It's hard to evaluate Dr. Blank as a doctor given the alarming debacle that encapsulates this practice.
While I've only had female OBGYNs up until now, I decided to try Dr. Blank when he came highly referred by my dentist. I began seeing him in 2013, and was welcomed with negative experiences by his office starting on Day 1.
To start with, I clearly booked my appointment with Dr. Blank - explicitly stating his name, not the practice at large. Yet, much to my surprise, upon arriving, I was walked back to another doctor's exam room. I politely clarified and asked where Dr. Blank was, stating that my appointment was with him (I booked it out weeks in advance, and clearly taking time off from work when I travel weekly is no small feat). The office staff made up some excuse, then stuck me in Dr. Blank's office - to speak with him pre-exam. They acted annoyed - as if it was my error.
Next visit. After I responsibly transferred my own medical records from my OBGYN who I LOVE in San Francisco - a doctor who actually believes in and lives the Hippocratic Oath - I was shocked when this office could not find the records. Unlike my doctor's office in SF who has electronic medical records accessible via each and every exam room for my doctor to reference during our visit - to make the most use of both our valuable time - Dr. Blank's office hasn't yet figured out how to use hard copy records - the old fashioned way, as every time I've come for a visit, they seem to have no idea why I'm there. The receptionists are confused. The nurses are confused. And it was recently brought to my attention on Tuesday of this week (3/18/2014) that Dr. Blank doesn't know the names of his nurses (!!!).
I proceeded with a few appointments, but unlike my OBGYN in SF, who acts as an interim primary care physician, Dr. Blank's office doesn't want to be one, and views themselves as "specialists". This is shocking after OBGYNs fought and WON the battle to be viewed as primary care physicians in the 1980s. Since Dr. Blank refused to play this role initially - related to a matter that seemed to be within his domaine - it became obvious that it was more efficient for me to fly back to SF and see my OBGYN there, rather than wait for a referral to see an actual specialist here in DC - as referred by Dr. Blank, who is also allegedly a specialist. After my trip to SF, I brought back doctor's notes. I showed them to Dr. Blank, and now he seems semi-OK with my ask. Finally.
Once it started to feel like there was some kind of integration between Dr. Blank's understanding of my medical history, and after my OBGYN in SF vouched for Dr. Blank - saying she thought he seemed like a nice and good doctor, based on his note to her - I decided to give him a "go" and stick with him, even though his practice is beyond unorganized. I continued seeing him throughout this winter, and then went in for a follow-up this past Tuesday, 3/18/2014.
In addition to the chaos that is his practice, I've dealt with numerous medical billing issues, as his office insists they're "specialists" and bill at that co-pay (which is double that of primary rates) - even though their contract with my insurance company is listed as "primary care". I've spent hours battling this out and asked my insurance company to lobby on my behalf, as it's not my job/responsibility. After tons of back and forth, as well as my insurance company telling me that his office was even rude to them, Dr. Blank's office finally sorted it out and billed me correctly at the primary care rate - but only after my insurance company suggested re-negotiating their contract. Unfortunately, however, upon arrival this past week, yet again, this practice tried to bill me double. I explained the issue to the receptionist, and then all four other receptionists/nurses not only listened to my *PRIVATE* conversation with Dr. Blank's receptionist, but chimed in! In front of the other patients in the waiting area! TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL AND AGAINST HIPAA.
Both at this week's appointment, as well as on the four phone calls since Tuesday (today is Friday), I've been treated rudely and unprofessionally, including having a nurse walk out and refuse to triage me after asking why I was there, and I said I wasn't really sure, that Dr. Blank requested a follow-up, and didn't she have that info in my records that she was looking at? Drama! I've been interrupted by nurses via phone, put on hold, and hung up on. I was lied to - telling me the MMR and Varicella titer tests I requested were "normal" when that doesn't answer my question about antibodies. She later admitted she wasn't looking at my blood test results as she talked to me (!!!).
If this practice cares more about profit than patients, then they should understand the role of customer satisfaction metrics in business.
UPDATE: Dr. Blank just called me directly. He seems to actually care. Good. Stay tuned... I'm still hoping for the best. read more