I am Pavan Kumar Kurella (((phone number redacted))) took my wife to the emergency service on 10/3/2014 as she got few burns because of hot oil spill on hand and right side of face.
Before going to the Emergency service we went to nearby CVS pharmacy and the consultant over there attended and suggested us to take a burngel and silver gel creams and apply over the burns. All it costed is around $25.00
But still we thought it is good to see a doctor as we might get some first aid to reduce the burning sensation. So we immediately went to Hoag emergency service Irvine thinking we can get some first aid.
The attendant at the emergency lobby took my wife details and asked us to walk into a room. The nurse came and gave a blanket and body cover to change dress and asked my wife to rest on bed as the doctor will come to examine.
The doctor came, he saw the burns and asked how it happened, when it happened, what 1st aid we did and few basic questions on previous medical history and told he will prescribe some gel and tablets. All this question and answer happened in just 7-8 minutes time.
After 5-10mins of waiting the nurse came with a copy of prescription and the persecution is having similar silver gel, tablet which we bought earlier from CVS.
The nurse asked us to go home and rest and apply the gel when the burns pop-out.
We walked to the billing lobby where the business guy took my insurance card. He did some findings in his computer and told the total bill was around $1300.00.
Me and my wife shocked and asked them to explain the reason why it is $1300.00, then the lady over there told it’s for the emergency service and blood test/ examination[surprisingly there is no blood test done or even recommended by doctor]
Then I mentioned we did not have any tests, and then she did some calculations and told the bill is around $1100.00.
Then again I asked why it is $1100.00 just for a 7-8 mins doctor visit and without any first aid done to my wife, then she went inside and talked to the nurse and came back saying its $770.00
Then again I asked why it was $770.00 she told it’s for the emergency service and doctor consultation as the doctor attended to my wife and gave a prescription. She told emergency services are costly in general.
The point here is when a CVS consultant advised us 2 gels and tablets for which we paid $25.00. Then for the same 2 gels and tablets Hoag doctor billed us for $770.00.
I am ready to pay $770.00, but the question is …. Is the service really worth $770.00
What is the real reason behind charging $770.00 for just a 8 min doctor attendance and without any first aid. What is the difference between a Hoag doctor and CVS consultant and in my case who is better.
Hoag is not a true hospital and they dont value for people money and all they want is just to drink the money out of patient pockets by saying false reasons. I would never recommend this hoag hospital to any one and will also never visit it in my life again for the poor and worst service.
I am not at all satisfied by the service and the pain and shock i got after seeing the bill is more than the pain my wife got because of burns.
I am open to discuss on this with any level of person who can answer to my questions is the service really worth $770.00 and what is the difference between a normal CVS consultant and a Hoag doctor.
Robert
Irvine,#2Consumer Comment
Sat, October 04, 2014
I am open to discuss on this with any level of person who can answer to my questions is the service really worth $770.00 and what is the difference between a normal CVS consultant and a Hoag doctor.
- If you really need someone to explain it to you, I am sorry to say but (((redacted rudness))) But let me try anyways.
First of all your "CVS Consultant" may have been nothing more than a minimum wage clerk, at best perhaps an actual pharmacist. Your "Hoag Doctor" is a real doctor who has gone through Medical School, Internships and probably additional years of training. Not only that but they have a specialty in Emergency Medicine, which means additional years of study and practice.
Next, you don't go to the ER for "First Aid", you go to the ER for Emergencies. You were probably charged $250-$300 for just signing in. Because it doesn't matter what ER you go to, they are always going to have the higest costs. If it was early enough you could have gone to an "Urgent Care" and been charged a fraction of the cost.
In fact if you get down to it, based on what you could have been charged the $770 actually sounds a bit cheap.