I was referred to VA ENT (Midlothian Turnpike) by my PCP back in December for a chronic health concern. When I related this information to a well-respected audiologist, she strongly urged me to find another practice. Within five minutes of my first visit, I understood why.
The receptionist(s) huddled together and gossiped about other employees loudly enough for the entire waiting room to hear. They were curt with the incoming patients, clearly annoyed by the interruptions that took them away from their conversation.
The lack of professionalism, unfortunately, carried back into the office as well. As I waited a good 45 minutes to be seen by my doctor, I was appalled to hear the doctor and the nursing station negatively discussing a patient's ""attitude"". Of course I do not know the background, but from what I heard, it was quite understandable why a mother would be angry that the doctor on call failed to return her phone call because his iPhone was set to vibrate. As he put it, by the time he got around to calling her back, she had already taken her two year old to Patient First. As a mother of a young child, I too, would be furious.
So, enter the nurse. I suppose if the doctor whom you work for shows no real sense of professionalism, why should you?! Rude does not quite cover her demeanor. She so badly wanted to fit my atypical symptoms on her chart that she actually got annoyed with me when I explained that I do not HAVE those symptoms that she continued to read off.
Example:
Nurse: Do you have ringing in your ears?
Me: No.
Nurse: Soooo, you have some ringing in your ears? Me: No. I do not have ringing in my ears.
Nurse: (exaggerated huff) So, like, you have some ringing every once in a while?
I could go on and on. I should mention that this poor service has been on going for over three months. I am now in a debate with their clerical office over a bill that was waived by the doctor because his clerical staff (see gossip from first paragraph) did not enter the information correctly despite it being written down AND repeated verbally. It's truly unbelievable to me.
Moral of the Story: DO NOT GO to VA ENT. I have had wonderful experiences at Stony Point- Dr. Armstrong, specifically. Their staff is professional, caring and over the course of five years, NEVER a clerical mistake.
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