National Jewish Health Review

How do you say ripoff in Hebrew?

As a long-time allergy and sinus sufferer - like MAJOR DAILY HEADACHES .. I was desperate for help. I'd seen the great ads about how these guys are the "leading respiratory provider in the country, etc" as local Denver resident.

Dr. Hoyte was the first to see me.... she was nice but had NO information and failed to follow up all of the CRAZY expensive tests taken ..... SO WARNING TO YOU ... ASK HOW MUCH YOU WILL BE OUT OF POCKET EVEN WITH INSURANCE (it cost me $3000 -- of which they sent to COLLECTIONS within just months.....nice guys).

The center is OUTRAGEOUSLY OVERPRICED (Google average allergy test costs - $200 - $800 estimated. ... they charge $1600 for the same test and then didn't even have the decency to provide me the results.....

Funny how either the reviews here are GLOWING 5 stars or the REALITY of 1 star.... you decide what's real and what is the truth......

Dr. Getz was thorough -- but equally incompetent. Also had NOTHING TO OFFER ME BUT telling me to stay away from dust and use a daily nasal spray..... Wow - what insight..... all for the low price of $2500 -- yes you read that correctly...

TOTAL OUT OF POCKET (no surgery - nothing) $5000 !!!!!!!!!! Go play the lotto . much better return...

And INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER any over billings so when you complain --- they send you to collections.....

Now, a year later,,, my symptoms are WORSE... and I'm heading somewhere else.

Strange vibe at this place as well.... nice then cold as ice....AVOID.

Absolutely the worst customer service and patient care I have ever had to deal with!!!!

Extremely friendly, helpful & knowledgeable staff. Wonderful doctors who take the time to get to know you. Best place to be if you have respiratory issues!!!

The research and the work they do here saved my friend's son's life. God bless you folks.

National Jewish Health is academic medical research facility specializing in respiratory, cardiac, immune and allergic disorders. Very clean place and very close friend of ours had major allergic issues and use to visits ER. Finally they came to this place and Doctors treated him good. He is all good now.

I tried to make an appointment with a rheumatologist and spoke to someone named Shirley. I didn t have a Dr s referral so I was trying to figure out the logistics.

I explained I was trying to find out if I was at risk during covid-19 times as I ve been feeling pain for months now.

Shirley then responded with everyone should act like they re at risk.

Thank you Shirley. As much as I appreciated the lecture, I understand the difference between wearing a mask out of civil duty vs actually being at risk and screwed for life.

I hope you greet others (who are probably calling out of distress like me) with more empathy.

I always enjoy my time with my pulmonologist, he takes the time to explain my condition and even more time answering my questions.

I recently had a billing issue with NJH, for which I received excellent help from Michael Clarkson. The matter was immediately resolved. I'm appreciative of Michael's and NJH's approach on this matter.

It has been such a frustrating experience with this place. They are always running behind schedule and just seem generally disorganized, you can't expect them to stay on top of anything. You have to take the lead and make sure everything gets pushed through with relentless follow-up and even that is difficult because you can never get through on the phone.

After meeting with sleep docs and taking 3 sleep studies over the course of 2 years, the docs say there is 95% chance I have narcolepsy and yet I'm no closer to an official diagnosis than the day I first walked in. I ended up getting medication for sleep apnea though another doctor, which helps me just make it though the day. It's sad that despite years of effort and thousands of dollars in medical bills, another doctor was able to offer me some kind of help when this place offered me absolutely none.

I will give props to the sleep techs, these people work their butts off on a never-ending list of sleep studies, practically never get to see the light of day and don't receive any credit for their work. You guys are truly the unsung heroes, but administrative people need to get their acts together and actual sleep docs need to get better at follow up. All I want is to not be exhausted literally all the time and I feel like I got no help at all from being a patient with you.

Unprofessional, prideful, irritating, and uncaring. I would recommend finding a different facility to anyone thinking about coming here. I came here because they have a good reputation for pulmonary issues. What I found was the reputation has caused a lot of pride which in turn caused a very bad experience for me. The staff and practices that granted them a good reputation is long gone. Don t waste your time or money, and if you do, you d better have LOTS of time because they are in no hurry to resolve patient issues.

This place is great. Dr. Gupta was amazing. they took their time and explained everything to us and actually tried to figure out the problem instead of guessing like providers have done in the past. Even though my son is only 4 they still tested him and actually were able to diagnose him and help him. I'd definitely recommend this hospital.

Best hospital for cardio-pulmonary and COPD period. Doctors actually answer email.

Every time I go in for a checkup it takes at least 3.5 hours, they have no parking. Their billing isn t setup fair, was sent to collections for a $35 bill that didn t match up with my EOB for dates of service after my max out of pocket had been met. I loved my doctor there but I preferred to go somewhere else rather than deal with the facility.

Staff very friendly. The doctor visited spent the time to listen to every concerned we had. Never felt rushed. I was able to do an x-ray and allergy test right there in about an hour.

This was one of the worst experience of my life. The Doctor repeated herself multiple times and did not appear to be listening to answers or just didn't care about our problems. I will not be going back.

This hospital is awesome! I am not a well person and I live in Colorado Springs. I'm so glad my Pulmonologist referred me. I have gone up 3 times, now and the testing is far superior to anything I've ever had done for my condition in the Springs. That's a sad statement. I still have at least one more appointment to go and I'm hoping there will be some sort of help. All I can say? They are so thorough that some of the testing I would've never guessed to be related, but now I know. Every single person I have come in contact with there has been exceptionally kind and very knowledgeable. Any sort of medical issues are always frustrating, but I can honestly say, that the hospital, and I mean the countless workers, have our health in mind and strive to find out what's going on and then proceed to help us. I am so impressed. I have sick for 26 years, have 27 disorders and have had 26 surgeries. This place is phenomenal. Thank you so much, NJH!!

The sleep study department at this place are very rude. The communication is very vague. My wife had an at home sleep study done and she needed a titration test at the hospital. After a month our insurance denied the claim. I called national Jewish and after a month of phone tag they say that her primary care will need to submit the at home sleep study results which they have. Okay why can't national Jewish contact my wife's doctor, provide results and everything so that her doctor can submit the request? We are not doctors ourselves and we don't know these things. We are patients! Take care of your patients!! My wife is still waiting on getting the titration test done and she has been having problems at night sleeping. Thankfully I am usually up at night to monitor her.

My doctors referred me to Jewish in July of 2018. Time after time I called to check up for an apt after my nurses consult. I begged for the weeks worth of testing to be done before the end of the year. I had met my 6.5k out of pocket for the year and it would literally save me 6.5k if they were to do the testing before the end of the year. You'd think they could manage that, but no. So, fast forward 6 mos and finally I get a weeks worth of testing done. So you'd think this would be worth it all right? No, over a week of testing to tell me I need to come back and consult with rheumatology. The exact doctor we had requested to see when I was referred here in the first place. The worst part is they missed the fact that I had markers for autimmune! I had to point it out! So then I make another 5hr trip back to Denver to be tested for all of the possible autoimmune disorders and consult with the rheumatologists. Youd think I'd finally get answers . NOPE! I then wait 2 weeks to be told that I yet again need to travel 5hrs back to Denver to get the EXACT same bloodwork that they were supposed to draw the second trip I took. When I explained that they literally drew blood for those very specific tests the last trip I took, and was 100% confirmed by lab, tech, and the DR. That those specific tests were all accounted for, I was told "sorry, somehow they missed those ones and you need to drive back to Denver if you want to fing out what's wrong". They have now pushed 3 trips on me for what could have been done in one trip. They also could have done this testing before my insurance started over since clearly they were given 4 months notice of my referral. Now 7 months in and at least 10k out of my pocket just to be told to come back again with a maybe answer. Oh, and to add, the one for sure diagnoses of asthma was shut down by the facility. All of their testing concluded that I in fact did not have asthma. Well tell that to the anasthesiologist who had to stick a tube down me to keep me breathing. Guess why? I went into an asthma attack and stopped breathing during surgery just this past week after I was taken off all of my asthma meds. Total mess.

Fitch Ratings downgraded National Jewish Health s bond rating from BBB ( stable ) to BBB ( negative ) in February, 2013. According to Fitch, NJH showed a net operating loss for Fiscal Year 2012 of $7.8 million compared to a loss of $3 million in Fiscal Year 2011. Fiscal Year 2013 ended on June, 2013 and those figures will inform NJH s next rating assessment. NJH is attempting to grow its revenue from clinical operations. It currently has $57.5 million in outstanding debt and is trying to increase revenue from its clinical operations, which it is attempting to expand.

I believe this is why the web is home to negative posts from patients who have experienced a pressure or sales pitch from NJH staff (which I strongly expect was generated by NJH administration) to see one of our doctors even if there is absolutely no reason to do so.

This was certainly my experience. NJH is has been operating at a growing net loss while its clinical operations are highly profitable.

I expect this growing operating loss combined with NJH s plan to invest in growing its profitable clinical operation is also the reason why NJH s mid- and other level employees have recently been posting comments regarding their reduced pay compared to what they would be making at similar health care facilities in the Denver area.

In keeping with this expansion plan, NJH purchased the Gove Middle School building (which was closed in 2005) and its 7.5 acres of land from Denver Public Schools at 14th & Colorado Blvd. for $9 million in May, 2012. The plan is to demolish the building and rebuild.

The slogan over the NJ Colfax building front door ( None may enter who can pay -- none can pay who enter ) is just history. That building is fully locked and does DOE contract work and apparently no one can enter who doesn t have security clearance.

I was sent downstairs from the pediatrics office to get insurance verification for an appointment that was a referral. The finance office clerk said the "system was down" and that is why my insurance wasn't verified. Then she told me to call my insurance. I finally had her call insurance, after she had me on my phone in her office on hold.
The clerk should have just called in the first place. When she got off the phone with my insurance and called upstairs, the doctor had a already cancelled the appointment for my baby. "I was afraid of that." She said.

Well, thanks for hiring people who are less than helpful. I am sure she was exceptional with sending the bill out for my "no show" that was due to her. I still have a baby allergic to something of which I kinow nothing about thanks to the cancelled appointment.

Every mother loves taking off work to spend 1 1/2 hrs at a hospital with a 9 month old, only to miss the appointment due to the hospital's "system being down" and the finance office who won't call insurance companies. I am sure I will be getting a bill for this horrible experience.

Jeff Downing is the worst person alive!!! He told me that I needed to get over the death of my daughter who was a patient there!!

My mother has been receiving treatment at this hospital for the past 14 years. We've been exponentially impressed at how this hospital operates. I'm pretty sure my mother would be much less healthy if it weren't for the world class doctors here. It's a global hub for respiratory care.

Still haven t been seen here yet. Have had a Tricare referral for 7 months. They never received the fax, according to one person I spoke to. Tried again. Still no. Turns out you have to register as a patient before they can look at your referral. How the heck are you supposed to know this if you have never been there ?? How come the people you ask don't even know to tell you about this. Dreading appointment if their admin is this messed up

They have taken care of me for almost 10 years they are amazing

Dr King. The gastroenterology Dr. Is the best. He's has been so helpful. When I had my upper & lower scopes done Tracy assisted & I couldn't ask for a better respiratory therapist. Great experience.

I called NJH last week describing some serious issues I have been having with my ears....I never received the letter they claim to send and upon calling back and explaining the severity of the issue the CS representative rudely interrupted me and then said that they couldn't help me. I questioned this response explaining isn't that what an ENT does is help with inner ear issues.. the representative then said sorry they said they CANNOT help me. Isn't that what a hospital and doctors are suppose to do HELP people. I stead they are using my examination as a phone conversation and denying helping a potential patient. Literally the worst customer service and experience I ever had and now I am feeling straight defeated. DO NOT CHOOSE THIS FACILITY EVER, THEY OBVIOUSLY CANNOT HELP YOU or even WORSE they can and just won't.

Worst experience, worst staff and doctors, better don t go this place

Absolutely outstanding! The best of the best. I only wish I would have pursued being seen there years earlier. Thanks to my doctors there, my lung health is better than it has been in several years.

The physicians and staff are truly amazing, lifesavers to say the least !! On the other hand, the billing department is a disaster. Incompetent, rude, arrogant and condescending would be paying them a compliment. I have retained legal counsel to defend myself against their ineptness.

Wonderful and caring staff of professionals who are dedicated to assessing your specific concerns/symptoms, developing a plan of care and seeing it through. I had an exceptional experience at NJH. In 2012, I was diagnosed with "bronchitis",prescribed an antibiotic for 5 days and sent my way. This did not address the constant coughing, sensation of aspiration, and just feeling ill. ENT visits yield pharyngitis and sinusitis and I was given nose spray. It wasn't until I visited a GI MD who dx GERD then ordered Omeprazole . But the coughing persisted. Fast forward to 2016 when I decided to visit the BEST RESPIRATORY HOSPITAL where NJH put it all together, prescribed the right testing and treatments which made all the difference. Thank you Dr.Balkissoon , Dr. King, Speech and Respiratory therapists, nurses and technicians for making my visit to Denver the answer to my problem. I feel better then I've felt in 5 yrs thanks to NJH. J.E. Porter, Delaware

Worst expiriernce with a asthma doctor I've ever had. WAYYY more than I've ever paid to see a doctor and I cannot believe they get away with this.

My elderly husband is being treated by a great team that includes Becky Flath, Stephanie Sorrels and Shelby Jenkins from Rehabilitation Department at National Jewish Health. All of them are hardworking, patient, kind and educated professionals who helped my husband in many aspects of his rehabilitation. Me and my husband are very grateful to them and National Jewish Health in general and wish them all the best. Using this opportunity, we wish Becky, Stephanie and Shelby happy holiday season and all the best in upcoming 2020. I will be updating my review as my husband continues receiving his care at NJH.

Absolutely amazing!! The technology and knowledge of my MAC disease is way beyond what I envisioned and the staff have been caring and reassuring. Wish I would have come years ago when I was first diagnosed.

I spent 6 months getting to National Jewish with already a bunch of test completed. Had numerous tests since coming to National Jewish. Have had the diagnosis since January and still no treatment plan. Just keep ordering more tests and it takes 6 weeks to get the appointments. 12 days to have an order called into the insurance company. No response to calls. going on 4 months with no treatment except to breathe with pursed lips. Well that did not keep me at the altitude I residence and now cannot be home.

Administrative Abuse.... scheduling abuse....medical malpractice!