Signature Care Centers

Pros

• Dr. Joel Vandermeide listens and helps with any situation.
• Dr. Alex is an amazing and caring provider who listens and coordinates labs and referrals when needed.
• The staff are friendly and accommodating, with Kim described as the best.
• Kim is the absolute best - never feels rushed and everyone is very nice.
• The nurses are very nice and attentive.
• Appointments are fast and often available the same day or next.
• The providers listen to patients' symptoms and how they're feeling.
• The clinic treats patients like family and the staff are down-to-earth.
• Jessica Tiernan is patient, polite and well-informed.

Cons

• They waited on hold for 35 minutes and spoke to no one - unacceptable service.
• Nurses passed the infant around without the parent's knowledge, which felt disrespectful and unsafe, especially during covid season.
• A nurse taunted them by saying, "See you next week!" when there was no appointment.
• Dr. Joel did not speak directly to the patient; his nurse told them to go to urgent care to fill a prescription, which seemed unacceptable.
• The wait time at the clinic is ridiculous.
• Some reviewers felt the other two providers lacked compared to Dr. Joel.
• They were billed for services with questions about costs after being pressured to take a test, raising concerns about cost transparency.

Review

UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine in Johnston has earned a strong following from patients who value genuine, person-centered care. Across the board, people consistently praise the providers for listening, taking time, and addressing a range of concerns without making patients feel rushed. Dr. Joel Vander Meide is a common thread in several stories: many patients describe him as attentive and thorough, able to tackle multiple issues in a single visit, and someone who truly listens. One patient even says they followed him and Dr. Alex from Boone to Johnston because they trusted their care so deeply, underscoring a loyalty built on consistent, empathetic attention.

Dr. Alex is repeatedly described as an amazing and caring provider who listens closely, is patient, and takes care to cover all bases. Patients appreciate that she doesn't just treat symptoms but also coordinates follow-up through labs and referrals to specialists when needed. This sense of comprehensive, careful planning is a hallmark of the care experience for many families who rely on this clinic. Another patient notes that Dr. Patterson has changed their experience for the better, describing the staff as knowledgeable and the care as something they don't want to change.

The patient experience with the staff and the clinic's accessibility also features prominently in reviews. Several people single out the staff for friendliness and helpfulness, from the reception team to nurses, lab techs, and billing personnel. There are strong endorsements of the ease of getting in for appointments, with some praising same-day or next-day slots and overall efficiency. Phrases like "Very efficient hardly any wait time" and "Fast appointments" appear repeatedly, painting a picture of a clinic that values timely access to care. However, not every experience matches this ideal - one reviewer mentions waiting on hold for 35 minutes for a call-back, and another simply characterizes wait times as ridiculous. These contrasting experiences point to variation in administrative responses that seem to depend on the moment or the department handling a request.

Not all feedback centers on clinical care; there are important notes about privacy and bedside manner that underline how sensitive health and family matters can be. A particularly troubling incident involved a patient's 9-month-old being handled by nurses outside the restroom and later passed around to multiple nurses without the parent's explicit knowledge or consent. The patient described feeling disrespected and even taunted by the situation, expressing valid safety concerns about who had access to their child, especially during COVID times. This account led the family to decide they would seek care elsewhere in the future - a reminder that even in generally positive environments, questions of policy and respectful, transparent practice matter greatly.

Financial interactions and cost transparency also appear in the reviews. One patient recounts being billed a substantial amount for a cold visit, including a flu swab, and encountering a dismissive billing representative who suggested doctors didn't have responsibility for costs. This experience highlights the tension that can exist between accessible medical care and the clarity of pricing. Yet other parts of the experience celebrate the clinic's proactive billing staff, described as fighting for patients to secure needed care and medications. The mixed financial feedback suggests room for clearer communication about costs, even as the clinical staff are widely praised for their expertise and support.

Ultimately, the clinic earns its strongest praise for its culture of care and its durable patient relationships. Patients describe the environment as down-to-earth, family-like, and genuinely caring - attributes that shine through in stories about staff who listen, doctors who remember histories, and teams that collaborate to find solutions. For families facing complex or chronic health needs, the clinic is portrayed as a place where providers not only treat but also support day-to-day life, with caregivers who understand the broader context of patients' lives. A veteran patient, with a long history of medical interactions and a child with autism, ADHD, and peanut allergies, calls it the best family clinic and notes that there have never been issues with treatment, thanks to real-world wisdom and a respectful, collaborative approach.

In summary, UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine in Johnston emerges as a multifaceted practice largely defined by compassionate, attentive clinicians - especially Dr. Joel Vander Meide and Dr. Alex - paired with a friendly, capable staff and a patient-centered ethos. The experiences range from highly positive on access, efficiency, and personal connection to critical reminders about privacy, costs, and the importance of consistent administrative support. The prevailing tone is one of trust and loyalty: many patients are willing to travel distances to continue care with their preferred providers, crediting a sense of being treated like family and receiving care that respects both medical and personal needs.

Located in Johnston, Iowa, this area offers a variety of convenient amenities for seniors. With multiple physicians' offices nearby such as Johnston Family Physicians and Mercy Family Medicine of Urbandale, healthcare needs can easily be met. There are also pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS within a short distance. For recreational activities, Terra Park and Lions Park provide outdoor spaces for relaxation and exercise. Additionally, there are dining options ranging from Health House Food to Bandit Burrito, as well as cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for socializing with friends. For entertainment, Flix Brewhouse Des Moines offers movies in a unique setting. Overall, this part of Johnston offers a blend of essential services and leisure options ideal for senior living.

Physicians

• Johnston Family Physicians (0.3 miles)
• Iowa Arthritis & Osteoporosis Center (1.5 miles)
• Vision Eye Clinic (1.8 miles)
• Mercy Family Medicine of Urbandale (2.8 miles)
• Mercy Urbandale Medical Clinic (3 miles)
• Christian Eye Clinic (3.1 miles)
• Eyemart Optical Outlet - North Des Moines (3.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Health House Food (1.1 miles)
• Taste of New York (1.1 miles)
• Culver's (1.6 miles)
• Van Dee's Ice Cream Shoppe (1.9 miles)
• El Mariachi (2 miles)
• Viva Mexican Restaurant (2 miles)
• Bandit Burrito (2.1 miles)

Parks

• Terra Park (1.7 miles)
• Lions Park (2.7 miles)
• Waterford Disc Golf Course (5.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• National Pharmaceutical Returns (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Onnen Co. (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)

Theaters

• Flix Brewhouse Des Moines (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Mercy Franklin Center (5 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center West Lake (5.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saylorville Baptist Church (5.5 miles)
• Living Faith Lutheran Church (5.8 miles)