the Price of an Opthamologist

I went to see a new opthamologist for a yearly exam. A friend recommended him to me so I figured he would be okay. When I went to his office, they were very disorganized. Since I was a new patient I needed to fill out all the papers necessary for them to have. There was no pen or pencil to use and I felt like it was an imposition when I asked for one. Then after the papers were done the assistant needed to ask me some questions, but there was no place to do it so we sat in the waiting room while she and I talked. When I got the bill, they charged $200 for a new patient work-up which included the intake with the assistant. I questioned why I had to pay for sitting in the waiting room talking to an employee.

I feel that this office was very unprofessional and not at all what I would expect from a doctor's office. After he examined my eyes and we discussed my having dry eyes, he suggested a proceedure where plugs are put into your weep holes. I had never heard of this before, so I listened attentively. I even went so far as to make an appointment to have temporary ones put in. The office staff told me they put in temporary ones first and then you come back and they insert the permanent ones. First they asked me what insurance I had. Then after checking on the internet, I found out that they don't always stay in. They cost about $2000. If they fall out and you lose them, you're out of luck. I don't think my best interest was at heart at this office. I think they wanted to make money any way that they could.

Whenever you go to a new doctor, check on his or her credentials and also talk to several people who have used him. Don't just listen to one person. Also, question the doctor when he/she tries to talk you into having some procedure done. Always check either on the internet or in the library about the procedure. Trust your first instincts when you go into a doctor's office. If it doesn't feel right, leave. Last but not least, check what the charges are. If you feel you have been charged for something that you didn't get, question it. You don't have to pay for it if you are in the right.