I'll skip writing about all of the unnecessary hoops we had to go through to get approved for an appointment but the office staff was very unfriendly and condescending during the process.
They required a "consultation" which basically just went over what was already on the intake forms - $40 copay. Then the actual test - $40 copay. Then a separate appointment to review the results - $40 copay. I asked if we can get our records and skip the final appointment and an office staff member said we can't deny you your medical records but you won't be able to interpret the results to see what's positive and negative. That seemed unnecessary so I said fine our hands are tied then, we'll take the appointment. They were able to get us in on the phone shortly after that as opposed to the following week.
The staff then emailed me the results and clearly in print it would say each result, no interpretation needed. (I think I'm capable enough to understand what "negative" means, lol). The female doctor then got on the phone and started off with a bunch of chitchat asking how the patient was feeling now and I could tell all this was to justify the "consult." I wanted to cut to the chase and say that we can see what the results are and she confirmed that negative indeed means negative. I said we didn't need a visit and I was frustrated with the run around. She was trying to justify why we needed a highly skilled doctor to interpret the therapies needed and possibly give my husband a therapy despite him being negative. If a doctor is trying to cure a nonexistent ailment, that sets off my alarm bells. I requested the $40 back, as it was untrue that "we would not be able to read the results." At one point she got upset saying I wasn't letting her finish talking, but then when I would talk she raised her voice and continued talking over me. The doctor told us that we took time away from another patient who could've had a visit and her time was important. I said our time (and money) is important too and has been wasted because we didn't need an appointment. She ended up saying "I can't do this" and hanging up on me. When I called back, I could hear in the background someone telling someone else to take deep breaths. Then Jamie (office manager?) got on the line and was really disrespectful. She spoke in circles so the conversation went like:
Me - I would've skipped the visit if he other staff member hadn't told me we wouldn't be able to understand the results
Jamie - that's not how our office operates and when you signed initial paperwork, it stated that you'd need a separate visit
Me - So you wouldn't give us the results without that visit?
Jamie - We can't deny you medical records
Me - Exactly, that's all I wanted, just the results
Jamie - but that's not how we operate, you need a separate visit
So it went in a few circles like that. The staff also tried to say that they went though the trouble of accommodating a same-day visit, as if it was a big favor, even though I didn't care whether it was the same day or not, we never needed an appointment. So the doctor chose to hang up on me without an "assessment" and I'm still paying for this visit. read more