Virginia Hospital Center Sleep Lab

Absolutely terrible experience at Virginia Health Care Center. The services from the physician, Dr. Williams, were very good. However, the billing department is the WORST I have ever dealt with - anywhere in the United States. I am a self pay patient and prior to scheduling services for a routine medical service I requested a cost estimate. This was given in the range of $700. On the day of services, I paid this amount in full for the physician’s exam and services. The day after my appointment, the billing harassment started. First, the billing department attempted to double bill me for my exam and services which had already been paid. Then, after dealing with a hostile billing representative to straighten this out, I received an additional bill - this one for lab fees from VHC in excess of $1400. In addition to this, I received an additional bill from an outside vendor for interpreting the lab results which totaled close to $800. These charges were more than 4x more than I have ever been charged elsewhere in spite of the fact that I was told the lab fees would be in the range of a couple hundred dollars. I have repeatedly called the billing department over the past two months asking to speak to a supervisor. Four phone calls later, no one will return my calls. Any agent working in the billing department refuses to discuss the bill and just keeps repeating “this is the amount you owe.” Contacted the expediency department as well to discuss the situation and again I was left a message from an employee saying they had talked to their leadership team and confirmed that they would not offer discounts in spite of the astronomical difference between the estimate and the actually cost (more the 4x), and said that I should have never been given that estimate. If you want to be ripped off and treated like trash, this is definitely the practice to go to. Awful experience. Will never go back. Rudest, most unprofessional practice I have ever encountered. It’s a real shame because the physician, Dr. Williams was a very competent, high-quality professional.

First, and most importantly, my wedding ring was stolen from my finger overnight between May 15 and 16 at VHC in room 523. I went to the emergency room on May 15 in what I was told is the coldest room in ER. The "bed" was more like an ironing board and it was impossible to get comfortable. I tried a fetal position. That photo will follow. After some tests, I was admitted to the hospital. I include a picture of myself in the ER. I was to have an injection of dilaudid ten minutes before an MRI in the middle of the night. The nurse who attended me gave me valium before I went to sleep around 9:30 p.m. I asked her about my medications, as her administration was not consistent with what the emergency room doctor had ordered, and she said that she was an experienced nurse and knew what regimen was right for me. I had been told that I was going to be given valium, dilaudid, and toradol, so I was trying to clarify with her what her plans were. She said that she could have given me a dose of dilaudid an hour after the valium, but she said that I was sleeping so soundly that she waited until around 11:00. I left my necklace, ring, and watch in my drawer when I was taken for an MRI around midnight. When I returned from the MRI, I put on my necklace, ring, and watch again. I don't usually sleep with my ring, and I didn't realize that I was going to be admitted. Since I didn't want to lose it, I felt certain that it was secure on my finger. The nurse did not return to turn off my light, so after 30 or 40 minutes, I got up and turned it off and slept the best that I could on the saggy bed stuffed with pillows underneath me. But when she woke me four hours later, just after 4:00, she again commented that I had been sleeping very soundly. I was released in the morning and, when packing my things, I saw that my wedding ring was gone! Since I don't wear it when I sleep at home, I didn't realize that it was missing when I was awakened by someone delivering my breakfast around 7:00 a.m. I reported that my ring was missing and, not wanting to accuse anyone, I enlisted the help of nearby staff and we searched everywhere. We enlisted Johnny from security. I made a police report. The ring is engraved with my husband's initials, M.R.O, the date, 18-1-2007, and the words, "Eres Tu." This cannot be replaced. I attach a poem that my husband wrote to me in Spanish, translated to English, to share the sentiment. I had had it on my finger for over 18 years, and it had never fallen off....and, as the nurse (or nursing assistant?) commented twice, I was fast asleep. I wonder why she kept verifying that. My husband had a similar experience at another facility when the same person was on duty who had taken his ring and it "magically" reappeared. Too bad I didn't notice it before 7:00 a.m.! Finally, the beds at VHC are known to be awful: They dip in the center. I was hospitalized for excruciating sciatic pain and I needed a proper bed. I was told that I would be put on a "list." When our closest friend, Roger Holt, asked for a replacement, this is what they delivered (in pictures). A bed full of mold, blood, and urine, under a blue plastic cover. His friend Rick asked if he was bleeding when he was seated on a green pad (last picture), and found the root of the cause. My husband and I found him seated in a chair, waiting for another bed. Approximately ten hospital employees stopped to gauck at us--perhaps thinking that we were his lawyers. Roger was so traumatized: He had a series of strokes; was sent to a nursing home that was even worse, he returned to VHC through the ER after a five-hour wait, had another series of strokes, and died on January 21. VHC sent the former Washington Commanders coach and cheerleaders and offered him football paprephrenalia--supposedly hoping to appease him. He refused the caps, etc. I hope and pray that in an emergency I will not be sent to VHC: Never again. I'd rather die. On a positive note, ER Dr. James was wonderful and my PT experience in the new building has been very good.

My family Members insurance refused to pay for care here in suspicions that there was insurance fraud and the same procedures were done serval times and weren't successful. Wow I'm really disappointed and now very skeptical. They refused to give medical information claiming the patient was conscious enough to give me the info himself. Then the ombudsman pulled me way way aside away from cameras and threatened to kick me out of the hospital for questioning the care. I was humbled quickly and shocked at the amount of distrust and the way that man treated me was Horrifying. I wouldn't recommend sending anyone here ever. Or to any hospital for that matter. Better off trying home remedies. God Bless you. I hope he delivers instant karma and if theres anything else I missed I surely will be back with My ATTORNEY

Don't go to VHC Emergency Room. (I understand how a triage system works) Spent three hours in waiting room watching the parade of frequent flyers be seen before my wife who had a acute problem. Never got beyond a set of vitals and initial assessment by nurse. Final straw was a child was brought back to express care after being there for

*REWRITE* I can be honest..my previous review was not great because I had issues with the billing dept..resolved! But I felt like my review would have overshadowed ALL of the hardworking doctors, pa's, nurse's,technicians and other amazing staff that we encountered during our 11 day inpatient stay. The issues we faced were life-threatening. But we would have never made it thru them without the guidance,medical expertise without all of those involved in our care❤️ Not one person was short of COMPASSION! The care was CONSISTENT! Dr.Ennis and Dr.Tawfik COMMUNICATED with me EVERYDAY,and when off they made sure that everyone else did too:) They truly cared for us while in their CARE! I am definitely glad that they were a part of our care team and we truly looking forward to continuing care with the providers and with VHC:)