Lakeview Hospital

I had a minor surgery last December that was quoted ahead of time as only costing under $700 from the hospital facility and under $700 for anesthesiology. I prepaid both myself prior to the surgery. However, they have billed my insurance company for over $26,000, which is currently being negotiated.

Whatever you do there, if you go there, get explicit itemized quotes up front, even if it is for emergency services. It is now the law that the hospital has to provide upfront quotes for any procedure as of January 1st, 2019.

The first time I was admitted to Lakeview Hospital for a lithotripsy I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere, the care of the medical staff and registration. Why I give it four stars for having to go over the same questions too many times. I was asked the same questions by different medical staff and I was wondering why they just didn’t check my chart. But that’s nothing compared to the great care I received. One thing I really appreciate is being able to recuperate in a private room. I’m actually going back this morning for another treatment for kidney stones and have no fear or anxiousness about it.

This hospital is the absolute worst they send me to collections without communicating with me. We brought our son by here they simply checked him in and did nothing and checked him out and that cost us $1500. Do not go here. This hospital is a scam good luck and good riddance.

5 stars for the billing department. It's rare to have a good experience with a billing department, that's why I felt I needed to write this review. We worked with one of their financial advisers Brandon and he was fantastic - helpful, informative, quick to respond, very helpful when it came to how to afford the visit; all the things you never seem to get when it comes to bills so I was more than pleasantly surprised.

5 stars for the ER receptionists. They were friendly, helpful, and informative.

3.5 stars for the ER staff. Took my husband in for a foot injury due to a water skiing accident and while the nurses and doctors were friendly, they didn't ever clean up or wrap his foot, which was still pretty bloody from the accident. So we left with his foot still dripping and had to run to the store to buy gauze and alcohol wipes - seemed odd that they didn't do that in the hospital. And while the nurses were friendly and cordial, they were constantly staring at, and typing on, their computers while talking to us. I get it, they have to document everything in a hospital, but a more patient focused facility might actually talk to the patient, not at the computer. Just food for thought.

I'm updating my review in light of some helpful events. I appreciate Zach, the Patient Access Director, introducing me to Genette, who helped me apply for Medicaid and a charitable write-off from the hospital. (I was denied for Medicaid. I have yet to hear back from Mountain Star about a charitable write-off). I'm still giving Lakeview Hospital three stars, however, for a couple of reasons:

1. ER personnel need to be more transparent about cost of care. They also need to better inform patients about the forms they ask patients to sign. Finally, ER personnel need to let patients know exactly who they can talk to in the event the patient struggles to pay a bill. (I suggest giving each patient a business card from Genette or Zach, along with a financial assistance application prior to discharge.)

2. Contracting with EPIC, in my opinion, causes a lot of headache (and heartache) for patients and employees. While I see that Lakeview Hospital intends to do right by patients, I'm disappointed that they're still contracted with this third-party entity with whom it's extremely difficult to get in contact and discuss a bill before it gets sent to collections. (We're still paying $100/month that we can't afford to EPIC's attorney. Hopefully we'll get approved for financial assistance and this will be resolved.)