My insurance covers Labcorp lab tests, which are too expensive to pay out of pocket. I used their online system to schedule an appointment, which took nearly a month. The hours at every location are limited; they're not even open for 8 hours a day. While the waiting room was large, almost every chair was dirty for reasons I couldn't identify. Having so many chairs doesn't make sense when staffing levels are insufficient for patient output. The facility is not well-maintained, and that's not the only issue I encountered.
When I arrived, I checked in, and about 10 to 15 minutes later, I was called to the back. The phlebotomist who drew my blood was unprofessional. She mentioned that she wasn't feeling well before proceeding, which is not reassuring when someone is about to draw your blood. When I asked if she felt well enough to continue, she replied that she did. So why mention it at all?
Her first mistake was forgetting to use an alcohol wipe to prep my arm before inserting the needle. Then, after collecting the vials, she flipped the safety cap of the needle while it was still in my arm, causing a snap similar to that of a rubber band on a bruise. The proper procedure is to remove the needle from the arm and move it away from the patient first. It only requires two months of training to become a phlebotomist, but it seems Labcorp hires anyone.
A week later, I received an email stating that my lab results had been released. I logged in, but there were no results available. I called this location three times and left messages each time. No one answered, and no one returned my calls. The unprofessionalism at LabCorp seems to stem from the top down.
I contacted my insurance company to explore options for using a different laboratory. I was informed that I would need to change my medical group, which I have done. This change won't take effect until next month, but thankfully, my problem will be resolved moving forward. read more