helped-saved a life-and didn't. Look elsewhere. You all deserve better than him.

Submitted March 13, 2020

Terrible. Worst Dr. visit I have ever encountered. Was referred to Dr. Heffez for my tethered spinal cord and chronic lower back pain. He dismissed my concerns, spoke to me like he didn't believe a word I said, offered no knowledge or direction. Spoke to me as if I was a doctor and could understand his terminology. I walked out of the visit with no help from Dr. Heffez. Just awful!

Submitted Dec. 31, 2019

Is the best at what he does. Surgery within 1 month of hearing his name from my neurologist! I was an honor nursing student and mom of 2 withwith 6 weeks left until graduation when I received the diagnosis of chiari malformation and my life was placed on hold due to being a "risk" to patients. I was also feeling like a bad mom due to not being able to barely take care of my children some says. He was thorough with his evaluation and noticed the need for surgery. Before I even left the hospital, I knew how much better I was. I still have a malformation in my neck that cuts off flow to my spinal cord that he is continuing to watch!

Submitted May 23, 2019

Very thorough exam, very pleasant attitude, very informative about condition.

Submitted Oct. 27, 2018

After seeing multiple specialists over the course of several years, I finally was led to Dr.Heffez. Not only did he save my life, he gave me my life back so I can actually LIVE it! I am "disabled" no more! Dr. Heffez is the most knowledgeable neurosurgeon I have ever seen. He takes the time to educate you, thoroughly. He allowed me to share my full story without interruption before he gave his thoughts and opinions and he "plays well with others" (I came to him out of state and he has collaborated well with my GP to ensure I have ongoing, excellent care at home). I am forever grateful to he and his staff. He is a God given gift to this world.

Submitted July 21, 2018

In October of 2011 I was in an car accident. A woman ran a red light and hit me in the driver door. Went to see doctor Hefez. His PA took my information. I had already had a herniated disc at c4c5 and a bulging disc at c5c6 before the accident. He just stated that I aggravated the area. But I was suffering from severe pins and needles sensation on the upper left side of my body. From my neck down the left side of my back and down my left arm into my hand. I'm left handed and was having problems gripping things. I had shooting pain as well over the left side as well as down right arm as well into my head. Physical therapy was making it work. He kept telling me the MRI's showed no new damage. I cried myself a sleep every night. I went to work everyday as a nurse and even the doctors I worked for were concerned I never complained to them but they called me in to tell me that they worried they could see in my body language something was wrong and they believed I needed surgery ASAP. They also said even though I was in pain I still did my job well but I needed to make Dr. Hefez either do surgery or recommend someone else. He agreed to do the surgery. He was to fuse c4- c7. After the surgery he came to the ICU and apologized to me because it seems I ruptured the discs and they were sliding in and out pinching nerves etc. His excuse was that when you're lying down for the MRI'S the discs would slide back into place plus since I in his opinion was not seeming into much distress he didn't believe me. After words I still had the pins and needles feeling on the left side as well as a burning sensation in between my fingers and my elbow I hit in the accident still was not feeling better and he told me it was nothing. Also find out he only fused c4- c6 and he refused to help with my claim for the accident he didn't like getting involved because of that and back then preconditions stated that I would have needed surgery at some point that I didn't have a case. If he did what he said and did fused c4 - c7 then I had a case. I was still hurting really bad but he couldn't help me with the pain. I have had to have multiple fusions done on C3 -C4 and c6 - c7. I suffer permanent nerve damage on the left side of my upper body I have neuropathy on that side and I can barely use my hand. Remember I'm left handed. Also I had upper back pain which he kept telling me it was pressure from the neck injury. My whole thoracic from T1 to T12 is herniated at different degrees through out. I suffer from peripheral edema and neuropathy my occipital nerves are pinched causing sever and I mean sever headaches. I my surgeons can't believe he didn't see all this damage and have been pissed that he didn't do anything. My job kept my position open for me for a year and a half hoping I would get better so I could come back but that was not in the cards. Also my elbow pain increased as well as the burning In my hand until I couldn't feel my pinky or my ring finger as well my ulnar nerve which runs down the inside of your arm through your elbow into your hand wash so damaged I had to have surgery and because it of the damage and the time I finally had surgery I didn't get the feeling back or strength in them. I have to have help now. He ruined my life by not wanting to get involved and not listening to me and doing minimal care.

Submitted March 27, 2018

Dr Heffez is a very skilled surgeon. My legs were paralyzed suddenly and I was in a wheelchair. Dr Heffez removed a benign tumor from my spine. Within 4 weeks I was able to walk again. He came in daily at the hospital before and after surgery to check on me. Great bedside manner!!

Submitted July 6, 2017

Most of all I'm disappointed. I was so excited to meet him because he is the "go to" guy for this specialty, however after seeing him I realize how much of a waste of time and money it was. I work in healthcare and I've never encountered such an arrogant MD with such poor bedside manner. He came in the room, didn't introduce himself or educate me on this condition at all. On the after visit summery it stated things differently than what we verbally talked about. Examples such as he said I didn't need to get annual MRI's but on the summary it stated I did need to get them every year. He also said he wasn't sure if I had a Chiari Malformation but on the summary it said I did have it. When I left I felt more confused about what I need to do next because he didn't come up with a plan of care. When I spoke to his PA about my concerns with this visit she got defensive and really didn't seem like she cared. I did not read reviews on Dr. Heffez before seeing him however someone had told me that his wife did not have a very good impression of him. Working in healthcare I work with a lot of patients and now I can share my experience with others so they are informed about Dr. Heffez.

Submitted June 7, 2017