Osborne Head & Neck Institute

Just to be clear, this review is not for Dr. Hamilton. He is a rockstar and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. He repaired a perforated septum for me that was growing larger due to a botched septoplasty done by another ENT.
My review is for a rather unpleasant interaction with their billing department. I don’t want to write a book here, but I paid a substantial amount out of pocket for the procedure and started to see some large bills and EOBs a few months after the surgery. At the time, I called my surgery coordinator to see if I was responsible for anything further since the dollar amounts were quite large. I was told that this was normal procedure to bill the insurance company the maximum amount possible and anything they didn’t recover wouldn’t be my responsibility.
Fast forward a year and a half later and a bill arrives showing that I owe more money. After calling several times and leaving messages, the billing assistant calls me back. She explains that the insurance was billed but they didn’t pay the full amount so I was responsible for the remainder. I explained to her that this was the exact scenario I was told should not happen by their staff. She took a hard line and said that I could have been responsible for much more according to what I signed and there was nothing she could do. I asked if she could help me out in any way based on the representations made to me. The answer was a resounding no. Yes, you have my signature on papers saying you could bill me whatever you want. It’s just discouraging when staff tells me one thing and then the billing department another while showing no flexibility or empathy.

Its not a great setup. I think the doctors are competent but their goal seems to be financial rather than your health. Basic services are covered under your insurance, but advanced services are not, and this is because they can get more money without insurance dictates. It was made clear upfront what my costs were, so no issue there, but it seemed they wanted to push hard for procedures when maybe trying out a pill first would have been a better course (and after seeing a second doctor, it was).
I would look around, they are capable but I am not totally trusting them

This was the worst experience ever! Dr. Z repeated «textbook» verbatum what I had told him my symptoms were regarding vertigo. He had NO solutions whatsoever! They are definitely NOT ENT specialists. I don’t know what they are, but do NOT go to this office if you want HONEST ear nose and throat treatment. They are HUGE FRAUDS! Also, after you make your co-​payment, they will send you another bill to make an additional payment for the awful treatment you received from them. What ENT office does NOT have equipment to test your hearing — WHAT? Really? That’s right — they DO NOT have equipment to test hearing! What’s the point of being ENT specialists? AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL! They get NO stars from me!

I have nothing but great things to say about this place. I look below and see some one-​star reviews and are seriously shocked — maybe the patients had bad health insurance? Anyways, the offices were always beyond super clear with me how much I’d be billed — and exactly what for. There were no surprises! As for the actual surgery — Dr. Zandifar was amazing (Dr. Nach was also really nice too!) The staff was very clear and helpful. They are located at Cedars Sinai — so enough said — I really lucked out by choosing/​finding them. Like I said, I’m seriously shocked at the one-​star reviews below (and no, I don’t secretly work here, etc) — Five stars!

If you value honesty and integrity then never go to this office! My complaint is not about the quality of care, rather it is about the fraudulent behavior of the office regarding insurance.
I called this office to arrange for my son to have a deviated septum repair. I immediately asked if they were preferred providers for my insurance. I was told that they were. I came in with my son and he filled out the initial forms and he listed me as the financially responsible party. On the day of his procedure they gave him additional consent forms to sign. They told him it was merely consent. Included buried in these forms it stated that the surgery center was not covered on insurance! They never showed me this or stated it to me even though they were aware that I was the person responsible for these bills.
I have spent the better part of a year consistently offering to pay whatever the correct insured rate should be. They refused to answer my dispute and lied constantly and make no bones about it. They sent my son to collection (their own in house collection agency) I then offered to put the full amount in dispute into an escrow and let an arbitrator decide. They declined and threatened to take my son to court.
Today I paid them a bill that I do not believe that I owe to avoid having my son have to go through court. I am now letting everyone I know about the behavior of this office. There are many excellent doctors around who do not need to mislead patients about their insurance.
FRAUD

I recently had surgery done by Dr. Hamilton. He fixed my deviated septum and did bilateral turbinate reduction. I’m very pleased with the results so far (and relieved because, as promised, my nose does not look any different). I had already seen a different ENT at a different practice who I didn’t like at all and was afraid I wouldn’t find a doctor I was comfortable with. Dr. Hamilton is extremely laid back and kind and made the experience about as pleasant as it could be.
The staff in the office was helpful and I found making the appointment easy. Ahead of time, someone went over the various costs with me. The surgery itself went fine, and I was in very little paid afterwards. My follow-​up appointments have been easy as well, and I never have to wait more than a few minutes to get in and see Dr. Hamilton. Every step of this process has been easier than I anticipated.
Billing for the surgery is still going through my insurance so I can’t comment yet on whether I get any unexpected charges, but I don’t anticipate it being a problem since everyone at Osborne seems so on top of things.

I recently had sinus/​nasal issues that were addressed by, and taken care of completely by Dr Zandifar. The office and equipment are modern, and the staff was courteous and professional.

This establishment is terrible. I went in to see Dr. Osborne for a consultation. He apparently was unavailable and Dr. Nach would be seeing me in his place. Right off the bat I felt this was very unprofessional.
I saw Dr. Nach and explained my breathing issues and headaches and wanted to get some information on what the options are to fix something like this. I could barely understand Dr. Nach and what he was explaining to me (as he had a thick accent). He performed a Nasal Endoscopy on me (which I did not know what as procedure). All doctors that I have worked with in the past have up front told me options and that doing a procedure will cost more.
He shoved this thing up my nose and was not gentle. After he left by telling me he could do nothing and gave me nose spray.
Later I get a bill for $ 250 for the Nasal Endoscopy which was unknowingly was performed as I had no idea what that was because the doctor never explained it to me.
My insurance only covered half of the procedure which was $ 590.
This all would of been helpful to know in the beginning and that I was getting a «procedure» on my consultation.
Then the accountant Carlos tells me it is my fault that I did not know what my insurance covered. I obviously was furious at his unprofessionalism and that he would not even listen that the doctor never explained to me what he was doing.
Overall I feel very taken advantage of and do not recommend this establishment to anyone.

Dr. Zandifar and his team have very dishonest and misleading billing practices. Although I had coverage through insurance and he was in network they refused to bill my insurance and I was stuck paying out of pocket. This was after I explicitly checked my insurance for coverage and confirmed that they would bill my insurance, prior to treatment.
Additionally his team, especially Martha in billing, was very rude and constantly changing the story as to why they would not bill my insurance.
I have never felt swindled by a medical professional and his team until now. I would highly recommend any other ENT.

I went here to find out if my TMJ was something serious enough to get an x-​ray taken of my jaw. The doctor spendt 10 minutes on pushing and pulling my jaw, give me some steroids and sent me home. I later went somewhere else for a 2^nd opinion and better treatment.
A year after I get a statement from the insurance that they don’t cover TMJ. Funny how a medical insurance don’t cover medical issues:-/
The Doctor had tried to bill the insurance $ 694.00 which they declined. He then sent me a discounted bill on a total of $ 250.00
So make sure your insurance cover! And if ii doesn’t well then make sure to get his rates upfront and don’t do like, a stupid Dane from a country were we have free healthcare and therefore not prepared on that you get robbed by your doctor:-/

I came here after I had an accident and fractured my nose. I had a bad experience with an ENT at another facility, and was looking for a new ENT urgently so I could get the stitches in my face out before they caused scarring. I called Osborne in the morning and they got me in that day. The office is very clean and welcoming. I was thoroughly impressed with the office staff, the nurse and Dr. Zandifar. My appointment started on time– so rare in a doctor’s office. I felt like everyone genuinely cared about my well-​being. Dr. Zandifar is very good at explaining what he’s doing and why he’s doing it. I left my first appointment feeling so relieved! I’ve been back to him now for surgery and several follow up appointments. Great experiences every time!

Update: I had my first surgery last Tuesday and then was rushed back in for an emergency surgery at 5am on Thursday morning for a bleed that would not stop. I was blown away by the reachability and warmth displayed by the entire staff. Finding blood streaming down your throat in the middle of the night is terrifying as is, but being able to reach Dr. Osborne within 3 minutes was mind blowing. He literally dropped everything he was doing in the middle of the night to go in and meet me. It doesn’t get much more impressive than that.
Since my recent surgery, I have been in direct contact with Dr. Osborne and his staff every day, sometimes multiple times, exchanging text updates and pictures as necessary. He is the most patient, kind and accessible doctor I have ever encountered in my life. I am so grateful I ended up in his care — truly can’t imagine what the outcome could have been elsewhere.
If you are looking for an ENT or surgeon who will make you and your care a priority, there really is no better place than OHNI.

In over ten years as a singer and professional voice teacher/​vocal coach, I have worked with or learned from a number of the nation’s most heralded otolaryngologists. None of them has even come close to the level of professional understanding of the needs of contemporary singers as Dr. Gupta and her voice therapist, Amy Chapman. While otolaryngologists in Los Angeles generally have enough bedside manner to speak briefly with their high profile clients, in my experience most are either only concerned only with the highest profile cases, or are familiar with singers and singing only with regard to a patient or surgical procedure.
Although there’s a long, documented history of vocal health and knowledge with regard to classical and operatic singing, modern science only recently seems to be catching up with what the demands are of contemporary commercial singing. Where classical technique is rooted with pedagogical training and techniques, blues, pop, rock, R & B, singer-​songwriter, and hip-​hop are rooted in a meeting of African American blues and European harmony, and because of this development from folk music, there isn’t as long a history of applying voice science to contemporary singing, and most singers and even teachers today haven’t yet learned how to properly care for the voices of contemporary entertainers.
Of every voice expert and otolaryngologist I’ve ever met or worked with, Dr. Gupta is by far the most up-​to-​date not only with medical/​surgical science, but of the extreme demands of the work/​singing routine it takes to be a professional singer.
Dr. Gupta and Amy Chapman are by far the most knowledgeable, kind, and understanding team I’ve ever worked with, and I send any client who’s in vocal trouble to see them. As singers and music lovers themselves, both Dr. Gupta and Amy Chapman can model for my clients the healthy ways to use their voices instead of just telling them what to do. This, couple with their relaxed and caring bedside manner makes them the only people I trust to take care of my clients’ voices and my own voice. I’m so thrilled to have found an ENT practice that mirrors the same quality and care I like to take with each my clients, and I highly recommend Dr. Gupta and Amy Chapman at the Osborne Head and Neck Institute.

I GIVE UP!
I was seeing Dr. Hamilton because of a snoring issue. After first visit, I got referrals for sleep study and MRI. I was told these were both in-​network. The radiology company I was referred to was called Radnet, and I was told by the nurse that I could go to a number of facilities that they are contracted with. I called Radnet and located the facility, SFV Interventional Radiology and Imaging Center. I took my referral there and was seen.
About 2 months later I received an itemized bill for the MRI, it was classified as out-​of-​network was $ 730 for the MRI, however, it was reduced to $ 230 because the «network provider accepted a discount in accordance with their first health group agreement».
I have United HealthCare PPO, and if this was in fact in-​network the max I would’ve paid was $ 45, as my deductible would be fulfilled at that point.
I called the nurse assistants, mainly Jennifer, at the docs office multiple times to discuss the bill and ended up being passed on to the radiologist, which was no help. I was being reassured that the Radnet was in-​network each time I called. The radiologist’s billing dept. said the facility I went to wasn’t considered RadNet, however, the website shows it as one of their locations.
Being bounced back and forth has been no help. I plan on filing a BBB complaint as well for being referred to an out-​of-​network provider, as I was misled into believing it was in-​network.
Further, I’m a veteran and get free medical services from VA, but I came to this facility to be seen by exceptional doctors. Now I’m back at the VA getting treated for the snoring issues, should’ve gone that route from the beginning.

If I could give ZERO starts for this I probably would. I’ve called 4 times asking about my throat culture results and haven’t had a return call. This place and the doctos seem interested in fame and in money. It’s a joke. They couldn’t even diagnose me with tonsilitis —- really? WOW that’s what they are supposed to speciliaze in. I want my MONEY BACK!!! This place is only good at dianosing ppl wih simple things and then they just feelhope that medicating will do the trick (which for most ppl it does) They obviously do NOT keep up on medical literature or care for their patients as well as I thought. I was mislead my these reviews. I have full details of my visit below.
I went in about 10 days ago because I kept having recurrent fevers, sore throats and swollen glands. I was in constant pain, missing work and having zero quality of life, which is hard for an athlete like myself. I was referred to this ENT, so I made an appointment. I walk in and was examined, and although the Dr. was nice, I don’t think she has experience in this feild. I literally DREW OUT A TIMELINE of when I was sick and told her how many times I was on anti-​biotics etc. She basically told me she thinks I have MONO, which is odd. I was tested for mono, with 2 types of tests, both came back negative… she told me she wasn’t quite sure what I had so she told me to go see another specialist. As soon as I walked into the Speciliasts office, he laughed and said «You mean the Ear Nose and Throat Doctor couldn’t diganose the fact that you have chronic tonsilitis/​pharyngitis??» He said Not all forms of chronic tonsilitis are EQUAL, he said my symtoms of ear pain, and persistent throat discomfort and fevers were a direct sign. Also he mentioned the size of your tonsils has relatively little to do w/​the determination of tonsilitis and is not correlated with severity of symtoms. He also said patients w/​chronic tonsilitis may not be culture positive for group A beta hemolytic streptococal infection. With that said he told me I need to get my tonsils removed. I just wonder WHYYYY the ENT who specializes in this very thing couldn’t come up with this determination. Go to another ENT save yourself and your money.

I am so happy with my experience here this morning, that I cannot stop talking about it. I made an appointment on Friday, and they sent me an email with directions and paperwork that evening.
When I arrived at the office, I handed them my paperwork, and they took a picture of me. They explained that the office is electronic, and any doctor who sees you also makes sure your picture is matching your paperwork so that nothing gets screwed up. Already awesome.
I waited about ten minutes in the waiting room. Fair. When they took me in to the room, I expected to wait more. Not so! Dr. Zandifar came in right away. And what’s more — he had read my paperwork! I didn’t have to repeat myself five times. I don’t care what you say, that is not standard with Doctors offices — especially in LA.
Best part — he finished the exam, and then used a computer to explain to me why I was feeling the way that I was in a way that made sense but didn’t make me feel stupid. He gave me options for treatment, and he explained every test he did.
The worst part about feeling sick is wondering if there is anything you are doing wrong, and there was such an open dialogue, that I knew I wouldn’t walk away without getting a question answered. That’s an incredible feeling to get from a Doctors office.
Hopefully I won’t have to go back, but if I do, I know I’ll have a good experience.