Westend Medical Center

\r \r While I am happy there are medical service providers for people who are uninsured, because I am in between jobs, I am not pleased with the West End Medical Center's service. I've always worked and carried good health insurance, and though there were a few minor issues with the health insurance providers, I can't wait to get insurance coverage again. \r \r I called the West End Medical Center to find out if I had to schedule and appointment for their ob/gyn clinic. The person answering the phone seemed very rushed,and told me they take walk-ins from 8-10 and 2-5. That was great because I had an issue that I was concerned about. I was told to bring between $35 and $75 dollars because they would charge based on a sliding scale. So, I arrived at the clinic around 8:30 a.m. the next day. The building looked decent, and the older lady at the front desk was professional. I registered, and was then taken to the so called financial counselor so he could determine my fee. He told me that I would pay $30 dollars for that visit, and if any other visit within the next three months. He then sent me up to ob/gyn clinic.\r \r When I got to the ob/gyn clinic, there were people standing in line in front of the desk. The person attending the desk lacked personality and acted as if people were not waiting there. When she got to me, she had me complete a new patient form on which I had to describe my health issue. I then waited. Around 10, they called me to the back and took my urine. Then they had me sit again. They had Fox news channel on, (let the Obama bashing begin, come on people, you are in the hood!). Then the lady at the desk, who I would later find is the supervisor, told me that the doctor's determined that I would have to make an appointment for next Tuesday. She was unprofessional and demanding. She was sloppily dressed, panties showing and all. I told her that they should not have told me that they accepted walk-ins. I am already in between jobs, and gas was not cheap. I drove 25 miles to get there. She told me it was at the doctor's discretion and a walk-in may or may not be seen. I wanted to snap! I was already dizzy and in pain. \r \r I went down stairs to complain to the HR lady. There was another lady there complaining because they were giving her the run around about her test results. The HR lady went back upstairs with us. She asked them if they could see me later that day, and the supposed to be supervisor said that I would still have to make an appointment. \r \r So people, if you can't help yourself, go on over there. I do not recommend this clinic. I am not sure where they are getting these doctors and customer service people from! They put on a good facade with the building, website, automatic voice system. all expressing a sincere concern, but when you get there, the service is terrible! Unprofessional as hell! So my health did not matter..it could wait another 7 days..Get the heck out of here! They need some serious reorganization.! All doctor's don't graduate at the top or even the middle of the class. This is were they wind up, in the community center. They just want the name, ""Doctor"", and maybe the money associated with it. They lack personality, people, and management skills. more

I went to the West End Medical Center in the West End (they have a satellite office). The office was clean and orderly. Parking was tight and there was a security guard at the door when I left (maybe his shift started a couple hours after they open). I did not qualify for the sliding scale fee because I receive too much in unemployment benefits. I was given tests that were supposed to go to the lab and paid for those tests. I was given an antibiotic just in case-results weren't back. When the results were due in, I discovered that one of the test results that I was looking for was never sent to the lab. After paying $85 for office visit and labs, I was not about to go back and pay for an additional visit to see the doctor this time. I thought that was what I was paying for before--to see the doctor. I tried their affiliate office on N. Marietta today because I didn't want to go back to the West End and this office was closer to me. I was feeling tired all the time and stressed out. He said do you spend ""me time""? I said yes. He said well count backwards by 7 and fold this paper in half 2 times. He then said, ""Well, sometimes people just feel that way. The brain fills up and since we can't download that info, it can't take anymore... Come back when you can to do a blood work up. At least we will know if everything else is okay. It will only cost $55."" I can't believe a doctor said your brain fills up and can't take no more. He also looked in my eyes and said that the eyes are indicators of anemia. I told him I was anemic. It's not in the eyes, its the dark circles under the eyes that may indicate a deficiency. I want my money back this time! more

Dear valued Coustomer,\r \r We read your web review regarding our organization.\r Your concerns are important to us. We would appreciate the opportunity to address your complaint. Please feel free to contact our Risk Management at 404-752-1408; 404-752-1400 ext. 1408 or elewis@wemc. org\r your feedback is and will not impact the quality of care that you would recieve as a WEMC patient.\r \r \r Thank You more

Well when I first heard about this place I was ecstatic, I do not have medical and I appreciated the fact they gave me my services on a sliding pay scale. \r \r So when I first went there the place looked very well kept an modern, so I felt I was at a good place. I ended up going there to have my blood sugar checked and found out I was borderline diabetic. They ran all sort of blood tests which cost me around $60.00 on top of their $30.00 fee for my treatment. But after finding out I was borderline diabetic the Dr. just told me ""don't eat sugar"" and sent me on my way without no more information on this potential deadly disease. Working in the medical field for 11yrs I found it a little strange that they would not give me more information or a pamphlet for that matter.\r \r Well, a few weeks later I call about my test results and they tell me I have to come in. So I pay for another appointment only for them to tell me that they lost my blood work. Now again being in the medical field 11yrs, I used to draw blood and never in my 11 yrs did we lose a patients blood work, so this was super strange to me.\r \r So for weeks now I been trying to call them to get answers and no one ever picks up the phone. Or when they pick up the phone they will put you on hold and forget about you. I have called all the phone numbers on the website and the numbers are either disconnected or no one picks up. So to conclude my review, this sort of health care is very scary and dangerous. It is almost better just paying full price and seeing a real Dr. and skip over all the hassle and stress this facility seems to bring you. Plus after they include the prices of the tests they perform, it almost come out to about the same thing you would have paid had you went to a regular Dr.\r \r So if you can avoid this place by all means do, but if you are in desperate needs of some medical care, then take your chances. Even though it looks like a very professional and clean facility it is very unorganized and offers very unprofessional care. Pros: They offer a sliding pay scale Cons: Hard to make an appointment & bad medical services more

The attitudes of the staff is very unprofessional, and the hold time is absolutely horrible. I haven't had any services at this establishment (thank GOD) but i bet that the staff are a mirror of the physicans. Lousy physican = Lousy staff. WMC is a waste of land space. Daisy Harris never answer her phone nor does she return complaint calls. I guess people in the ""HOOD"" dont deserve respect or reasonably timely healthcare. ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK type of healthcare is unexceptable . I'll take the rudeness and the 13 minute wait on the phone as a sign that GOD has a better healthcare provider for me. I dont want to put a rating but i have to in order to complete this transaction. Pros: there is none Cons: It located in the ""HOOD"" and it provides lousy service. G hetto staff (all) Blacks, Hispanics (all) staff. more

This healthcare entity is a good substitute for general health issues (pink eye, ear infection, etc.,), but should not be used at the main the gatekeeper for good healthcare. It is very important that the primary care physician (PCP) be the ""gatekeeper"" and know all illnesses and make referrals. Sometimes when using community health centers, the physician is so overworked that there may be oversights, especially when it comes to making referrals for other health issues. Healthcare should be complete, with the PCP taking care of the physical illnesses, but also upon observing a change in patient, be mindful enough to refer on to specialists. The doctor should never just tell the patient to see a specialist, but make sure that the referral to a preferred specialist is taken care of by his/her staff. \r Advocate For Better Health Pros: Convenient to West End Mall, easy to get to Cons: Parking; This healthcare entity simply does not have ample parking; security needed; large homeless population more