Andra Lyn

Review of Whitman-Walker Health

This clinic has great doctors, pa's and nurses, bu...

This clinic has great doctors, pa's and nurses, but their infrastructure, scheduling policies, and administrative staff are terrible.

The first time I tried to make an appointment, I was quoted a 2 month wait time. I was a little put out, but figured that a new patient appointment might require more time than usual for physicals or lab results or something.

My appointment was for 8 am. I was told to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork. When I arrived, the clinic was closed because they apparently close any time the federal government does, and they had closed because of metro delays or something. Still, I had managed a trek there at 7:30 in the morning. I get a call at 9:45 am telling me that my appointment was cancelled because of government closure and I would have to call in to reschedule. Over two hours from the time that I was asked to show up. This government closure was scheduled since at least 5pm the previous evening, but no one thought to call and tell their early morning patients that their appointments would be cancelled.

So, even more put out and frustrated, I call in and try to make another appointment. The receptionist had absolutely no sympathy for the issues of the previous day. He offered another appointment for 7 weeks later. It's now going to take nearly 4 months to get in for a new patient appointment. Annoyed, I take it.

Fast forward a few months. I had managed to get to the appointment without government cancellations and the like, and I enter the building for the first time to try and find my doctor. I go to the second floor staff desk and ask there. I get a snarky response from the rude receptionist. "Yeah, she's not on this floor." And then he turned away and LEFT! Ok...so I go up a floor and ask there. Luckily the receptionist there was much nicer and was able to direct me to the right place. The doctor's appointment was awesome. The nurses, and doctor were friendly, funny, and absolutely amazing at making me comfortable. I figure the delay has been worth it, and hopefully now that I'm an established patient I will be able to get in quicker. I have a prescription for my inhaler filled and leave.

Fast forward again and it's the summer. I had a pretty bad asthma attack during a race, and my inhaler ran out. I'm stressed because I have another race the next weekend and no more inhaler in case I have an attack, I ask to make an appointment. The nearest available date for an appointment is in a month. I tell them that my inhaler is out and that I was scared to compete without having it. I ask if I could get it refilled by having it called into a pharmacy and the receptionist said no, that I had to have an appointment since it was so long since I had gotten it. So I begrudgingly accept the appointment.

I get a call 2 weeks before my appointment, telling me that they actually scheduled me on the day that my doctor can't take me, so I would have to reschedule. Again. They had no sympathy for me and didn't seem to care that I had to deal with THEIR mistakes, and the next appointment they can give me is 5 weeks away. That's it. I'm done.

Admittedly, there is one really rude receptionist that I always get when I call in. His attitude is definitely NOT something that helps patients, as he always seems to imply that you are wasting his time, and speaks to you scathingly. He never offers solutions, only problems. I think his name is Michael, but no guarantees. Maybe the other receptionists are great...but that one has terrible customer service and is really bringing down this location.

I wish I could go back here, but apparently they are so busy they don't have time for their patients.