Was accidentally referred here by UCLA Medical Group. I think they thought I wanted to go someplace closer to my home than to their Westwood facility for imaging. Or possibly because I suffer from claustrophobia after an extended period in a small place. This place has the "open MRI" machine for people with this issue. But I would prefer to deal with my claustrophobia than go through an experience like this. And btw - I was not even put into the open MRI machine - I was put into the regular one. So there was no point in coming to this facility at all. I did not realize that this place is NOT UCLA or would not have gone here, in the first place.
Being unfamiliar with the parking situation in the area, I decided to take an Uber there. Glad I did this, parking was on the street and there wasn't much of it on this particular morning. The place is located behind what looks like a used car lot. Once inside, I could see the place was a bit run down, but I was early and there were no other customers there, so I thought I would be in and out. However, the person handling my MRI arrived late - almost 15 minutes after my appointment. Not the end of the world. But other folks who came in after me were assisted first. Which made no sense to me and was a bit frustrating, since I was the only one there for the first 15 minutes.
Once my turn came up, I was taken in, put in the machine and told not to move. She repeated that it was very important not to move AT ALL. And that was the last I heard of the tech until it was over. And this process took, what seemed like forever. At one point the arm rest that my arms were on, started to collapse. I called for assistance, the tech did not hear me because she had headphones on and appeared to be reading a book or looking at something that was on the desk below the window level. I could see her clearly through the window in between the MRI room and the control room that she was in. So there I was trying to keep the arm rest from falling, while not moving. Unsure of whether I was ruining my MRI or not. At one point my arms because unbearably tired and I needed to move them just a bit, but was too afraid to move for fear of having to go through this all again. Same with one of my knees. The angle that I was standing in, started to put too much pressure on one knee and it was falling asleep on me. I started to shake a bit. Looking at the window, I could the tech was reading away with headphones on, paying no attention to me what-so-ever.
Whenever the machine would stop, I would try to catch her attention with eye contact, but she never once looked up from her book, except to type some things out and push buttons on the computer - did not look my way at all. I thought for certain she would eventually look my way, but she never did. Not once. By the end of this thing, I was starting to choke on some dust that I had inhaled. I was coughing and I thought for sure, she would look up, but she never did. I desperately needed some water, but was too afraid to move or yell. Especially being that I had been in there for what seemed like EVER and I figured it had to be almost over by then. At no time did she check to see if I was ok or in need of any assistance or adjustment. She did not give me a moment in between pictures to change position or reset myself. Very uncomfortable and unpleasant experience!
After it was over, she just walked away, did not tell me to follow her...after I saw her walking off, I eventually followed - still coughing and choking. Never did she ask if I was ok or if I needed water - nothing. At the front desk, she told me to wait a minute while she got my disc together (What disc? She did not tell me why I needed this disc, what was on it, what to do with it, how to view the items on it, was it for me to keep, to pass on? - nothing). I could not get out of there fast enough. I grabbed my disc and left as fast as I could.
Later, I went in to my primary doctor to discuss the MRI and any findings. My doctor was confused and asked why I never went in for the MRI. I explained that I did. He looked everywhere for the results, but could not find them. I had to call and have them send the results to my doctors. The phone rang and rang without ever being answered. Eventually, I gave up and decided to go through the "records" extension. I hung up and called again. This time, I got through and the person on the other end was nice and seemed competent, but they did not have the information for my doctors. Note - be sure you have this info or have the internet
handy if you have to make this call.
I will never return to this place. These people are amateurs. It was the WORST. read more