The Terrace North in Zion, IL

Pros

• The staff are very caring and good with handicapped patients.
• The clinic delivers amazing experiences at every visit, with Dr. Esmon being amazing, and the care and compassion described as heartwarming; the staff are kind and informative; patients receive top-quality care.
• The facility is absolutely phenomenal, going above and beyond private practices, making healthcare easy.
• The front desk is excellent, and Olga is equally amazing - friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive.
• The dentist performed a phenomenal and quick procedure, the lobby wait time was quick, and the place is highly recommended.
• The staff are consistently kind and provide good service, especially the receptionists; they proactively assist with procedures.
• The facility is spotless and offers very friendly service; patients are pleasantly surprised by the no-line experience and plan to return.
• The department offers many services; the staff are incredible, very caring and compassionate; it was a great experience; they are highly recommended.

Cons

• Appointments were routinely given away on different days, with patients told to verify their appointment multiple times up to the day of the visit, sometimes leading to months-long waits.
• The level of care has deteriorated in recent years due to constant doctor changes, leaving patients unsure of why they are there and dissatisfied.
• The reception staff are rude and display a lack of work ethic.
• A security officer was rude to a parent, telling them to watch their own child.
• The nurse assigned to vaccination was rude, screamed through the door, and did not provide the expected treatment.
• In emergencies, the clinic hung up the phone, hindering urgent care.

Review

The Terrace North in Zion, IL is best suited for families that prize hands-on, compassionate medical attention and a stable, caring front-line experience. It works well for seniors and caregivers who want clinicians who remember details, coordinate referrals, and respond with empathy to complex needs - qualities repeatedly noted in praise for staff who manage handicapped individuals and for the way front-desk teams keep conversations moving. The facility appears especially appropriate for patients who value personal attention from physicians and nurses and who can tolerate some scheduling imperfections in exchange for heavy emphasis on patient comfort and ongoing support. Those with highly time-sensitive appointment needs or a preference for a single, consistently assigned physician may want to explore alternatives.

On the positive side, the health team earns trust through genuine care and clear communication. Multiple reviewers highlight doctors - notably Dr. Esmon - and the broader staff as kind, knowledgeable, and accessible, with front-desk personnel who remember patients and stay proactive about referrals and reminders. The environment itself is described as clean and welcoming, reinforcing a sense that patients are cared for beyond the exam room. For families juggling ADHD follow-ups or complex referral pathways, the ability to get reminders, referrals, and a human touch can dramatically reduce the burden of navigating a fragmented system.

However, access and reliability issues muddy the picture. A recurring theme is appointment chaos: verifications, cancellations, and months-out wait times that undermine trust when time is of the essence. Phone access and callbacks are inconsistent, leaving families frustrated and worried about missing vaccines or urgent care needs. There are mentions of rude interactions with security or reception staff and occasional reports of rude nurses, all of which can erode the sense of safety and dignity patients expect in a clinic that serves families and seniors. These gaps do not reflect the clinical competence, but they are real barriers to dependable care.

Still, the best elements often offset these drawbacks for the right patient. When appointments actually occur, patients frequently praise the level of care and the thorough, compassionate approach that helps patients feel heard and respected. The practice's strengths - careful listening, proactive coordination, and a willingness to go the extra mile - can meaningfully improve outcomes, particularly for those who require ongoing communication with specialists or guardianship of multiple care streams. For families who can navigate scheduling with persistence, and who are not counting on on-demand access, the positives can outweigh the negatives, yielding a solid care partner.

That said, those who need flawless scheduling reliability, a consistently assigned clinician, or consistently responsive phone access should consider significant alternatives. Some reviewers have found other clinics that deliver as-good or better clinical care with calmer appointment flows or more consistent front-desk experiences. For seniors choosing among assisted-living-linked care options, The Terrace North should be evaluated as a strong option for high-quality doctoring and compassionate staff, but not as a guaranteed predictability anchor. If the priority is straightforward access and uniform provider continuity, a more stable clinic will likely be a better fit.

Bottom line: The Terrace North offers credible, patient-centered care delivered by capable clinicians and a caring team, with a track record of warmth that can reduce the burden of navigating complex health needs. Its practical appeal hinges on willingness to tolerate scheduling rough edges in exchange for deep interpersonal connection and hands-on coordination. Prospective families should enter with a plan: book early, confirm appointments, document verifications, and push for proactive reminders when possible. For many, this facility will be a wise component of a broader care strategy; for others, especially those requiring turnkey scheduling, alternatives may deliver fewer headaches without sacrificing care quality.

This part of Zion, Illinois, offers convenient access to a variety of healthcare services, including physicians specializing in surgical oncology, plastic surgery, dermatology, and more. There are hospitals nearby such as Cancer Treatment Centers of America for specialized care and Vista Medical Center for general medical needs. In terms of amenities, there are several pharmacies within a short distance for easy access to medications. The area also features various dining options ranging from fast food to sit-down restaurants like The Shanty Restaurant. Additionally, there are parks nearby for leisurely walks and relaxation. Places of worship such as St Therese Church and St Paul's Lutheran Church offer spiritual support and community engagement. For entertainment, residents can enjoy movies at Gurnee Mills Cinema or Cinemark Tinseltown USA. Overall, this part of Zion provides a well-rounded environment that caters to the needs and interests of seniors looking for a vibrant community with essential services within reach.

Physicians

• Hatem Halabi, MD, FACS | Surgical Oncologist (0.5 miles)
• Meadows Plastic Surgery (1.3 miles)
• Vista Physician Group (5.2 miles)
• Family Primary Care Clinic (6.1 miles)
• North Suburban Dermatology Associates (6.8 miles)
• Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics & Orthotics (6.9 miles)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (7 miles)

Hospitals

• Cancer Treatment Centers of America - Gastroenterology (0.5 miles)
• Waukegan Il Hospital Co. (4.7 miles)
• Vista Medical Center - East (4.7 miles)
• Ocenco (6.5 miles)
• Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (9.1 miles)
• Kenosha Medical Center (9.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Jewel-Osco Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (5.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.1 miles)

Parks

• Illinois Beach State Park (2.2 miles)
• Waukegan Park District (5.5 miles)
• Gangler Park (8.1 miles)
• Southport Park (8.1 miles)
• Millenium Park of Lindenhurst (9.2 miles)
• Eichelman Park (9.4 miles)
• Wolfenbuttel Park (9.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (2.6 miles)
• The Tropics (3.4 miles)
• Shirl's Drive In (3.9 miles)
• The Shanty Restaurant (5.3 miles)
• Country Pride (6.5 miles)
• Starlite Club (6.7 miles)
• Culver's (6.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (8.8 miles)
• Corner Bakery Cafe (9.3 miles)
• Starbucks (9.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Therese Church (6.6 miles)
• St Paul's Lutheran Church (7 miles)

Theaters

• Gurnee Mills Cinema Gurnee, Il (7.4 miles)
• Cinemark Tinseltown USA (9.1 miles)