Fairview Lakes Regional Health

Pros

• The staff are lovely.
• The nurses and doctors were sweet and took time to listen and explain what they were testing for.
• Dr. Courtney Moore provided fast and exceptionally thorough preoperative care.
• Mike the Pharmacist is beyond helpful and goes above and beyond to assist patients.
• Dr. Kevin Brueske has fantastic bedside manner and genuinely cares about patients and families.
• Nicole, Doctor Anderson's nurse, was very nice and professional.
• The Sleep Center was amazing and Mary Jo was extremely helpful.
• Dr Peterson is amazing and would make someone not want to change clinics.

Cons

• They felt the clinic's capabilities were limited to a few tests with no meaningful follow-up.
• They criticized the lack of guidance or next steps when symptoms persisted.
• They believed care had deteriorated over time and planned to switch clinics.
• They described the system as dehumanizing, treating patients as numbers with little human touch.
• They experienced ongoing issues with staff and felt that nobody cared.
• They found obtaining medical records or imaging difficult, with fax as the only option.
• They warned others not to go there due to rude staff and poor patient support.
• They faced long telephone hold times and difficulty reaching the clinic.

Review

The collection of patient impressions paints a picture of a long-standing medical community hub that can feel like a lifeline to many families and individuals, while also revealing a spectrum of experiences that range from deeply satisfying to frustratingly fragmented. Across decades of loyalty, many patients describe nurses and physicians who are compassionate, attentive, and capable, offering moments of genuine care and expertise. Others, however, describe a steady drip of bureaucratic friction, delayed results, and communications gaps that leave people feeling unheard or uncertain about what comes next. Taken together, the reviews reveal a clinic system that still carries the weight of its reputation for warmth and thoroughness, even as it struggles with operational challenges that can undermine trust when symptoms persist or complex care is needed.

One recurring thread concerns the handling - or mishandling - of unresolved illness. A patient who faced five days of severe throat pain and a negative home test expresses a familiar frustration: two additional illnesses were tested for, both negative, and the notes offered only a vague invitation to revisit if symptoms worsened or did not improve. The sense is that the care team tested a few possibilities, then stepped back, leaving the patient without a clear plan or proactive follow-up. This leaves the impression that the clinic has the capacity to rule out a few conditions, but not necessarily to guide patients through the next steps when the clinical picture remains unclear. For someone who is still symptomatic on day six and contemplating urgent care, this can feel like a critical gap - especially when a patient is trying to navigate care with a loved one in the background pressing for answers.

Another set of experiences centers on communication delays and the accessibility of information. A reviewer recounts a CT scan from five days prior, with the promise of results within 24 hours that never materialized in the patient's hands. The only explanation arrives after the patient emails to ask why there's been no update. What follows is a tangling of administrative hurdles: attempts to obtain imaging images and reports are thwarted by an insistence on faxing requests, a method that many people no longer rely on, and then the perception that caregivers are slow to respond even after asking for help. This pattern - delayed medical explanations paired with procedural obstacles - exacerbates anxiety for patients who already feel vulnerable when test results are in the air and a clear directive is absent.

There are also harrowing stories of care fragmentation and missed opportunities for continuity. One patient describes multiple clinic visits over several months for seemingly ongoing GI concerns, including white matter and blood in stool, a colonoscopy that reportedly found a parasite, and a care gap that followed when the primary physician left. The result was a patient who felt stuck in a loop: prescriptions that did not arrive on time via the specialty pharmacy, busy phone trees that yielded little clarity, and a general sense that the system was more about directing patients through the process than about maintaining a coherent, ongoing treatment plan. When care feels so scattered, the emotional toll compounds the physical distress, and it's easy for patients to decide they've had enough of the system altogether.

Payment practices and policy changes also emerge as frequent sources of frustration. One review bluntly states that it should be illegal not to accept cash, highlighting how payment policies can feel like added barriers in a system designed to help people, not complicate their access to care. Another review notes a policy change that requires patients to check in 35 minutes before an appointment, a stipulation that can be particularly burdensome for families with young children or for those who must coordinate work and childcare. In these instances, well-meaning clinicians and staff are overshadowed by operational constraints that impede the patient experience, making it harder for families to arrive relaxed and prepared for a visit.

Amid the rough edges, there are clear beacons of strong clinical care and genuine empathy. Several reviewers sing the praises of individual providers who delivered exceptional service. Dr. Courtney Moore earns thanks for a fast, well-executed preoperative physical and history intake, underscoring the value of thorough, respectful preparation for surgery. Other positive notes point to the consistency of demeanor and thoroughness of care among doctors who "listen and explain what they're testing for," and to clinicians who "go above and beyond" to educate and engage with patients in a holistic fashion. In particular, the praise for a provider who is described as "fantastic with such a great bedside manner" underscores the potential for true excellence within the same system that also receives critical feedback.

The day-to-day experiences of staff also shape the overall impression. A common sentiment is that the clinic's staff, from nurses to pharmacists, can be personable, patient-centered, and capable of easing even anxious patients. One reviewer highlights how lab draws were quick and painless for someone with "tiny noodle veins," and another recounts a pharmacist's exceptional helpfulness, noting how Mike the Pharmacist has repeatedly gone above and beyond. There are even accounts of positive impressions from mental health services, where a therapist's kindness is balanced by candid critiques of other aspects of behavioral health care. Taken together, these voices show that the human touch remains a core strength of the practice, even when other parts of the system feel strained.

Yet the chorus of praise is interwoven with repeated cautions about communication and access. Several reviewers report long holds when trying to make appointments, difficulty obtaining medical images or records (including complaints about the necessity to fax requests in an era of digital sharing), and occasional perception that staff respond slowly or inconsistently to patient inquiries. A number of patients specifically note the anxiety created by delays in test results, uncertain care plans, and the sense that some encounters conclude without clear next steps. In mental health, while some clinicians are commended for their warmth, others describe a disconnect between what a patient expects and what is delivered, highlighting the ongoing challenge of aligning different specialties under one umbrella of care.

Ultimately, the patient voices converge on a nuanced portrait: a formidable legacy of patient-centered care, anchored by compassionate clinicians and capable staff, coexisting with real, addressable problems in follow-up, communication, record-sharing, and care continuity. The clinic appears to render excellent care in many moments - clear explanations, thoughtful questions, and careful attention to patient experience - while also revealing systemic frictions that frustrate patients who want a clear plan, timely updates, and seamless access to information. For many, the enduring loyalty is tempered by a recognition that meaningful improvements in the everyday workflow - follow-up protocols, faster communication, easier access to imaging and records, and smoother coordination across departments - could turn gratitude into unassailable trust. In the meantime, the stories suggest that preserving the best aspects of this clinic's culture - kindness, attentiveness, and clinical skill - while addressing the operational gaps could help many more patients feel truly cared for, every time they walk in the door.

Chisago City, Minnesota, offers a range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With multiple hospitals such as Fairview Lakes Health Services and Osceola Medical Center nearby, residents can easily access quality healthcare. In addition, there are several pharmacies located within close proximity for easy medication management. For dining options, there are various restaurants like Subway and The Stone Inn offering diverse menu choices. Residents can enjoy outdoor activities at nearby parks such as Surfland Park and Beach Park. Places of worship like Trinity Lutheran Church and St John's Lutheran Church provide spiritual support for those seeking a sense of community. Transportation options like Enterprise Rent-A-Car offer convenience for getting around the area. Overall, Chisago City provides a desirable location with essential services for seniors looking to settle in a welcoming community.

Hospitals

• Fairview Lakes Health Services (0 miles)
• Fairview Lakes Medical Center (7.7 miles)
• Osceola Medical Center (8.9 miles)
• Ladd Memorial Hospital (9.9 miles)
• Cambridge Medical Center (10.8 miles)
• St. Croix Falls Clinic (11.1 miles)
• St Croix Regional Medical Center (11.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (0.3 miles)
• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• Panda II (0.8 miles)
• Arby's (0.9 miles)
• The Stone Inn (1.1 miles)
• Lindstrom Bakery (1.2 miles)
• Smitty's Bar & Grill (1.2 miles)

Parks

• Surfland Park (0.5 miles)
• Beach Park (0.8 miles)
• Lyman Park (0.9 miles)
• Chuckie Lundquist Park (1 miles)
• Ironhorse Railroad Park (5.2 miles)
• Tolzmann Park (6.6 miles)
• Cascade Falls (9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Lindstrom Snyder Drug (0.9 miles)
• Lindstrom Thrifty White Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Thirft White (0.9 miles)
• Chisago Drug (1.3 miles)
• Gordy's Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Wyoming Drug (7.1 miles)
• Rolseth Drug (9 miles)

Cafes

• Northwoods Roasterie (1.1 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (9.1 miles)
• Higher Grounds Cafe (10.5 miles)
• Coffee Talk (10.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Trinity Lutheran Church (1.6 miles)
• Chisago Lake Lutheran Church (2.6 miles)
• St John's Lutheran Church (5.6 miles)
• Real Church Real People (7.6 miles)
• United Methodist Church (8.9 miles)
• Hosanna Lutheran Church (9.3 miles)
• First Baptist Church of Osceola (9.9 miles)

Physicians

• Delisi Stephen M MD - Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation (3.5 miles)
• Fairview Sports and Orthopedic Care (7.7 miles)
• Carlos Adams MD (7.7 miles)
• St Croix Orthopaedics (7.7 miles)
• Twin Cities Orthopedics Wyoming (7.7 miles)
• Summit Orthopedics (9 miles)
• Hauge Dentistry (9 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (8.8 miles)