Advanced Women’s Health

I saw ARNP Michelle Atkins and wanted to make her my primary care after feeling dissatisfied with my old
a paying, insured consumer, I was denied & she refused to accept me as a patient! She told me to go back to my old doctor and get my blood pressure under control first & that I was too much of a liability. Well that sucked & I ended up finding a different PCP. The only reason that I didn’t give her 1 star is because this experience of being denied healthcare made me change my life for the better.

What is up with the billing here?
I went into the office several months ago and did not have my insurance card. I called my insurance company and they spoke with the receptionist and provided all the claim filing information that was needed on the day of my visit. I was told by the receptionist that everything was 100% covered and that I did not even have to pay a co-​pay. She also said that, as it was my first visit, she made an exception for me to be seen with out my insurance card, but to be sure to bring it in the future.
Well then, about a month later, I got a bill for the full amount of my visit. I checked into it and realized they billed the wrong division of my insurance company. I called and had a very difficult time trying to explain the situation because everyone there claims they wouldn’t have taken me without my ins. card. However they made an exception for me, because they took me without my insurance card! Finally I got them to listen to me after I called them four times. I eventually just hit the option for the front desk and the receptionist got me through to Kim in billing. I faxed over my insurance card and detailed information about how to bill my insurance. I waited a week, called them back another two times with out a call back and then spoke with the receptionist who claimed they never got it! I sent the info again, and after pestering them again, I finally got an answer from the receptionist confirming they got the documents. I then called again to follow up and they told me I had to send the info to the laboratory too. I called the lab and gave them the info.
Now, several months later, I got a call from their billing department saying they are ready to send me to collections! I have never got another bill besides the initial one. I have also checked with my insurance and they never filed a claim with them! What is wrong with this company!!!
The staff is really sweet and I really enjoyed my experience during my visit. I was planning to make the office my main doctor’s office, but this whole situation has ruined it for me. I will not be back and I highly recommend that everyone else not go here.

Since their website does not allow me to email them this full response to their many «reminder» calls, I am posting this to Unilocal.No only do I hope to save other patients from my experience, but it’s feedback they should know about.
I will not visit this clinic again– ever.
I was given the wrong diagnosis over the phone. It caused me alot of stress and quite a bit of crying… thinking I was headed towards cancer or, at the very least, a painful procedure. If you want the full story, here it is:
To AWH:
I came to your office some time ago for a colposcopy. I was treated by Darla, and really liked her. In fact, I returned to your office for follow ups and other issues because of Darla. At first, I didn’t like that each time I was called for my results, if I had a simple question I felt I was being «upselled» with the standard response of «would you like to make an appointment with the doctor». Although this was a little irritating, I let it slide because I really liked the care I was getting from Darla.
My first Colposcopy came back with low grade dysplasia. It was explained to me that it wasn’t anything to worry about immediately, that I needed to come back in a few months and it may very well go away on its own. Ok, I got that. I was also told that if it didn’t, then that would be more of an issue.
I came back some months later (my last visit to your clinic). Had the same procedure & a test for HPV. Days later I get a call from someone in your office and here is how it went:
AWH: «Your results are back and there are no changes»
Me: «What? Oh no! So I still have that dysplasia???»
AWH: «Yes»
Me: «But it isn’t any worse?» (now I am worried)
AWH: «No, there are no changes. It’s just the same»
Me (now very upset, in my office, nearly in tears because I think this is all leading to cancer or some painful treatment): «What does that mean?»
AWH: «Would you like to make an appointment with Darla to discuss?»
Me: «I don’t know, what am I supposed to do?»
AWH: «Come back in December»
Me: «I don’t understand. Just come back in a few months? That’s it?»
AWH: «Yes» (now sounding quite irritated with all my questions and I get the impression she wants to end this conversation)
Me: «What about the HPV test?» (holding back tears, wishing I had someone with an ounce of compassion that I could be talking to)
AWH: «You tested positive for 13 different strains of HPV»
Me: «WHHAT!!! How is that possible? 13 different types of HPV! And Darla said to just come back in December? I don’t understand. How could I have 13 strains of HPV? Really? 13 strains!!!»
AWH: «Yes. That’s what your results say. Would you like to make an appointment with the doctor?»
Me: «No, goodbye»
I sat in my office, door closed, and tried to calm down. I couldn’t. i was so afraid. Finally, in tears, I ran out of the building and went home.
At first I was just scarred. Darla had said that if I tested positive for HPV or the dysplasia didn’t go away, then we had to address it. Why am I getting pushed off until December? Isn’t this serious? Is it normal to have 13 strains of a virus? If I have 13 strains, doesn’t that mean cancer at some point? This is all going through my head and I was very upset. I was also angry with the coldness and lack of advice or the professionalism of a call from Darla herself. At this point I think I am getting cancer! I would think a call from the physician was in order. How dare this clinic try to «upsell» me with another office visit!
I later made an appointment with my Naturopath. I had your office fax my records. Thank goodness I did that! My Naturopath sat with me for over an hour, going over every detail and what it all meant. Your office gave me the WRONG information. My results were CLEAN from the Colposcopy– NO dysplasia! In addition, I did not have 13 different strains of HPV. I tested positive for one or more of 13 strains, not ALL 13! In fact, a test was not done to narrow down the exact strain or strains.
All that stress and all those tears for nothing. All because some heartless, unskilled, employee wanted to get me off the phone and had no idea what she was reading in the first place. All this because you don’t have the personal care enough to have actual physicians call their patients. In fact, the first time in my life I have had a clinic that had such a policy. It’s heartless and completely irresponsible to have this policy and I have lost all trust in the competence of your clinic.
All I can say is thanks for nothing. I will never return and will never recommend your clinic. So you can stop calling me for the «friendly reminders!»

I have been coming to this clinic for 5+ years now and have some loves and hates about this location. First let me say I am in the medical industry, so I tend to be a little more critical possibly…
I love the providers here, Michelle Atkins (ARNP), has single handedly gotten me through my anxiety issues. I used to LOATH coming in for my girly annual, get all worked up, but she is so amazing, now I dont really even think about it. She is the quickest, gentlest Dr I have seen yet. The other Dr’s and ARNP’s I have seen over the years for different thing, and really they are all great. They take time, answer questions, ect. They all get 5 stars.
My complaints come from the front. There has always seemed to be a missing communication link. UN-​returned emails/​phone call’s, test results never shared, the list goes on and on. It always seems as though you are inconveniencing them, and really all they want to help with is booking the appointment and checking the insurance. Again, this is what I do for a living, so I KNOW it is not that hard to just be nice, say hello, how is your day, just take a few seconds to give a crap. They get a 3
In their defense, I think they are either understaffed, or really busy, and they have gotten a little better over the years. And really I am not going in to see them, so I deal to see a good provider.