They do not care about you. Know what you're setting yourself up for…read more
There seems to be a patient "culling" happening, as I've read multiple reviews of similar circumstance, as well as discriminatory practices happening with some pregnant patients. I am one they cut loose. I decided they don't deserve my silence.
As every other negative review says, the office staff is rude and despondent. I called in August to set my annual well exam, and was told they had nothing available until December. 4 months!?When I check in, I'm called to the desk and rushed through some digital release forms to sign. One of which was the use of recording software the doctors now use to record your conversations in the room. The language was very vague- so I questioned if it involved AI. She confirmed it does. I declined the release. (AI software in medical practices, ESPECIALLY women's health should concern everyone, given the political climate and this country's squishy feelings on women's right to bodily autonomy.) Then, a woman escorted me to a room where she reviewed health history, asked me again about the AI tool, (declined again), and before she left, asked "Is there anything you wish to address with the doctor?"
This is important, because it's a set up to change your "well exam" appointment to "concern" appointment. It's coded differently, and billed at a higher rate, so I later find out. I said yes, and disclosed my topic of discussion.
20+ minutes later, Doc rushed in, and I talk to her about a common topic I had been reading about my current lifestage as she was doing my exam. I wasn't asking for diagnosis- there was no special test or exam required, simply questioning route of treatment would be better suited for me in this milestone. We had a good, albeit rushed conversation... and after 4 years of trying to figure this out on my own, I finally felt validated and relief that I might start feeling more like myself again. On my way out, the lady at the desk was annoyed that I interrupted her conversation to check the pharmacy she had on file for me.
A month later I'm sent a bill for a co-pay. My insurance has no co-pays for annual exams, so I sent a question in the portal, asking if it was mistakenly coded wrong. I was told the "discussions addressed in my appointment fell outside the parameters of a well exam visit."
I challenged them on this. I scheduled it as a well exam, 4 months ago. My questions were 100% normal for my age. You mean to tell me that once you're done having babies, you're not allowed to ask ANY questions outside of paps and mammograms without an additional paywall? This is ageist, predatory, and unethical. There's no disclosure about this caveat.
When I said my next step was google and yelp reviews if it was not corrected, they brought the doc into the conversation. She repeated the same explanation and signed off with "I believe a positive patient-physician relationship must be built on mutual trust, open communication, and respect.... Since verbalizing your unhappiness with our billing and coding procedures, I feel you would be a better fit in a different practice. Therefore, I am dismissing you from our practice."
Not fully disclosing the use of AI nor informing me of my intended question falling outside a well exam visit were both violations of trust and communication... but because I'm not submissive or mindlessly compliant, I'm not a "good fit."
As I reflected these last few weeks, it has become very clear to me that in addition to their billing procedures, their priority seems to lie in turning over as many rooms as they can in a day and making diagnoses and treatment recommendations that are not necessarily in your best interest, but theirs. I have more stories that I now see as missed red flags... bottom line, they don't care about you, only your money and mindless compliance. The messaging in their billing correspondence says "thank you for your business" not "thank you for entrusting us with your care."
Says a lot. Find a smaller practice.