I came to this clinic as a new patient on August 27 for a persistent bump/infection on my face and…read morepaid the $65 consultation fee. I was prescribed a seven-day course of cephalexin, which I completed as directed. The area improved, but it did not fully resolve, and I was still experiencing a raised bump, itching, and burning.
When I returned on September 8, I first spoke with the receptionist, who was very nice and explained that the clinic offers a courtesy follow-up within three days. I explained that I had been prescribed antibiotics for seven days, so I waited until completing the treatment to see whether the issue would resolve. Since it hadn't, I simply asked whether Dr. Momjian could reevaluate the same issue without charging another full consultation fee.
I want to be clear: I was not demanding a free visit or complaining that $65 was expensive. I was asking what the follow-up policy was for my situation.
The receptionist went to ask Dr. Momjian. When he came out, there initially seemed to be some confusion about why I was there, and he mentioned referring me to an ear, nose and throat specialist. I explained that I was returning about the same bump on my face that he had treated at my August 27 visit. He then understood, brought me to the back and examined the area.
What happened afterward is what made me uncomfortable.
During our conversation, Dr. Momjian told me that "next time" I needed to follow the clinic's rules. I explained that I was a new patient and didn't know their rules, which was precisely why I had asked the receptionist about the follow-up policy in the first place. I don't understand how a new patient is supposed to follow a policy they haven't been made aware of, especially when they're asking about that very policy.
He also asked me to "be honest" with him about whether the bump had gotten better. I had never claimed that it hadn't improved. I acknowledged that it was better; my concern was that it had not resolved and was still symptomatic. His own examination showed that there was still pus present.
The conversation then repeatedly returned to the $65 price. I specifically clarified multiple times that I was not saying $65 was expensive and that I was only asking about the follow-up. At one point, we even seemed to clear up that misunderstanding and the conversation became cordial again.
Despite that, Dr. Momjian continued explaining that he opened the clinic because he wanted to help people, talked about not charging people who couldn't afford care, said that their prices had been lowered to help people, and asked me what other clinic I knew that charged $65.
I even answered his question at the time. Looking back, however, I don't understand why I was being asked to defend or compare the clinic's pricing in the first place. I wasn't questioning the value of his services, criticizing his prices, or asking him to justify what he charges.
I was asking one straightforward question: Does the clinic charge another consultation fee to reevaluate the same condition after the treatment prescribed at the original visit has been completed?
A simple yes or no, along with an explanation of the policy, would have been completely fine.
To his credit, Dr. Momjian did reevaluate the area, prescribed another antibiotic, and offered to perform a culture. However, by that point I no longer felt comfortable continuing treatment with him, so I declined the culture.
I remained respectful throughout the interaction and even tried multiple times to clarify the misunderstanding about the price when I realized he seemed to think I was criticizing it. Unfortunately, the conversation still became unnecessarily uncomfortable and personal.
Patients should be able to ask reasonable questions about fees and follow-up care without feeling as though they've done something wrong simply for asking. I appreciate that Dr. Momjian ultimately reevaluated me and provided additional treatment, but based on the way this interaction was handled, I would not return to this clinic.
