The Endoscopy Center North

Overall: Recommended

I had the "pleasure" of my first colonoscopy recently. The procedure itself went fine and the medical staff were all pleasant. The front desk staff gives the standard doctor's office grade service, which for me means that they appear to be slightly bothered by having to deal with the public and the view their primary job as making their day go as smoothly for themselves as possible. For example, I had an 8:00 appointment for a visit prior to the procedure. I showed up at 8:00. At 8:20 I still hadn't been called, so I asked if I would be seen soon. It was pointed out with a subtle contempt that I hadn't come in until 8:00. Since that was exactly on time, I was surprised by the answer. When pressed, she explained I should have shown up 15 minutes early. I have two problems with this: first, if you want me there at 7:45, tell me 7:45. In my world, an appointment time is the time you should expect to see the person with which you have an appointment. Secondly, even given that I was 15 mintues "late", that doesn't explain a 20 minute delay. I was called immediately after that and was out the door within 10 minutes. I'm still not sure why I had to make the trip to the office for that. I left with no information that I couldn't have been given by a website, email or a phone call. Also, since I'm on an HDHP and HSA, price was important to me. They were never able to tell me with any degree of certainty what my final cost would be. I'm not clear whether that's a shortcoming of that office or of the insurance system, but a pharmacy can tell me prior to filling a prescription what it will cost me based on my insurance plan. I don't know why a doctor's office doesn't have access to the same type of information prior to a surgical procedure. Someone should have been able to say to me something like, "the total cost for today's procedure will be $xxxx." No one could. The day of the procedure, I made sure I was 15 minutes early (6:30 am or so). There was quite a delay before I was called back. Once I changed into the oh-so-flattering gown, there was another long delay before getting moved to the procedure room. Everyone was perfectly pleasant in the "back of the house", but no explanation was given for the delay. The doctor and staff were pleasant and the procedure was non-traumatic.