I saw Dr. Sengupta in 2018. I found her to be very pleasant and unlike some doctors visits, I didn't feel she was trying to rush me through the exam and patiently answered questions I had. So why three out of five stars?
Fast forward to 2023. I needed to acquire my medical records from the visit. I called the office and got voice recording with options. I selected the option for medical records and left a message. Two days passed and no return phone call. I called again and no human picks up, left another message. This time, 4 days passed and no return phone call. Okay, so I am thinking they must be short of office staff. One point I want to make is I understand it may take a few days to acquire the records. It is the lack of return phone calls that I found unacceptable.
The following week, I was going to be in the area (I don't live close to the office). At 8AM, I left a message and alerted them I would be coming in to pick up my medical records in the late morning. I walked into the office at noon and asked for my records and they told me they were not readily available. Hmmm.... someone could have called me back and say they would not available for pick up? Here's the kicker, as I earlier noted, given their lack of responsiveness, I thought maybe they were short on staff people... when I was in the office, I saw 5 young ladies working in the office! I gave one of them my name (if I remember correctly, her name was Ashley) and birthdate and requested my medical records. A few days pass and again, no follow up phone call, no medical records.
This is getting ridiculous so I decided to send a written request via certified mail. (That means, sit at my computer, write a formal letter in Word, print it out, and then make a trip to the post office so that it could be sent certified mail). In that letter, I reminded them of California Health & Safety Code section 123100 et seq which puts requirements on timeframes in which medical records are to be provided at patient's request. I also indicated that I wanted them to call me when they were available so that I could pick them up since given their responsiveness, who know how long it would take them to mail them to me.
Two days later after their receipt of my letter, I received a phone call to pick up my records. It is shameful that I had to write a letter and remind them of the legality with regards to medical records requests in order to get a response. The next day, I went to the office and again, I could see an office staff of at least 4 or 5 young ladies in the office. I alerted them that I arrived to pick up my records having received their phone call. They could not find them! They asked me who called me. I didn't have the name of the person but I had the exact time I was called as shown in my iPhone. They had me wait about 10 minutes and they gave me the records.
While waiting in the office, one thing I couldn't help but notice was how run down the waiting room appeared. It looked like it hadn't received a paint job in 10 years, the floor tile looked worn and there was zero color...just a dull white. In my opinion, this is just one small suggestion of the lack of investment this medical practice gives to their office.
I want to be clear, I haven't enjoyed writing this review. Further, as I noted in the beginning, I felt Dr. Sengupta is a good physician. She has pleasant personality and I did receive quality care. As long as you don't think you will want your medical records or have some kind of other needs that the office workers can provide, then I do recommend Dr. Sengupta. read more
