University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview – University

Unilocal didn’t even give me the option of giving a review for the Fairview clinic in Fridley, which I guess is an indication of how new this operation is! So, I’m reviewing the Fairview system generally.
I was initially tempted to give this a 1 star review, and may eventually be tempted to give a 5 star review based on how they turned it around. I was assigned this clinic by my insurance (Medica) after they said my initial choice was no longer accepting patients. My initial experience was terrible. The phone number on the website was wrong (nobody thought to update the website as Fairview acquired more clinices?). The wait on the phone line was always 20 – 30 minutes long and the people I eventually reached were not the brightest.
In my initial visit, the receptionist handed me a bunch of complex legal forms (incuding Hipaa releases) and expected that I would sign right at the desk without reading (she was surprised that I asked for 5 minutes to read the forms). Then my pharmacy called the clinic numerous times to get an authorization for a prescription and never even received a return call.
This speaks of bad training and poor planning for integration of systems. The fault of management, not of the individual employees. I met my assigned primary care doctor, and so far I think she’s Okay. She used the electronic medical records system and seemed to inquire into my health appropriately. But, she also seemed to stereotype me once she heard of one of my health diagnoses. May not be her fault. .. my experience generally is that GPs or Internists are given such minimal continuing education that they only know a little bit about each chronic health condition and generally treat you by stereotype rather than inquiring in depth. So, base on this experience so far I would give them about a 2 star rating. However, in subsequent interactions they totally turned it around.
First, there was the care coordinator DI (don’t know her last name). She reached out to me personally, took all my calls, knew my situation intimately, was empathetic when needed, and expressed her own difficulties in a totally appropriate and professional manner. She almost single-​handedly turned me around from a disgruntled customer to a patient partner.
Then, the pharmacy staff reached out to me and kept in contact about my unusual prescription. After this fell through the cracks in so many different ways, this personal touch meant alot.
Then I had an appointment with an OB-​Gyn about a chronic condition that could be potentially serious. He was sort of a nerd genius. He took so much time to educate me, and talk to me about the cutting edge science in the field, I felt totally taken care of. He took a lot of time with me, which was much appreciated.
I am still evaluating how I feel about this clinic as my primary care provider, but I have to say that after an initial rocky start, I am inclined to be a convert.
I know ACA is making a lot of changes in health care, and all the systems are playing catch-​up. So, I’m giving this clinic the benefit of the doubt that all the initial difficulties were the result of poor planning on Fairview/​U of M higher level decisionmakers (who I hope will learn from all this). I am trusting that these will be good health care providers going forward.

They have kept my daughter waiting for going on six hours… Their only comment is «others have waited longer». Shameful. It is sad that our health care system is so slow and costly.

was recently hospitalized overnight after dizzy spell – everyone was great. very attentive nursing staff, everything done on time. even getting discharged didn’t take as long as i’d anticipated. granted, i was quite able-​bodied, but this seems like a good place as hospitals go…

Thank you for the bone marrow transplant. Everyone was completely awesome every step of the way. Two years ago today, during my recovery, I tried to make a getaway via respiratory attack/​failure, and you wouldn’t let me. Thanks again.
Sincerely.

I was born here in this hospital.
Unilocal was not around at the time, so I am unable to have fresh memories on which to base my review.
I do have a nice disfiguring scar on my chin caused in part my reckless crib climbing adventures at the age of two and of the med school flunkout who stitched me up incorrectly. Hopefully they’re pumping gas or selling insurance somewhere now.
As with any teaching hospital, remember that you can request the attending supervising doctor. You know, the one that actually done it before and knows what they’re doing? Yes. That one. If something seems fishy or you’re not feeling right about a situation, tell the noob to gtfo and get the «real doctor» who isn’t in the middle of their residency. They love it when you say that. Gets ‘em right in the god complex.