Their website needs improvement as far as patients are concerned. I could not find anywhere on the website when you click on the "For Patients" tab that allows for pre-registration for your procedure. I went round and round but did not find anything concise that directed me where to go. That part was lacking. It needs to be simpler to navigate. And I am quite tech savvy. I got to the check in window and paid my insurance co-pay, and the woman at the desk asked me if I completed my patient portal via the text link which I never received at all after giving her my phone number once again. Nothing.
However, I was able to provide the necessary information, and managed to get myself checked in. I DO agree with previous reviews, when my Husband and I got there, the waiting room was FULL to capacity. There were people sniffling and coughing which caused us some concerns. We caught Covid prior in another hospital waiting room. It was nerve wracking. I wish people in tiny waiting areas such as this would be required to wear a mask to prevent germ transmission of any sort, especially during Flu Season. Germs can cling to skin and clothing, and other surfaces while waiting to go in. If ever I have ANY future procedures done at this facility, I will book the first time slot of the day.
I got called back to the surgical triage area and was tended to fairly promptly. Each staff member who tended me pleasantly introduced themselves to me and asked me if I had any questions. First was the nurse who inserted my I.V. line who was friendly and did it with ease without much discomfort on the first try. Second, the attending nurse came in and introduced herself and also asked if I had any questions. Thirdly, was the Anesthesiologist who came in and introduced himself, and saw that I was extremely anxious and nervous pre-procedure. He reached out and grabbed my hand and assured me that I was in good hands. I can't thank him enough for extending that kindness and care that you don't often find in the medical industry. He was TOP NOTCH! What a nice man! Compassion goes a LONG way. Commendable. I wish I remembered his name. I was extremely anxious.
The most negative aspect of my procedural visit to VVSC was the level of volume and noise in the triage areas and desks outside by curtained bed. The nurses were loudly chit-chatting about skin care, and products, and some were on their cell phones in front the curtained prep area, and you could hear ALL their personal conversations with other co-workers right in front of you. One was casually sitting on a gurney in front of my triage bed while talking away to another female behind the desk. This was unnerving, because I feel conversations like this should be reserved for the break room. The back-and-forth conversation levels were surprisingly loud. Causing nervous, anxious patients being made to hear every detail. Laughing and giggling is fine for the appropriate time and place, but not in front of patients. I feel that they could have been much quieter and more respectful of that. I did not expect so much boisterous frivolity in a surgical prepping area. I just wanted to comment on that, and hope that management kindly reminds staff that there are patients there for serious, and potentially life-altering surgeries that need a calm space to try and decompress or meditate prior to what's being done to them. Quietly please. Not everyone wants to hear what you did the night prior. You know?
Lastly, my Doctor V. Gandotra did my procedure, and he was reassuring from start to finish. He is the absolute nicest Doctor of Gastroenterology that I have ever known and is the GOLD standard of his field. I don't know what my results, or outcome will be, but it has been made better by knowing I am in his hands. A++ doctor. As long as my recovery goes smoothly, and I didn't catch the flu there, I will be relatively satisfied. read more