Vista Imaging of Jefferson County

Overall: Not Recommended

had the worst experience at Vista Imaging I have EVER had at a healthcare facility. As I type I am still in shock as to how I was treated at this place. My morning began with me going to the wrong imaging center. In the Festus area we have two … Mercy and Vista. I have always had my imaging done at Mercy and had never been to Vista before. My Doctor ordered my MRI over the phone therefore I did not have a hardcopy to review so I went to Mercy where I have always gone by mistake. Once I arrived, I found out that I was supposed to be at Vista Imaging. My appointment was at 8am and it was now exactly 8am. I knew this would make me late. So, I called Vista Imaging from Mercy’s parking lot, told them my situation and asked if I could still make my appointment even if I would be 10 minutes late. The gentleman on the phone told me, “This confusion happens a lot, it is not a problem. Go ahead and come on in.” I left and went straight there. I arrived at Vista at 8:11am. When I arrived at Vista I was greeted by the receptionist loudly telling me how late I was and that there was no way they were going to be able to get me in for my MRI. I told her that I had called and was told I could come in. I explained to her what had happened and that the gentleman I spoke with said that it happens quite often. She was unfriendly, LOUD, and went on and on how this was not going to work out and that I was late and throwing this off schedule. She spent soo much time talking about how late I was that 10 more minutes went by with her complaining, trying to figure out if she was going to get me in or not. She finally gave me the paperwork to fill out and told me that they would go ahead and do it. She make the whole situation worse and made even more time pass. The moment I turned in the paperwork the technician Lori (sp?) opened the door and called my name. She did not smile or say hello. She showed me to the changing room, told me all I needed to remove was my bra, and told me I needed to hurry. Once I was in the room I noticed the metal beading on my shirt. I peeked my head out and asked her if I needed a gown since my shirt had metal on it. She huffed and said, “Yes, take it off and put on a gown. They are in the bottom drawer.” So here I am, in Vista Imaging, to get an MRI for major lower back pain and I am bending over and rummaging through a drawer that was floor level of what was mostly pajama bottoms trying to find myself a gown. I usually cannot even bend over to put on my own underwear in the morning but here I am trying to find myself a gown. At this point, she knocks on my door and says “Are you almost done? We ARE in a hurry.” I explained I had just now found the gown and was unwrapping it from its plastic. By this point I was mad and I had tears welling up. When you don’t feel that great to begin with you really don’t want people being rude to you. I finally got my gown on and belongings locked up. I went into the MRI room. Lori told me to get on the table and once again how I needed to HURRY. These days I cannot hurry. I do everything slow. As I am laying down she mentions again about me being late and how it is going to put her whole day behind. Finally, I say. “You know what? I have never been treated more rudely by people than I have been here today.” She responds by saying, “Rude? I would say we are pretty nice for the simple fact we are doing your xray today.” She then tells me how I need to be sure I hold very still or I will “screw everything up” and she presses the button that pulls me into the machine. I told her that I was cancer survivor and that I am a pro at holding still and that I have had more of these in my lifetime than she ever will. I got SO mad that tears started rolling down the sides of my face. What made it even worse is that I was FREEZING. It is probably 60 degrees in the place and I laid there (for what always seems like a lifetime) in just a gown and bare feet. I was not offered footies, a blanket or anything. When your back is killing you and you are freezing on top of it, it makes it worse. You are tense when you’re freezing which makes your back tense. About half way through she decided to turn on some music to try and help drown out the hammering sound. It’s finally over, she presses the button to pull me out of the machine. She did not offer to help me up or down or anything but in actuality that was probably smart of her because she could probably tell I did not want her touching me. Then she left me by saying. “I am sorry you are having such a bad morning.” People on TV ads say go to Vista because you will have so much of a better experience. Ha! I don’t think so. You get what you pay for. I will never be back to Vista. Sincerely, Libby Sandridge