BEWARE OF TRICKERY!!!
My experience here was awful and here's why:
- While waiting to be seen by the doctor, 2 nurses come into the waiting room and start gossiping about a patient, loudly and openly, in front of all the other patients waiting (it's called confidentiality...)
- Dr. K is sitting behind her desk, low cut shirt, no lab coat, speaking dismissively
- the above problems are minor in my opinion compared to this: When I booked an appointment online, they ask you what you are going for. I chose Yellow Fever Shot. NOT Travel Consultation AND The shot. I really don't need to be consulted about traveling... So, I book the appt. Get a call later saying they don't associate with insurance companies. All fine and dandy.
When I get to the appt, I ask the woman at the front desk how much the shot costs, just so I know how much I will be charging to my card. $130. Still fine with me. I finally get called into the doctor's office. I sit there while she types on her comp without saying anything. She starts to ask about all sorts of vaccinations, and I say "I just want the yellow fever shot." She says ok and fills out some forms. I ask her several questions about side effects and then get the shot.
Now I'm at the desk, and the woman says "let me just see how much you owe." I remind her that she said the shot was 130. She says "didn't you get travel consultation?" I remind her, "no, just the shot." She obviously doesn't believe me so she goes and speaks with Dr. K. She comes back and calmly says "ok, your total will be $210. I politely remind her that she said 130 and she says "that's for the shot, and then the visit is $80. At this point I am suspicious but she's giving me attitude and people in the waiting room are starting to listen and watch, and I become unsure of myself so I hand her my card. I eventually figure out, as I'm sure you all have by now, that they charged me for travel consultation, but she was trying to make it sound like it was the norm.
Now some of you might say that I did get the consultation, when I asked questions, but do you really think several questions are worth 80 dollars?! And besides, I wouldn't have asked them if I knew I would be charged. Like I said, I don't need consultation, and if I did, that's what the FREE internet is for.
I suppose some of you might also say that it's my fault for not asking from the start "it will JUST be $130, right?" but i believe it should be the office's responsibility to clearly state how much the patient will be charged BEFORE THE visit. This feels like swindling, and trickery, and I think it's a horrible way to run a business, and an even worse way to run a doctor's office!! read more