Holy Cross Hospital-- For Rich or Healthy!! The Good and the Bad, of my experience…read more
First off, my pre-op team, surgical team and post operation teams were top-notch. Very helpful, knowledgeable, very professional, very kind and all around very courteous and lovely people. I enjoyed being careful by this hospital. It's a beautiful hospital that (I NEVER visited before in my life) pay attention this will come up later.
Now, this experience did not start off very well. About 2-3 days before my surgery, I was notified by hospital billing of the full total before my procedure, I started making payments. I broke it up in 4 payments. Great, wonderful, I can afford my surgery after insurance does their part. This part was not so bad, it was a shocker but NOT BAD, new experience but it alright.
Upon arrival at the hospital, I was directed to hospital admission. I was greeted by a happy and pleasant gentleman named, Juan. He was kind and wonderful way to start my visit/procedure. I was given a number to wait to continue the check in process. I was called to the Billing Section located in admissions, I sat down and they started to grill me.
Apparently, the billing department does not properly annotate their records to show the accounts. I was asked about paying for my surgery, I stated I just made a payment a few days ago and that I'd make more payments at a later date. The gentleman at billing proceeded to argue with me that it was from a previous outstanding balance. I told him that was not possible, I'd NEVER been to this hospital. He then proceeded to argue with me further, that I had to make a payment, I told him I had no more to give as I just made a sizable portion towards the bill.
NOW, this was NO WAY to be in a relaxed mood and calm manner before a surgery. This was wholly unnecessary, unpleasant and NOT a good way to treat a patient and customer. This surgery netted them a good amount of money, $11,000 between my payments and the insurance company. The question is will I EVER want to have another surgery here, if dealing with the billing department in-person felt like a mugging, a straight argumentative, stressful robbery. I'm alright with paying what I owe, I'm not alright with being treated like a criminal.
So yes, once I clearly Billing, all was well but to get the surgery, that was like a reality television show, "Who Want to Feel Like a Criminal?'" They probably should keep better records and train the billing people better to be less combative, respectful and mindful that they work in a service industry.