My experience at this office today was unacceptable. My appointment was at 1:00 PM. When I first…read morearrived, the door was locked. I noticed a plaque stating the doors may be locked from 12:30 to 1:00, so I waited until 1:00 before returning. When it was still locked at 1:00, the time of my appointment, I knocked to alert staff that I was there. The staff member who opened the door was visibly irritated, pointed to the plaque, and asked if I "had a question" instead of welcoming me or simply saying hello. Her tone and attitude were rude and unprofessional from the start. Once I was inside, another staff member came around the corner and, instead of showing professionalism or trying to diffuse the situation, made a sarcastic comment about the plaque and their lunch hours as she walked away, clearly meant to be rude. If the office is closed until 1:00, then maybe appointments should not be scheduled at that time. It is customary for patients to arrive a few minutes early to check in. Had the first staff member simply opened the door, greeted me, and said "let's get you checked in," the entire situation could have been avoided. Instead, she acted as though I had inconvenienced her by knocking.
The echocardiogram technician was not rude, but she was indifferent and impersonal. She seemed rushed and less thorough than other technicians I have experienced. What truly concerned me was that after telling me I would need to undress and put on a gown, she did not leave the room. When she realized I wasn't changing, she asked if I wanted her to leave, but in a way that made it seem unnecessary or inconvenient for her to do so. That should never even be a question. Patient privacy should always be assumed and respected. In my 50 years, I have never had a nurse, doctor, or technician ask that in any medical setting. They always leave the room to provide privacy. It was unprofessional and inappropriate. The room itself also appeared unclean, with a trash can overflowing with used gowns, dirt on the floor, and dirty chairs, which made the environment feel unsanitary.
It's a shame when poor staff behavior reflects so poorly on a practice. There are too many options out there to tolerate this level of unprofessionalism.