What a DUMP!
- Scary office location
- Incompetent staff
- Lack of modern technology
I usually save the long winded, over the top reviews for the Yelp Elite members, but I'll make an exception for this place.
I knew something was awry after going to their website and noticed that they have moved locations. Their old location is where most Escondido medical professionals have offices. Their new location however??
New Location - Back Alley Dermatology.
These guys have moved to Mission Ave. Not just any part of Mission mind you, but probably the last place you'd expect to find any reputable physician. This area is more known for prostitution and day laborers hanging out behind Carl's Jr and Starbucks. If you live in Escondido you know EXACTLY where I'm talking about. To make matters worse try finding an entrance to this place?!? Here's a tip, just look for a run down building with a large "5 months free rent" banner on it..
- Day of appointment
I arrived on time and parked ( making sure that I put the steering wheel club on my car before coming in). I signed in.
When my name was called I handed over my temporary insurance card. (I was a new hire at my company and my plastic card hadn't been mailed to me yet. My company told me that the temp card is just as valid as the plastic card). One belligerent staffer mumbled "I can't do anything with this, there is no address on it", and went back to whatever menial task she was doing. A few minutes later an older women, perhaps a supervisor, told me from across the waiting room (just one of many unprofessional acts by these guys btw) that they can't do anything with my temp card. I asked if my ID number or group code was invalid. She said that she's never seen a temporary card before and didn't even know if it was real or not..WTF?!?! I asked her to call the pre-qualification number of the temp card to verify its validity and to get this address they require. She refused and said I would have to have call my HR department to give me the information that's on a non-temp card..A little dumbfounded, I said that most Dr offices have a billing system that can verify insurance. She agreed, but said they don't do that there, they mail everything out to billing company. I told her again that the card is valid and to please call the number. Nope, she said I would have to pay the full bill up front and work it out with my insurance.
At this point, I realized that the staff was just lazy and they weren't going to do anything to verify my insurance. I then instructed the older lady to shred my medical documents as I was going to find a different dermatologist. I had to watch her like a hawk to make sure that she actually shredded my paperwork. To this day I still don't understand how any medical office would be so inept with their billing. Then again, Escondido Dermatology also moved into a place that offers "5 free months rent" *shudder*. God only knows how bad the actual medical service would have been.
Where are we now?
- I booked with a different dermatologist.
-When i called the new office I told them about the Temporary Card. They had NO problem with it and verified I was covered. This may have taken a few minutes of the admin's time, but we got it done!
- I also got a reminder call the day before. Never got a reminder call from Escondido Dermatology.
- When I came in, the new Dermatologist office was pretty nice, and I was greeted with "Hello", "How are you today", "Thank you". Escondido Dermatology's staff was about as friendly as an old grumpy waitress working at a greasy spoon in Arizona.
Summation
Look, it's my experience that the office and staff are usually representative of the medical service that will be provided. I'm so happy I ended up going elsewhere.
Make your own choice of course, but I recommend driving to their new office on Mission and ask yourself if you would let your mother, wife, or daughter go there. read more