New York OB/GYN Associates

I had a really bad experience at New York OB/GYN Associates in *** *** *** today and feel compelled to share it in hopes that it will encourage other women to seek better care elsewhereI made an appointment last week for the *** procedure to *** ** *** *** ***I chose New York OB/GYN Associates over *** ***, because I wanted a quick appointment without the long wait
When I arrived at the office, I was immediately struck by 1) many framed photos of infants on the walls, despite the fact that this practice does not offer obstetrics services, and 2) a large framed Ruth Orkin photo called "American Girl in Italy 1951" that depicts a woman walking down the street and being leered at and harassed by a large group of men
More disturbing was the unprofessional behavior of the staffThe receptionist didn't greet or acknowledge me when I signed inShe eventually called me to fill out and return some general paperworkThen she called me up again and asked what I was there forI told her I scheduled an appointment for the *** procedureShe replied that I should pay $of the $fee nowI asked if I could use a credit card or my debit card, and she was visibly annoyedShe said I'd have to pay in all cashWhen I told her I didn't have cash and no one mentioned this to me on the phone when I made the appointment, she huffed and said, "Fine, you can pay by credit card, but now it's $595." (If you're wondering, all I'd been told when I made the appointment was that my insurance, ***, wasn't acceptedI hadn't received any appointment reminder call, either.)
I was eventually called back to have my weight and blood pressure taken and later a sonogram, where I met DrZ***Neither he nor the nurse's aide (who never introduced herself) were very personableThis was probably the first time I went to a healthcare professional who didn't shake my hand to introduce himselfI don't think he even told me his nameI got pregnant while using birth control, which I noted on my recordsNo one asked about it at allNo one asked how I'd been feeling or anything else that might be relevantDrZ***f said that I could do the *** procedure or take the pill at homeI replied that I wanted the ***He said I'd be given laughing gasI told him I only wanted local anesthetic, as I know a lot of people get sick after being sedated
I went back to the waiting room once again before my procedure and was called by the receptionist again, who told me I now owed $moreWhen I asked why, she was annoyed yet again and said that I was eight weeks pregnant and they charge more after seven weeksAgain, I had never heard this or seen this listed anywhereWhen I was finally called back for the procedure, I was taken to a room and told to undress below the waist and wrap some paper around meThen the nurse's aide reappeared and helped get me situated on the table, where I waited around minutes(I was anxious and really rattled by my experience thus far, so it felt like much longer.) When DrZ***f and the nurse's aide eventually reappeared, he asked how I was feeling and if I wanted just a little laughing gasI declined
The procedure was difficult, which really needs no explanationI was confident in my choice to *** *** ***, but felt very unnerved by the impersonal, unempathetic way I'd been treatedAfter the procedure, I think DrZ*** said I was done and just walked out of the roomI was told nothing about side effects to watch out for or anything elseThe nurse's aide gave me a Tylenol and mug of hot teaShe said I could get dressed when I was ready and to go to reception and make an appointment for a follsonogram
I got dressed and went back to reception, standing there for a few minutes while the receptionist was on the phone with an insurance companyShe turned away from me and stayed on the phone for awhile, so I sat back downI waited another 10-minutes for her to call my nameFinally, the nurse's aide walked by and asked me why I was still thereI said I hadn't made my follappointment yetShe told me to just come back next Friday between and with no actual scheduled appointmentI walked out, relieved to escape, but also stunned by the lack of professionalism or care at New York OB/GYN Associates
I'm nervous about returning to this practice for the follsonogram, so I called *** *** this afternoon to find out if I could go there instead to confirm the procedure was effective*** *** told me they couldn't do the folland I'd have to return to New York OB/GYN Associates