We got a referral to Burger Pediatrics from our pediatrician for some occupational therapy for our child. Although the therapist seemed like a kind, caring person, and worked well with our son, to get to her or any of the other therapists you have to get through both a somewhat incompetent front office, where almost every time I went in the computer system was down, so I had to wait till the end of the appointment to make a payment; and, crucially, you also had to get through one of the nastiest, rudest, most condescending and AWFUL appointment setter to even get an appointment. Since I only spoke with her on the phone I brushed this off as just an annoyance, but one day she called me and started lecturing me on "being more consistent". This same person was supposed to have called me the week before on setting more appointments, but she never called, and when I asked her about this, she informed me that she had called several times. When I asked why she didn't leave a message, she informed me that she had spoken directly to me. By this time I wondered if there was anything wrong with her, but again, for the sake of my son I decided to let it go and make some appointments, of which only two were available. Then I told her that I really didn't appreciate her tone of voice and nastiness, at which point she tried to talk over me and tell me, "The therapist is here, do you want to talk to her??" I told her that I would like to talk to another appointment setter, at which point she told me that her supervisor was the only other person I could talk to. I said yes, have her call me, and hung up.
Later, I was so angry that I called and canceled all the appointments. Before this, I had asked several times whether I could get a morning appointment for my son, as he took naps in the afternoon (which he really needs), and was informed that they would "look into it." I was never, ever told that his particular therapist was available ONLY in the afternoons ... until this final phone call! I was never given the option to switch to a morning therapist either. The therapist was a good and competent one, but the times just did not work for us. Most importantly though, we were never given any other scheduling options.
Families with children who may need some help and/or therapy are under a heavy load of stress to begin with. They do NOT need the added heartache of terrible, rude, condescending people like this particular appointment setter talking down to them when they are trying to juggle many different issues and doctor appointments for their children.
The Burger Pediatrics Mission Statement, on their website, reads that their mission is to provide "... therapy services to children of all ages in a manner and a setting, that makes a POSITIVE difference in the lives of our clients, their families and the community at large." How are they achieving this with appointment setters that are so nasty and condescending that the way they talk down to you, the parent, feels almost like some kind of emotional abuse?? To me, this is beyond sickening. I would NOT recommend Burger Pediatrics if your child needs the kind of therapy that they provide. Ask your pediatrician whether he or she could refer your child to any other therapy service. Do NOT take abuse from anyone at Burger Pediatrics or anywhere else. You have enough to deal with emotionally, mentally and even physically trying to help your precious child heal and/or get better, and these kinds of places should be helping you to do that, not trying to make you feel like a bad parent. This is just beyond atrocious, and I hope and pray that NO-ONE has to experience what I did. read more
