06/30/2017: This is an update to the original review. Today I received the bill from the ER's business office, called and paid it in full. It wasn't until around 3PM (when I got home from work and checked my account), that I saw a second charge for the same amount from the ER's business dept. I immediately contacted them to resolve the issue, however the person with whom I spoke kept talking over me and would not allow me to speak. She stated that I have two phone numbers listed on the account; technically true-one is my emergency contact and the other is my personal number-she attempted to contact my emergency contact, who has nothing to do with my finances and according to my phone log, she did not even attempt to contact me about this matter. I was told that it would take at least 2 business days for me to receive a refund of the unauthorized funds, but when I asked why they could not refund the unauthorized amount same day, I was handed off to (I'm guessing) a supervisor and asked the same question. This (I'm guessing) supervisor stated that she would have to check their merchant account, as a refund had already been issued (if it was, it was not showing up in my account) and that she would call me back. At about 3:35PM she called me back and stated that I would have to wait at least 2 business days for the refund of unauthorized funds to hit my account. I let her know that I would be contacting my bank about this matter, she stated that all I would have to do is give my bank their phone number and they'd fax the information to my bank...my bank handles situations, like these as fraud. My main issues with this situation are that the billing dept. took unauthorized funds from my account, cannot refund the amount same day, attempted to contact someone else about my account...which had been paid in full, but did not attempt contacting me and their casual view of taking unauthorized funds from a patient/customer's bank account. I have filed a complaint with my bank, the FTC and the BBB about this department's actions and attitude.
Considering this and the fact that they misdiagnosed me in the ER-I ended up having to go to my regular doctor for the same symptoms-why should I bear the burden of unauthorized funds taken from my account on top of paying the bill in full?
Unfortunately, I found myself at the ER yesterday; it was an asthma attack and anxiety. The young lady at the front desk didn't smile and made me feel as though I was an imposition to her. Then from behind me a guy (doctor or nurse) told me he was on his way out, but that he could check my blood oxygen levels. He never introduced himself, which to me is weird. The nurse gave me some anti-anxiety meds, but when I asked what the side effects were, she just told me they'd make me drowsy; she didn't tell me the name of the medication, the dosage...nothing, but insisted that I take them. Then the technician came around to do some bloodwork, but I had not been told why. I left, not feeling 100% clear on the diagnosis, further treatment...etc. and didn't get any results from lab work/X-rays until this afternoon. The staff doesn't seem to want patients to question treatment or ask questions in general, which to me is a very uncomfortable environment. The X-Ray technician was very up beat and seemed to understand that even though I was in the ER, I hadn't lost my sense of humor or personality. This staff could benefit from better communication with patients.
