My wife saw Dr. Fleming for a cleaning in June 2013 and we have a few reservations about her business practices and professional competency. First of all, it was quite strange that her office had to verify our insurance prior to scheduling an appointment (I have never experienced this with any healthcare provider). While I understand she may have had payment issues in the past, it was off-putting as a client to be greeted with the assumption of being a deadbeat.
Most importantly, however, we question Dr. Fleming's integrety and motives as a provider. At her visit, my wife was advised that she had four cavities that needed to be filled. Of course, this surprised her as she is conscientous about oral hygeine, so she sought a second opinion. Her new dentist identified three areas to keep an eye on, but did not recommend any fillings. If Dr. Fleming believed that these areas were "borderline" she should have presented them as such. Instead, her recommendation seems to have been profit-driven.
Finally, we find it insulting that her office charges $15 for x-rays to be sent to another office, particularly when they cost over $100 to begin with. When she tried to justify the charge with the administrative cost (for which $15 is a bit extreme) my wife offered to drive to her office and copy them herself. When she learned that wouldn't be possible because she is a 'lay person' she offered to transport them to mitigate the cost but she declined. Even if this was disclosed in the HIPAA documentation, it feels as though her records are being held hostage so the office can profit from another fee. read more
