THREE MONTH UPDATE, September 2018:
The front desk hired a…read morenew lady who does an excellent job. I'm very pleased with the changes there. My appointments are smoother and the calls are more timely. My accutane course is going as expected, and my skin is clearing rapidly with only a few side effects. Dr. Badiei is monitoring my progress and making sure I'm having the best treatment possible. I'm very glad with this practice for their leaps in improving my care the last three months. The Quest lab is as annoying as ever, with long wait times and terrible front-desk associates, but their phlebotomists have done a very good job getting me in and out pain-free once I'm in the chair. Janet has been taking excellent care of me with courtesy calls making sure I'm doing okay. I have been thoroughly impressed with all the great changes and simpler procedures now that I'm established on my drug. Thanks so much everyone! I look forward to the next three to four months.
Review as of June 2018:
I see this doctor for my severe acne. I have tried everything and decided that accutane was the best course of action. This is my second round of 'tane and knew what to expect: monthly labs, physician visits, and lots of correspondence between the offices and myself to ensure that my prescription is ongoing. There is a very minimal window in which I can receive the prescription, as well.
I love seeing the doctor, he thoroughly examines me and makes me feel like my needs are being met. He does not like to push too many treatments too soon, and suggested we start with other options before this drug. Badiei is a fantastic doctor. But the office has done such an atrocious job handling my paperwork that I have repeatedly had breakdowns while trying to receive care. This shouldn't be happening. I completely understand that offices are busy and can't always respond to patients immediately, but literal days have passed without receiving call-backs before, so I have needed to go into the office in person. Last time I went to Quest (the second time in a row that they forgot to send the request to them), it was faster for me to drive all the way back on Mill Plain to Dr. Badiei's office than try to get one of this receptionists on the phone... When I got to the office, they were on break. And when I did finally get in to speak to them, there didn't appear to be any logical reason why they couldn't have called me back and simply forwarded the necessary information in a minute or less.
Unfortunately, twice in a row I have driven across town to the Quest Diagnostics Center for my labs, which is their preferred lab location, to find out that Dr. Badiei's office did not forward to Quest the necessary requests. Upon calling the office, I have not once ever gotten the receptionists to pick up. Just today, I left a voicemail hours ago requesting a call back to know if my lab request had been sent over to Quest. This is my one day off a week, and I only have a couple pills remaining. I will be missing extremely important doses because the people at the front desk can't get back to me in a reasonable time frame.
Regardless of all of this, however, Janet is an absolute God-send! She is an amazing medical assistant that has taken all of the time and energy necessary to get me this prescription on time. I have found myself reaching out to her cell phone before the office phone because she replies more promptly, answers my questions clearly, and displays a deep commitment to my healthcare that I haven't experienced in any other medical office in my life. Today I was able to get a call-back from Janet in a half-hour, and she reassured me that my lab request was properly sent, she even called Quest and double-checked personally! I will end up missing a dose or two, but will be able to work with her one-on-one to ensure I'm receiving care in a timely manner. I highly recommend calling your medical assistant instead of the office to have your needs met. Janet saved the day!
I will update this review next month if this time around goes smoother thanks to lovely Janet. I will continue contacting her directly with questions about my care.
***TL;DR***
THE GOOD: Beautiful office, convenient location, great doctor, fantastic medical assistants that have passion for their job.
THE BAD: Quest lab is only location (they are often busy, long wait times), front office is very slow and can be somewhat rude.