Experienced and cautious, always follows up after surgery and is very tedious

Submitted Feb. 17, 2022

Dr. Hitchons Removed a tumor off my spinal cord. Can't say enough good thing about him or his staff.I am very pleased with the out come.

Submitted March 24, 2021

Dr Hitchon is a skilled surgeon and upfront communicator with a dry sense of humor! He reviewed options and risks to address my tumor. I chose surgery and am thrilled with the results. I am pain free and back to performing activities again! He has my trust and respect. I would choose him again and recommend him to friends and family! He’s a great surgeon and person!

Submitted Nov. 20, 2019

Dr. Hitchon preformed back surgery on me in March of 2014 for a bulging disk. From the age of 15 I had been in back pain and tried many different nonsurgical treatments before 2014. At the age of 74, I could no longer cope with the pain and after being informed of the possible outcomes there could be, I opted for surgery. Dr. Hitchon was very caring and willing to answer any of my questions. If I ever needed surgery again I definitely would ask for Dr. Hitchon. I have been pain free and able to perform many activities that I could not in previous years. Thank you Dr. Hitchon for helping me have a better life. My only regret is that I did not have the surgery sooner!

Submitted Dec. 29, 2016

Dr. Hitchon did my C1-C2 fusion 13 years ago. I did find him to pretty much lack bedside manner and isn't the hold your hand kind of Doctor some people like. I have had almost no issues and any issues I have had pale in comparison to paralysis. Thank You Dr. Hitchon!

Submitted July 14, 2015

Dr Hitchon is a disgrace to the medical community and to Iowa City Hospitals! He was the rudest, most unprofessional doctor I've ever encountered and I find it pathetic that IC leaves his mess for the other doctors to clean up instead of firing his a$$ I've worked in the medical profession for 20 years until I broke my back and was forced to quit. Not only did Hitchon tell me wouldn't order an MRI because "He wasn't going to pay for a 4,000 dollar test, and obviously since I'm on Medicaid I wouldn't either" but he also told me there was nothing wrong with me, epidurals don't hurt you, only falling off a building or a car accident can hurt you, I would never find a doctor in the state of Iowa to diagnose me, and I was just looking for an excuse. After he received the results from my X-ray he then told me I did need surgery but he wouldn't touch me! He walked out and slammed the door as I was in the middle of asking him what I needed surgery on. I would rather have my dog perform spine surgery than let that poor excuse of a Doctor ever touch me!

Submitted May 8, 2015

Compassionate and caring to my daughter and our family. When she passed she sent a note to us.

Submitted Feb. 26, 2015

I had huge ruptured discs at L4 and L5 and was in terrible pain. Met with Hitchon and he told be to be reasonable with my expectations as I could still have pain after the surgery. Nothing is ever 100% guaranteed. My surgery lasted 5 hours and was a complete success. If ever I needed surgery again I would travel back to the states, as I live in Canada, and have him operate again. Total trust in his abilities.

Submitted June 27, 2014

I was trust and believe doctor as the hand of god to touch and heal pain from people... but not until I see Dr. Hitchon W. Patrick he was rude and unprofessional, he was more care about the cost for insurance than the patient in bad pain, he described my pain as the light switch, 2 times unsuccessful surgeries in his department of Neurological 3rd times would make no sense "he said". I want to let people know that Dr. Hitchon is not a professional doctor.

Submitted April 16, 2013

I was born with spina bifida occulta. In my mid 3O's I started to have low back pain and numbness in my legs and feet. I went to a Neurosurgeon in Des Moines and had an MRI but the MRI was done incorrectly due to my birth defect. The doctor told me that "there was nothing wrong" with me and that is was just my "body habitus." I was then referred to Dr. Hitchon. He received the copy of the MRI and knew immediately that I had a teathered spinal cord. I saw Dr. Hitchon and underwent rigorous testing before my surgery. I still have back pain but if I opted not to have the surgery I could have risked losing my bowel/bladder function. I could have also lost these functions and much more as a result OF the surgery. I feel that Dr. Hitchon is a very brilliant man. I knew the risks I was taking when I had the surgery. When I see him for followups he reminds me that "you can still walk" and "you are classified as a spinal cord injury due to the problems you have." I am blessed.

Submitted Oct. 24, 2012