After my first ever mammogram at Breastlink Pasadena, I was called in for a follow-up mammogram and ultrasound to check out a couple of suspicious areas. Like another reviewer mentioned, the Mean Girl receptionists gave me flack for being "late" - I was actually a few minutes early after fighting through rush hour traffic on a workday and there was no one else in the office so I'm not sure why the lecture was needed! It set a bad tone for what was already a stressful experience.
Once the ultrasound was completed (the mammogram tech unfortunately was quite rough and the process was painful) I was ushered back to a waiting room with other women scheduled for the same procedures. One by one, every other woman in the waiting area was called in to speak directly with the radiologist about their results and next steps. I was the only one who wasn't. When the nurse called my name, she told me the doctor was "busy with a procedure" and would call me by 5pm that day to discuss the results. No one ever called. I also never received the results letter they said would be mailed. Foolishly, I assumed this meant my scan was clear and no further action was needed.
Three weeks later, I got a random call from a RadNet customer service rep, asking when I'd like to schedule my biopsy! Umm, excuse me?! That was the first time I even knew a biopsy had been recommended. I had never spoken to a doctor, never seen a report, and had no explanation of what they found or what the procedure would involve.
I called Breastlink (it went to voicemail) and demanded to hear from a qualified doctor or nurse re: my test results. I received a call from a receptionist, who said that giving results over the phone "wasn't their policy", as if their employee hadn't specifically told me she would call me. I told her either the employee had lied to me in that case, or they didn't know their own policy, because I didn't receive the service that every other woman there had received. She made no apology and told me I'd just have to make another appointment with my gyno (who is NOT a breast specialist or radiologist) to explain the results. This makes zero sense!
Despite my misgivings, I made a telehealth appointment with my gyno as recommended, only to find out they hadn't sent her the results (despite telling me over the phone that they had). Because of this, she was unable to refer me, and my $150 appointment with her was a complete waste of time and money.
Without any other options, I contacted my GP (who had no available appointments for 4+ weeks) and pleaded with her to refer me to a breast specialist for the recommended biopsy. I also had to manually send her the lab results because Breastlink still hadn't sent them (a full month after the diagnostic ultrasound and mammograms had been completed). So, due to Breastlink's incompetence, what should have been a somewhat simple process ended up taking 2+ months, hundreds of wasted dollars, and an obscene amount of unnecessary mental and physical stress.
I wouldn't wish this experience on my worst enemy. If you are looking for competent, compassionate care, steer far far away from this place! read more