Dr. Paul Michael Smiley

I was with my mentally disabled grandmother today who was being seen for a shoulder injury. I’m glad I came with her because she’s not the greatest at advocating for herself. When being seen by Dr. Smiley today and he was asking questions, he was patronizing her while doing so. Specifically when she asked if it was possible to get an order for a PT home- visiting nurse, since she’s home alone majority of the day. She was trying to hand him the card to show him who she’s used in the past. He rudely interrupted her, saying he doesn’t know, he doesn’t know what that is or how that’s done he’ll have to see. That sort of care requires a doctor to place the order. He didn’t let her re-clarify or even finish what she was asking for. I was very upset with how quick he was to write her off as she is hard to understand at times, but that is not any reason to talk down to her and not hear her out. At the end of the visit he came back in, with the same condescending tone, saying he’ll “see what he can do…maybe it’ll happen, maybe it won’t but he’ll see her in 4 weeks”. If you’re telling her she needs to PT, how will she if she doesn’t get that doctor’s order? So if your job is to help people you should be treating those who you’re helping how you want to be treated. I’m not saying everyone is easy to help, but the very minimum you treat them kindly.

I came to him for an already diagnosed injury. He acknowledged the injury and said if I have the injury or don’t it doesn’t matter and that he doesn’t answer questions based off hypotheticals. 1. Shouldn’t I get to say if it matters or not? If I’m losing function of one of my limbs and I’m a sports athlete it may not matter to you but it matters to me. 2. Are you not a doctor? You acknowledged the deformation and loss of function yet still don’t even try to find out what it is or how to fix it? 3. You can use the same pathological way of thinking to deny anything. If it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, and flies like a duck but I’m not sure if it’s a duck I won’t acknowledge hypotheticals. Are you kidding me? My take away, he treated my situation like he seemingly didn’t care at all about my issue. Seemed intimidated by Me asking questions. Seemed defensive. Lacked basic communication skills. Now I have to book an appointment with someone else to do what he didn’t.

Went for a cortisone shot in my knee. I had a baker’s cyst that was causing pain. Personally, his personality was ok. I felt rushed and when I spoke, he always interrupted making me feel like he didn’t want to or have time to hear what I wanted to say. I gave up and just let him give me the shot. Out of there. Won’t be following up with him. Neither of us will be losing sleep over it!

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Dr Smiley operated my rotator cuff on my right shoulder December 2018. He is s very good surgeon with many years of experience. I am so glad that he did the surgery because not only he is good but also has a good personality. Everything he told me to do I listened and I am now moving my arm almost to a full extent, compared to a friend that went to another surgeon and now his arm moves only half way. His surgery team is extremely good and I can’t thank them enough. Don’t hesitate to choose him.

Simply one of the best doctors I have seen at Lahey.

Dr. Smiley's diagnosis of my knee issue was spot on. He recommended using minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to resolve my issue, which has afforded me a quick recovery and almost no scarring. His bedside manner was caring and collaborative. I sought his expert opinion, but he left the final decisions to me. The entire process at Lahey took only two months, between my first visit with Dr. Smiley and my surgery. I am very pleased with Dr. Smiley and the Lahey team. Thank you.

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When you go to him and he gives you a shot for your shoulder then sends you for physical therapy which neither worked. Pt tells you they can’t help, got worse and they call your Dr to get you in earlier to see him, pain worse by the day and they don’t see you for 4 weeks isn’t right. Then you see him just about in tears cause it hurts so much he tells you I’ll get you another shot in maybe 2 weeks then I’ll seen you a month after that and tell you goodbye ignoring the pain in your face.bad Dr!

I have used Dr. Smiley as my orthopedic doctor since 2004. He is an excellent physician & a good person! I can recommend him without reservation.

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I found him thorough and knowledgeable. His diagnosis was right on. I would highly recommend him

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I wouldn't recommend Dr. Smiley to anyone. He has no bedside manor at all and told me I need to build muscles to fix my knee which is impossible bc I have muscular dystrophy. He didn't even bother looking at my chart before come in to see me. He knew nothing about me or my medical history!!!! ??

Dr. Smiley and his office was great! I had surgery on my ACL in March 2012 and have had zero issues! He provided me with a full review of my situation- the different options available to me and did not pressure me one way or another. The aftercare was also great. Overall there was nothing that could have been done better!

I went year ago to Dr. Smiley for shoulder surgery. He identified the problem immediately and scheduled out-patient surgery within a few weeks. This was after going to someone else for 10 years that kept giving me the run-around. He was easy to talk to, explained everything. Again, this was years ago. But I used to go to Lahey for just about everything - easy to make appts and everything gets done in 1 day. Once I return to New England I will start going back to Lahey without a doubt.

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First I went to see him for my twisted knee. He didn't show any x-ray I took, but just told me to do mri. My knee is still painful on and off. Then, I went for mri. I was seen him again, and he said I had meniscus damage, he suggested to do the surgery for removing the damaged meniscus. He didn't even show me the damage from my mri images. He didn't even physically exam my knee. I wouldn't recommend him to any one.

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