I went to this clinic a little less than a week ago when I woke up with what seemed like an eye infection caused by contact wearing.
I went and was seen by Nicole Sims and I have to respectfully say this was the WORST encounter/ experience I have had at an optometrist. She was crass, abrupt, VERY VERY pushy, and outright rude. When my husband and I finally stepped out of the office on our way home we both looked at each other dumbfounded at the experience we just had. Here's the anecdote:
I walk in, in pain, we fill out the forms and a few minutes later get called back. We get asked what insurance we have, we say VSP, and she informs us that she can't take VSP for this visit because it is a medical visit and she will need to use my general insurance. I say well I don't have eye insurance on my general insurance and she says, well we'll figure it out later, let's look at your eye. Ok, fine... no problem.
Then she looks at my eye, stains my eye, looks at my eye again, looks ay my eye another time and says, well, I'm not sure what it is, it may be an eye infection but i'm not sure. Then she proceeds to look at a chart saying shes trying to figure out a diagnosis, and for 5 minutes she is trying figure out how to diagnose me, which was a little concerning to me. She finally said, well I guess I'll just put this down (whatever the med. term was) but that's not really what you have, I'm not sure what it is. She then wrote two RX a cream for night and drops for the day. Ok, fine, whatever.
All during the exam she seemed like she was off to a bad day and just grumpy, so compassion wasn't in her books that day. On our way out to reception she said I need to see you Tuesday, to which I replied well I have my internship during the day... and instead of her offering an early morning or evening or Wednesday appointment her snide reply was "well a bridge isn't going to fall if you don't go, right!? You have to come Tuesday no matter what!" I was so shocked at her rude answer that didn't provide any solution, any compassion-- it was her way or the highway.... that's not the definition of a good doctor... I was completely dumbfounded!!
We then went out to the reception desk to figure out office visit charges etc and this is what really shocked me... she gave me an ultimatum... she said since you think you have a deductible you haven't met, you can either pay me $115 now (which I'm giving you a severely discounted rate she told me) or I can turn it in to your insurance and then they will pass the bill along to you which may be higher like $170. I asked if I could have a day to call my insurance to find out exactly and a switch just turned. She got snappy, short, rude, and said never mind, I'll just turn it into your insurance, forget it. I was appalled that she talked to her clients like this and got such an attitude on her for no reason. I felt so manipulated and the shock of it all made me want to run for the door. I handed her my credit card and she gleefully charged me for the visit.
The next day, doubting her work I went to the Julia Morgan Eye center to get seen... not only were they considerate, friendly, concerned and thorough but it was $55 FOR THE VISIT!
WALNUT SQUARE OPTOMETRY RIPPED ME OFF by cornering me... and as a result I paid more than double the standard office visit rate! I feel robbed and taken advantage of! read more