Herndon Family Medicine

Reviews 4

MI

Mikki Firor

Do not go to this practice. You will be bamboozled. They are not really very good doctors either. Let me tell you about a few of my visits. I had been on the same medications for several years and it was a therapeutic dosage. I had no symptoms and it was perfect. I moved from Maryland to Virginia and just needed a new PCP because I had been going to emergency care when I got sick and finally needed a physical for work. My doctor questioned my diagnoses over and over despite having supporting documentation and effective treatments. Then she insisted that she be the doctor to write my prescriptions. Her insistence actually made me uncomfortable. I finally came in to have her write my prescription for some medication but then, she told me I had to come in every 3 months for refills. I explained that I cant afford office visits every 3 months as I have a high deductible and would have to pay $150-$300 per visit just for prescriptions. I actually went to a different doctor for my prescriptions after that and guess what- No issues! They understood that I cant afford that many visits, they helped me understand that if my medications needed to be adjusted I would have to go back to a specialist to have a new dosage explored. And they even allow me to call in for refills if I run out before my next annual visit. So.. yeah. i didnt get anymore prescriptions from Dr. Rentz. Then, I scheduled my appointment for my physical. I had mentioned this when I called saying I wanted to schedule a physical and explained I was also having trouble concentrating but this is why I needed my annual physical. and the front desk scheduled me only for a 15 minute appointment to discuss ADD. While I was there, she explained that I was not there for a physical but for a 15 minute office visit. I told her that I wouldnt have come in if I knew that because I cant afford to pay for the visit out of pocket. I am working part time while I build my business so every penny counts. I have health insurance but I wouldnt have scheduled an appointment just to discuss concentration.. She said sorry and explained there was nothing she could do but prompted me to tell her about my trouble concentrating. She told me that it probably isnt ADD because I didnt do badly in school as a child, handed me a piece of paper to fill out about ADD and told me to leave it in the room. Long story short, I ended up getting billed for this appointment. And I had to pay out of pocket which was more than 2x as much as I paid for a 1 hour appointment with a specialist to formally be diagnosed with ADD. When I spoke to the billing department they told me I should have demanded a physical and refused to leave until I got one. Then they told me I should have walked out of the room and told the front desk that I did not want the appointment and I had to reschedule. How am I to know that if I say the magic words of "This is not the appointment I wanted" that I would not be billed nor would I be charged for a "canceled" appointment? Also, what kind of doctors office suggests their patience demand any kind of service? Just dont go to this medical practice. I see they are Privia Medical Group and I have clients that go to the office in Arlington. They are an awesome office. Very professional and friendly. I will be driving the 30 minutes to Arlington to go to the doctor now and I am filing complaints against Herndon Family Medicine.

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A Private User

Terrible experience! We went to Herndon Family Medicine because my insurance company said they accepted our insurance. What most people may not know is that when a doctor enters an insurance companys network, the doctor agrees with the insurance company to set reimbursement rates for many services. This agreement includes a clause to not increase patient responsibility (demand more money) beyond that rate. Herndon Family Medicine decided to change the agreement without telling my insurance company or us. My insurance company reimbursed them their agreed upon rates for regular immunizations (not even something special) for my infant, but then Herndon Family Medicine decided that wasnt enough. They came after my family trying to extort more money, and threatened to send us to collections and ruin our credit if we did not pay. The problem being we did pay our co-pay, and like I mentioned our insurance company already paid them their agreed to reimbursement rates for everything. Now we have to file a complaint with the Fairfax County Consumer Affairs for their billing practices and my insurance company is trying to help me (ironic that my insurance company is more helpful than my doctor). While this is occurring, they also refused treatment to my infant during a scheduled visit today for another immunization. They told us to take him to an emergency room over 16 miles away when there is an emergency room 2 miles away in Reston. The doctor at the Reston Hospital Center ER said there was nothing wrong with him and he should have been given his immunizations. So now we probably have to file a complaint with the Department of Health too. I hate doing this because I know being a doctor today is extremely difficult, and I think this is more related to a management or billing company practice than the doctors or nurses. Please avoid this place if you can though.

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A Private User

This rating is based on the nursing and support staff. You get such little time with the doctors, theyre essentially a non-entity. When my first child was a patient here, they gave her the Varicella vaccine against our wishes. We declined that particular vaccine at her 12 month well baby exam. When she came in a month later for an illness, the nurse said that she was behind on her vaccines. Being a new parent, I was naive in thinking that they respected my parenting decisions. I assumed that she was behind on something else, as a month ago, I told them to put in her chart "declines Varicella vaccine). They readied her vaccine that she was behind, and being a new parent, I never thought to say, So, which one is this, again? Needless to say, they completely disrespected our wishes to forego the varicella vaccine and gave it to her. We did not know that was the vaccine until they gave us the vaccine information sheet (which is part of informed consent, except they give it to you, afterwards, if you didnt know to demand it first). Now, having gone on to have other children, and educated myself against the status quos desire to stab my child, too frequently, and excessively, Ive been blessed to have doctors that respect my parenting. Watch out for Herndon Family Medicine!

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A Private User

I had the misfortune of making my second (and last) visit to this place. After a good start (they were very efficient in taking my copay), I was taken back to get weighed in, blood pressure checked, and triaged by a nurse. The nurse was not in scrubs or any uniform I could make out, just a polo shirt and pants. I began to explain the reason for my visit (I had made a list of four things) and was told that they only had 15 minutes for each patient and that I may not be able to have everything addressed at this visit. I was shocked, horrified, and scared. What kind of care could I expect to receive with the clock ticking?!? I asked for a refund on my copay and was then introduced to another incompetent office manager Dee Merritt. Her name alone is ironic. She tried to explain not that I was misinformed about the 15 minute policy, but rather that I shouldnt have been told that! I ended up getting a refund on the copay, but she refused to give me any proof that my insurance company would not be billed for the visit. I left the office without being seen by a doctor, having missed work, and still suffering.

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