University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Reviews 4

BR

Brian Pinney

This is for the Iowa River Landing specifically, I was never treated at the Hawkins Drive Hospital. After going there three times for some treatments to my hands, I received the bill. They charge you a $200+ office visit in addition to $180 charge for applying some liquid nitrogen to my hands. The insurance company wrote "excessive" charge on at least one component of every visit, sticking me with the rest. After three visits, my hands still arent much better. I talked to billing and he verified that they do, in fact, DOUBLE BILL. They bill you for visiting the office and then for any services rendered. I have been to other clinics for my hands and was in and out for a grand total of $50 including two prescriptions (and the same treatment they provided). Both under the same insurance plan. After three visits, Im up to nearly $600 out of pocket due to this double billing procedure... to apply a shot glass full of liquid nitrogen by a *resident* doctor. The dermatologist at the other clinic (who wasnt a resident) cost me 25% of the price billed to me by the University. I talked with the Billing department (Bobby specifically, who gave me several stories). The first story is that I was charged for services rendered as well as a consultation. After telling him I didnt get a consultation on the second two visits (the appointments were scheduled for follow up treatment, not for new consults), he changed his story to "office visits" where it doesnt matter that I didnt speak to the actual doctor for more than 30 seconds. Thus, all in all, they get to bill the insurance company almost $400 for less than 5 minutes in their room each visit. Additionally, it is irrelevant that the "services" rendered take place in the same room and not by a specialist; they bill you as if they had to call in a specialist. Lastly, after the third trip... the doctor told me about an over-the-counter remedy thats "basically just as effective" as the treatment she was doing. "Basically just as effective" is apparently loosely translated as "this treatment wouldve cost you $15 for the months weve been treating your hands, instead of the $600 you get to stomach because we did the treatment here". I am extremely dissatisfied. This type of billing should be fraudulent. I could have had all of these treatments covered for the same cost as one visit at any facility that has reasonable billing.

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A

A Private User

Watch out for this hospital. I know they are known for great care, but my experience didnt show that at all. I felt like I was in a subpar environment. My experience from the beginning. I was transferred down there for a subdural hematoma in the back of my head. So what do they do, they put me on a cart that has a bad causing the cart to have a little bump in it. Kinda like one of those carts that no body wants at a supermarket. In fact, they even named it the Wal-Mart cart. For some reason though, they thought it was a good idea to put a patient with a subdural hematoma in the back of his head on this cart and pushem all over the hospital. They said they would me a different cart for obvious reason, but the 12 hours I was there was not long enough for them to do that. The most comfortable I had there was on the way out in the wheel chair. My next big issue was they push on my spine with enough force to move me on the cart. No pain or discomfort all the way through, besides them pushing on my spine. Lets just make sure nothing is broken though and do an x-ray. I ask them why did they just push on my spine so hard and now they want to do x-rays of it when I felt no discomfort. Only thing they say is, if we dont do the x-rays we cant continue with the rest of your care. um ok? Well, of course nothing is broken or out of place, I think I would have felt that when they were putting their body weight on my spine. I just think if something was wrong with it, them doing that probably would have been enough for it to really cause damage. Moving on... During the morning hours I have multiple doctors come in. The only doctor that seemed to even care a little bit was the neurologist. Thats it. At one point, a doctor walks in and says he will no longer be watching over me and is taking me off his trauma list. Well thats good news except who are you? Nice to meet you for the first time. Im glad you took 15 seconds to introduce yourself and tell me im no longer on the trauma list.Oh that will be a $600 visit by the way. right... This is just my experience though, if I ever get hurt again, I just hope I dont go back there. I dont ever want to go back there.

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SA

Sarah Dunlap

I have had a few terrible experiences with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. I use insurance through the University which limits me to mostly using their system. The insurance is great but I am very concerned the University of Iowa is trusted with teaching future doctors considering the flaws within their own system. Recently, I had an issue with my arm and could not move it much. I visited a quick care clinic to see if there was something I could do to improve it because there was considerable pain and limited mobility. The doctor took my money but said I could have had a stroke so I should go see my primary care physician or go to the hospital. It seemed unlikely. She didnt even examine me, listen to my heart, or anything. I think if she was really concerned she would have at least examined me. I called my primary care physician who is based out of the River Landing. They said they would not be able to get me in for months but I could leave a voicemail and maybe get in sooner considering my pain and limited mobility. I left a voicemail message and no one got back to me. I finally scheduled an appointment with a chiropractor outside of their system and that was actually a very helpful appointment. She said I really didnt need a chiropractor but she did know enough about the shoulder to treat me at least. Another time, I went to a quick care clinic the doctor gave me enough information about a trans gendered patient that I could have found out who they were if I bothered. He even said that if the person was having a hard time living in Iowa after transitioning, maybe they should move somewhere else. Afterwards, when giving me a prescription he gave me documents for an entirely different patient. I am sure both of those things are some sort of HIPPA violation. Overall, I am concerned that an organization with these practices are teaching doctors.

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KY

Ky H

I have had a great experience at the adult side though! The doctors are so friendly, and without them I wouldnt be walking somewhat better and would still be having seizures. I go every three months to get treatments, and they are all very nice and friendly and helpful. I love the doctors Im seeing there, I wish the childrens side would be like that! The adult side at the clinic has been great, 5 out of 5 stars! Unfortunately, my experience at the Childrens Hospital was not great. I was in there for a week about 3 years ago, and actually was sent by my pain management doctor to have an epidural catheter placed in me, but they decided not to do it because they didnt feel like I needed one. We were so mad, as was my pain management doctor. I hated the fact that they had all these doctors stand outside my room and decide your fate on if they would treat you or not. They would come in every day twice a day to get blood or another type of test, while that was good, but I was not impressed with their care in the childrens hospital. They only wanted to give me Tylenol, which was not helping! I have a severe chronic pain disease called RSD, and its been called the worst chronic pain a person could go through. Plus, a lot of the doctors I saw were so unprofessional and rude. I also was seeing a so called "RSD specialist" and was supposed to be the best around Iowa, but he came in the room, saw my bright purple foot, and said, oh, I cant see patients until theyve had it for a year, and left. We were so mad! Its been proven that you need to be treated quickly, because after a year your chances of remission go down significantly bad. The physical therapist was so rude, that I almost asked her to leave. Anyway, do not go to the Childrens hospital here, the childrens doctors are not good!

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