I'd give zero stars to this place if I could.
Sept 13th I…read moremade an appointment for my daughter to be seen here at Carlson ENT for persistent ear/jaw pain after a possible infection over the last month.
Emily, the front receptionist, made my appointment and told me to either print out new patient paperwork and fill out prior to the appointment, or to arrive a bit earlier to the appointment to fill that out; with insurance, ID, and co-pay. This was the only information I was given. I called a second time Monday to confirm the appointment time, and was told no additional information or additional fees, but was again told about filling out the paperwork prior or arriving early. I was not informed during either of those phone calls that there were any additional fees due at the time of service, other than my co-pay.
We arrive to her appointment with our paperwork and $30 co-pay, and were THEN informed, after driving 57 minutes, that there is a hidden fee and we were required to pay an additional either $19.95 or a $45 depending on what test was going to be done. Due at time of service. Can't be billed. No 'if, ands, or buts.'
I, only bearing my $30 co-pay, began expressing my dilemma to Emily and how I feel it was unfair for that information of extra fees to be withheld until the appointment. I know my financial situation is of no concern to her, but she didn't even acknowledge my exasperation, or how HER withholding those additional fees from my knowledge until the time of appointment was the reason behind my distress. I don't know if she felt embarrassed for not telling me about the hidden fee, but I felt an apology was appropriate.
Another patient on the way to the back (bless you, whoever you are) offered to pay the $20 test for my daughter, as she said she knows how bad the ear pain can be especially for a child of age 3.
I'm now sitting in the waiting room trying to find a family member that can wire us the extra $20 non co pay fee so my daughter could be seen. Feeling already embarrassed, a woman named Stephanie bursts open the waiting room door and rudely tells me that they won't be seeing my daughter today. Kind of confused, I told her that I'm trying to get the $20 and if I can't find it in a timely manner, another patient offered to pay it for us -- this is where she stopped me mid-sentence to tell me "no, no, no. That's inappropriate and we won't be allowing that. No."
At this point, I'm making an embarrassed fool of myself crying in the waiting room, so desperate for my daughter to be looked at to find out the cause of pain. My husband's grandma was able wire me the $20 quick enough for us to be seen. I pay the $49.95 for the copay and hidden fee, and proceed to the back with the woman - Stephanie - who so rudely spoke to me in the waiting room prior. In our room, she continued to be rude when I was giving her details of my daughter's symptoms, but spoke so kindly to my daughter. Am I not deserving of that same respect? That in my eyes is extremely subliminally manipulative to speak to me in a vindictive tone as she did, and then turn to my daughter
I could see the confusion and tension in my daughter's eyes the whole time we were here. I was happy we didn't cross paths with Stephanie again.
While the doctor was thorough, he was just as rude as the other people I experienced. He continuously kept interrupting me when I was giving what I felt like was important information. And I found myself having to repeat things over and over to him. I held my daughter's hands while he looked in her ears, and her hand slipped as she went to cover her ear, and he snapped at me before I could even grab her hand.
It was an uncomfortable experience for my daughter and an embarrassing, regretful one for me. I called back to speak with the office manager, Kim, to express my deep regret, feelings of disrespect, and embarrassment after our visit. This resulted in office manager Kim also stopping me mid sentence while expressing the details of my visit. I told her I wasn't finished explaining my visit and she repeated 3 times that "I think we're done here." I then asked for her name, and she refused to tell me responding twice with "I already told you my name." This is where I told her I needed it for this very review I'm going to leave everywhere I can. I haven't felt this ashamed or embarassed in an experience of mine since HIGH SCHOOL. My daughter and I deserve better than the services we were provided with today. I'm appalled at the manner of everyone in this office. Only thing I will say is that I appreciate how Emily didn't feel the need to hold a grudge and be rude to me as I left like Stephanie felt she needed to be to me. I hope that this review saves someone else who is desperate for help the trip to this place. Horrendous experience to say the least.