The only good thing I can write about this doctor and office is that Alexandria and Natalie were quite helpful.
My first bad experience was when I tried calling to setup a same day appointment due to medically urgent reasons. The medical assistant said she could not accommodate me, and simply didn't seem to care.
During the course of my visit, Dr. Buch really didn't seem to listen to what I had to say. He kept interrupting me and did not even acknowledge that I had even spoken on several occasions. I mean, how are you supposed to care for your patient or administer drugs if you don't even listen to what your patients have to say?
Also during the course of my initial visit with Dr. Buch, his front office staff sent the prescription that the doctor had written to my old CVS pharmacy in the area where I previously lived. Then, when I was finished they asked me where to send the prescription. I gave them the name of my current CVS pharmacy, and sent it over there as well without checking to see if the prescription had already been sent. About a half hour or so later, I get a text message from my pharmacy stating that they cannot fill my prescription for another 30 days as it will not be available until then. Not knowing what was going on, I called the pharmacy, and they basically reiterated what the text message said, so I called Dr. Buch's office back to find out what was going on, but they had no clue and tried to blame my pharmacy. I asked them to send it to Ralphs pharmacy instead, and about a half hour or so later, I get a similar text message from them. I tried Dr. Buch's office again, but they had no idea what was going on and could not help me. Finally, I received a text message from my old pharmacy stating that the prescription was filled, and then understood what had happened. My new CVS and Ralphs pharmacy could not fill the prescription because it had already been filled at my old CVS pharmacy. Therefore, when I called Dr. Buch's office back, THEY TRIED TO BLAME THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM SAYING THAT IT AUTOMATICALLY SENDS THE PRESCRIPTION TO THE PHARMACY THAT THEY HAVE ON FILE (EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD ASKED ME WHAT PHARMACY TO SEND IT TO WHEN I WAS JUST IN THEIR OFFICE).
My next struggle was trying to get the surgery prep paperwork and other pre-op paperwork sent over to me to fill out. A week and a half after my office visit, I had received nothing, so I called the office to ask them to send the email they had promised to send me with all the files I needed. They stated that they had already sent the email, but would resend it. I later looked for it again (including my junk mail folder), but could find nothing. I called them back again, and they again stated that they had sent the email. After calling a third time, I had them repeat back to me the email address I gave them, and they confirmed that it was correct. IN THE END, I HAD TO CALL THEM LITERALLY FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES AND TALKED TO THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE BEFORE THEY REALIZED THAT THEY HAD SPELLED THE WORD "YAHOO" WRONG IN MY EMAIL ADDRESS!
More chaos ensued when I tried to connect with them via FaceTime for my followup appointment. They gave me a 10:30 apt, and stated that the doctor would call me. So I'm waiting with my iPad ready @ 10:25, and I waited until 10:45, but nothing. I decided to call them to find out what the problem was, and they stated that they did not have my phone number! YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD MY PHONE NUMBER PRIOR TO SETTING UP A FACETIME APPOINTMENT! Also, I provided my phone number on the paperwork that I filled out on my initial visit.
Next, Dr. Buch's office had stated that it was fine for me to take a Lyft/Uber to get back and forth to the surgical center, so I setup an appointment to have the procedure done. However, when I called the surgical center to go over expenses, etc. they said I could take a ride share to get there, BUT NOT ON THE WAY BACK DUE TO LIABILITY REASONS. My appointment was later that week, so I was forced to cancel and reschedule the appointment.
Lastly, the Encino Surgical Center only performs colonoscopies on Thursdays, which is not good for me, so I had to find another facility. Dr. Buck's office staff informed me that the surgical center that is in the same building as their office is in network and I could go there on a Monday. I thought, this is perfect! So my friend picks me up from my home and drives me to the surgical center in Dr. Buck's building, BUT WHEN I ARRIVE, THEY INFORM ME THAT THEY ARE IN FACT NOT IN NETWORK AND THE PROCEDURE WILL BE BILLED AGAINST MY OUT OF NETWORK DEDUCTIBLE! This was after Dr. Buck's office assured me that this place would bill in network.
After taking a day off work, after my friend took a day off work to provide transportation, and after I had done all of the procedure preparation, I ended up having to walk away without undergoing the procedure. I ended up finding a new doctor and facility to have the procedure done. read more