Dr Robert Barton

Review: I scheduled an appointment for my daughter who was going to 6th grade and needed shots. she has seen Dr. Barton since she was 7 days old. When I checked in I told the office I did not have insurance. When we went into the room the nurse asked if I wanted to wait to get my daughters shots, since they are expensive. I told her that we are here and I don't mind paying for them. She said you really should go to a clinic and get them cheaper. I told her no, and she should give the shots to her. She said she can get a price quote if I wanted and told her it was not necessary. She left the room and when she returned she had a quote. She said it would be $619 plus for everything. I said I would go home and get a check to pay. I than left and when I was on my way back to the office, the nurse called me. She said sorry for the confussion, but spoke to the doctor and he said he would not give her the shots, due to them being costly. I told her that is BS and she will give her them or I will contact my lawyer for denial of services. She said he will talk to me when I get there. She than hung up with me. Once I pulled into the parking lot, they sent my daughter out to me. I went in and asked what I owed for the visit and the head nurse (doc wife) said he gave her the exam and I owed nothing. I told them good, cause I was not paying for a visit for shots and they would not complete what I asked. I asked why would they not give her vaccinations since I would pay for them. The head nurse said we never said that. I told her yes, the other nurse did. She said they would not, since it was costly to me. I told her it's none of there business on what the cost was if I had the money. The other nurse than said "Come on [redacted], I never said that" I said you are a liar and said its BS and left. Also my daughter was in the room when the nurse called me and heard her say everythingDesired Settlement: I would like to know the reasons they refused to give my daughter her vaccinations. She has been a client for 11 1/2 years and I was willing to pay for the vaccinations. It should not be up to the doctors office where I get my daughter vaccinated. I would have understood if they said we can not give all 4 vaccinations, but they could have given the 2 she needed for 6th grade.

Business

Response:

Revdex.com of Metro Washington DC and Eastern Pennsylvania 1337 North Front Street Harrisburg, Pa 17102

September 3, 2013 Re: ID [redacted]

This patient presented to our office for a school physical and required immunizations on August 27, 2013. She had not been in our office for a wellness visit since her kindergarten physical, July of 2007. Her only other visit had been in February of 2011 for an acute illness. Balances have always been paid, and our office has no memory of any problem in the past.

When the patient presented with her mother, the record was reviewed and the patient was found to need four injections, two required by the school and two others . As with all our patients who do not have insurance, our office recommends the State Health Clinic. It is recommended, not because we refuse to give the injections, but because of the cost of the vaccines. These injections with the visit would have cost well over $600.00. We never refused to give the vaccines to this young adult. The nurse mentioned this to the mother who still wanted all four injections given, and then left to go home and get a check. Dr. Barton, not knowing that the nurse had spoken with the mother about this, also recommended this to the nurse who then called the mother. The mother said that the nurse hung up on her which was not true; it was the opposite. The mother also called back and told the nurse that answered the phone not to touch her daughter and to put her In the waiting room until she got there. (Dr. Barton had already done the physical.) The physical was copied for our records and given to the patient in the waiting room. When the mother arrived, the mother was told that the physical was done and that her daughter had the original to give to the school. No charge for the visit was mentioned until the mother angrily said that she was not paying the visit. She was told it was a "no charge". Then the mother said that she was calling her lawyer for refusal to care for the patient. The involved nurse said again that it was recommended that she got her shots at the State Health Clinic. The mother shouted that the nurse had changed her story.

Our office has never had such a reaction to suggesting the State Health Clinic. Most patients are appreciative and take advantage of the help. Dr. Barton never had the opportunity to actually talk with the mother because she left her daughter here in the office to get her checkbook, and when she came back, would not listen or rationally talk about what had happened.

There were a number of untruths by the mother:

1. The nurse suggested or recommended the State Health Clinic, never suggested waiting to get the shots and never refused to give them. (The only reason for refusing to give the injections would have to be medical reasons, and that certainly did not apply to this young lady.)

2. "A clinic" was not the wording, but State Health Clinic was the wording. Shots are given at a reduced rate according to your income at the State Health Clinic.

3. Again, the nurse never hung up on her. She either hung up on the nurse or cell phone reception was lost on the mother's cell phone.

4. We never sent the daughter out to her in the car. The daughter either left on her own or the mother sent her out to the car.

5. The mother never asked what she owed for the visit.

6. We never refused to give the shots.

This mother became very unreasonable and to be honest, impossible to talk to.

It seems so unfair to me, as the manager of this office, that this mother can say whatever she wants about this office and our intentions, and that she has no accountability for the untruths she is able to publish. Dr. Barton has practiced for over 35+ years in [redacted] and has never had a mother react the way this one did. He simply was trying to be considerate of the financial stress of many families.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because: what the office is stating is a lie. They refused to give my daughter her shots due to what it was going to cost. The nurse told me 15 plus times that I should wait and go to the State health clinic. It should not matter on cost to the office, if I was willing to pay. And I was very upset due to being refused for her shots since that was the reason we were there. We have been a client for 11 plus years and our family has been seeing this doctor 20 plus years. I understand that the office is going to change their story due to looking bad. My daughter was in the room and heard what the nurse stated to me on the phone, that it was too costly and will not give the shots to her. When I went in to the office the manager (doctors wife) stated that the doctor has checked her out and the visit was free, no cost. I said that was good because I was not paying for a visit that wasn't completed. I know the doctor has been a doctor for many years and he is a private practice and refuses to take medical assistance or anything like that. I was willing to pay. Why would I drive 15 min home to get a check if I did not want my daughter seen. Once I told them you will give my daughter the shots or I will contact a lawyer for denying her care, they did not want to deal with me. I just think it is a shame how this situation had to happen just because my daughter does not have insurance but was willing to pay out of my pocket because the people working there think they are so much better than others.A

Regards,