Austin Regional Clinic: ARC Far West

Reviews 3

FO

forever Shanaynay

I usually see Dr. Hull who is great. On my last visit he was booked for a week, so I had to make an appointment with Dr. Rita Shah. This experience was horrible. All I went in for was to get two prescriptions refilled. One for high blood pressure the other was eye drops. Pretty simple right? Well it would seem to be. My appointment was for 2:15pm. I wasnt seen until 2:55pm. My name was finally called. The nurse was very nice, so I thought OK theyre just a little busy. In comes Dr. Shah. Very rude to me from the start. Kept telling me that my records showed that I usually see Dr.Hull, that she would prefer that I follow up with him, and that I should have made the appointment with him. She said that three to four times. She then said that she could not refill the eye drops because it was unethical. I asked why and she said she didnt have to tell me. I even told her that it would cost me more money and time to make another appointment, to which she replied, "Oh well, medical bills are expencive these days." When I made the appointment the appointment setter told me that all prescriptions could be refilled as long as the prescription wasnt narcotics. Then as Im leaving, Dr. Shah tells the clerk to make a note in my file to have the appointment setters make my future appointments with Dr.Hull and not Dr.Shah. I was thinking, "I would prefer this anyway." So I decide to let it go as Im not going to schedule with Dr.Shah anymore anyways, but it gets worse. When I get to the pharmacy to get my one prescription, She sent it to the wrong pharmacy. I had to wait another hour for them to return the prescription, transfer it, and remake the prescription at the correct pharmacy. I was really clear to send the prescription to Wal-Mart pharmacy on Walton way. It was sent to another in Cedar Park. Then when I get the prescription, it is only a 30 day supply with no refills. Dr Hull usually gives me 90 days with 2 or 3 refills. I have to be honest and say that this is by far the worst Doctor visit I ever had. Not to mention that I recently started a new job and my insurance doesnt begin for another 2 months. I have to self pay for this horrible experience. This makes me worried to see what is on the final bill. I really feel bad to give this horrible review, because Dr. Hull is great, but I highly recommend to stay away from Dr. Rita Shah. UPDATE: I recieved the bill... $161.00; for a 30 day supply of blood pressure pills. All they did was check my blood pressure and fill one (out of two) prescriptions. Please, for your own good, stay away from Dr. Rita Shah.

EL

Elisabeth I.S.

Please dont waste your time going to this business. I come from a healthcare background, and I have worked in hospitals for several years and have not had an experience like this. I had an issue with my face a few months ago, and after waiting for twenty minutes, the doctor saw me for less than 2 minutes and concluded that she did not know if anything was wrong. She then gave me two unnecessary blood tests (unnecessary, because I had told her I did not have an infection, and this had already been previously confirmed), and I went home. My problem was not solved. They later called to tell me, that as we all knew, I had no infection. Finally, after getting a second opinion and being properly diagnosed, I went to an acupuncturist and got the help I needed. ARC sent me a bill of close to $250 for that one visit, including the labs. After paying this bill, they began to call and harass me for over a week with a new message. Apparently, they decided that I needed to be billed another $200 for lab work that was already included in the first bill, and they could not give me an answer for why I was double-paying on these bills. When I called their services, I heard the person being coached on the phone with responses, and they kept telling me to go in person to another ARC or check online for my records. Their online site was "experiencing a lot of slowness in their network" so that method of checking my records was out. Also, I would have to "apply" to them to get my medical records in person. I really wish I had just waited, even with the severe pain I was experiencing to go see someone else. This business makes money off of you if you need After Hours Care (Sat-Sun), then they find extra ways to get money by recommending unnecessary tests (of course, through their lab) and by double billing you. I gave them my insurance, but apparently they didnt have it on file anymore when I paid my bill, so Ive been paying full price as well. They mentioned that the best they could do would be to put the account on "hold" while I requested my records. Please do not waste your time at this business. They are clearly not trustworthy and are part of the healthcare problem in this country.

EV

Eva

When you call to make an appointment you talk with what seems to be a third party whose sole purpose is to schedule appointments and apparently get paid to be as rude as ever while scheduling that appointment. I called because I am new to town and need to see a doctor and the doctors here had good reviews, so there I was nervously calling to set up that first appointment with a new doctor. A girl named Shamika(or Shamiqua or something along these lines) answered the phone and asked normal questions as to who I was. I answered and then she condescendingly told me that "being a new patient isnt a reason to set up an appointment...", so I told her again that I would like to start seeing a doctor and when I have set out for new doctors in the past I just set up a "new patient exam" and everything is well, but Shamika did not like what I was saying, so she rudely huffed and TOLD me that "people need a reason to see a doctor", so at this point I have lost any respect for this rude non-customer-service oriented person and told her to just schedule it to take my blood pressure. Shoot, at this point she clearly doesnt care if Dr. Ericson receives any new patients, but still, I tough it out. She then condescendingly tells me that people dont just go to get their blood pressure taken. I tell her again that I just want an appointment, so I can set them up in the future if need be. After more condescending rude comments from this Shamika character, we finally fight through setting up an appointment. I did ask if I would have to interact with her in the future because if I do, then this place clearly isnt for me no matter how good the actual doctors are. Shamika is the face(voice) of the office and this is not warm and inviting for new patients or people in general. This is unacceptable for people trying to just get a physical, exam, anything done and have to be treated so poorly and be spoken to in such a condescending rude tone. If I have to encounter another Shamika then this will be my first and last visit here. That is sad. I have only heard good things about the doctors and its a shame for this kind of thing to be taking that away from them.