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| - Looking at possible biopsy and other concerns are a serious and sensitive issue for any woman. You're scared, emotional and when you go to a surgeon you want to feel like they and their staff genuinely care about your wellbeing. Unfortunately, I really didn't feel that way after my visit at Arizona Breast Consultants.
The office manager/receptionist who schedules appointments was amazing. She was very sweet and extremely professional and upbeat and gave me a great first impression of the office. Unfortunately, it was really down-hill from there.
The woman who asked me about my medical history and showed me to my room upfront was unfriendly and didn't so much as crack a smile; only made me more nervous and uncomfortable about the appointment.
The woman whose sole purpose was to work with the insurance told me that they'd bill me a certain amount for the biopsy and othe procedures upfront and then refund/charge the difference after finding out what my insurance would cover. I've never heard of this approach at any physician's office -- I've always been billed after the insurance so I'm not over or under-paying. Because of these unusual -- and somewhat shady! -- circumstances, I asked her to contact my insurance and find out what the amount was they would cover. She said almost combatively that contacting them about that was on me and said "that's not my job". Those were her exact words. I was at a total loss, does she know what it feels like to be worried for hours a day, every day for the weeks it takes you to get into the office that you could have Cancer? Does she care?
Dr. O'Neil herself was very friendly and intelligent, but seemed to be pushing for a biopsy before we could get all of the details (my prior history/files etc. that other doctors said were important). She actually said, "we can try to get your previous records OR we can just go ahead and do the biopsy today". She also mentioned one of her patients with Breast Cancer, which I'm sure was well-intentioned, but felt a little like a scare tactic. I'm a young woman, I don't take a biopsy lightly -- and Dr. O'Neil wanted to do the biopsy in addition to leaving in a clip and doing an additional ultra sound.This is very expensive, and insurance doesn't kick in till after $1,000.00. It's also an uncomfortable procedure that no woman under 35 really should do unless it's definitely absolutely hands-down necessary.She then wanted to have an ultra sound done every six months! I was really thrown off since the radiologist didn't think even the biopsy was necessary, but wanted me to go see a surgeon just in case.
I politely opted to wait to see if they could get my medical history from my previous doctors. The doctor said she'd request any notes as well in addition to x-rays. When I was leaving the office I saw the forms and there was nothing about notes, I actually added that myself to the request.
The office said they'd contact me to let me know what they heard -- no one ever did. Aside from the sweetheart of an office manager/receptionist, I really felt like their main concern was making money, not whether or not I'm at risk for Cancer. It was very upsetting. As a result I am now seeing Dr. Christi Sue Bourne instead. I'm more comfortable with how she and her staff approach my treatment and concerns and feel that she genuinely cares about my health; at the end of the day that really matters to a patient.
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