Complaint Review: Lara Haun with Lone Star OB/GYN Associates - San Antonio Texas

Hello,

I would like to tell you about a horrible experience I had with obstetrician named Lara Haun.  Granted some may be too much information but I want you to know what I experienced.

I decided to switch obstetrician to have someone closer to my home and work.   So I went to my first visit with her when I was 3 months pregnant on Wednesday August 5^th, 2015 at 4:00.  After an hour I was able to see the obstetrician.  Everything went good. She tells me that at my next appointment; the sonogram will be more detailed than the ultrasound and hopefully can determine the sex of the baby.  I did tell her I was having some urinary tract symptoms earlier that morning so she ran a urine test. She said the test came back negative but would send to lab to confirm results.  My symptoms were not that bad at that time, so I figured maybe it was something else. Before I leave, I give the nurse my (Family and Medical Leave Act) medical certification form. They charge me $25 and tell me it will be completed within 24 hours.  (I work full-time so this is needed to cover any emergencies related to my pregnancy and/or doctor appointments.  My work encourages us to have this done as soon as find out we are pregnant.)

The next day the symptoms came in full force so I called the obstetrician’s office and asked if they could prescribe something for the symptoms.  They said, “No, we cannot.” and didn’t offer anything else. I asked, “So I’m supposed to be in pain until the results come in?  She says try cranberry tablets but I let her know those didn’t work for me.  Then she says, “I’m sorry”.  The results should be back in a week.”  I ask if they can rush them because I am in a lot of pain and then planning to go on vacation in a week.  She says, “No, but you can check back early next week. “  I call my former obgyn and he prescribes me Uribel. I call on Monday to see if the results are in.  The receptionist said, “Let me check. “  She put me on hold for approximately 15 minutes. She tells me, “You do have a UTI, we will send the prescription to your pharmacy.”   Usually I call to confirm the pharmacy gets it but I was extremely busy at work that day and didn’t get a chance to call.  After work, I pick up my son from the babysitter and I rush over to Walgreens. They advise they did not get a prescription and of course the office is now closed.  I call the  after-hours nurse line and she calls in my prescription.  Walgreens is awesome and fills my prescription within the hour.  But now I’m taking my son out of bed at 9:00 to go pick up this prescription. 

A week later, I get a denial for my FMLA paperwork because the obstetrician office never faxed the paperwork.  I call the obstetrician office and they apologize and advise they will fax that day.  I call the FMLA contact center and they advise they received but there is no doctor signature, doctor credentials, office information listed, and one of the questions is not completed. I call the obstetrician office and they apologize again and advise they will resend.  I call the FMLA contact center for a third time and they advise there is still no doctor credentials nor office information. By this time my appeal time period has run out and I have to resubmit the request. 

The FMLA contact center refaxes the form again to the obstetrician office. I  call the obstetrician office for the FOURTH time and apologize and say there are a lot of people who handle that form and some are new and don’t what they are doing.  (Obviously) She assures me she will get the information completed and sent. I call the FMLA contact center and they state they changed my requested leave dates from 7/06/2015 to 7/06/2016 to leave not starting until 02/05/2016. I call for the FIFTH time in tears out of complete frustration. I am NOT one to cry so for me to be that upset, that means something. They assure me they will fix it and call me when the fax goes through which she was going to do as soon as we hung up.  5 hours later she calls me to tell me she faxed it. I  call and speak with my FMLA contact specialists and he advises me that they fixed the dates but they faxed one of the previous faxes which did not have the doctor credentials on it.   He tells me though he sees how many times the form has been faxed. He sees this has been ongoing for a MONTH and that we do have the doctors credentials. So he gets my FLMA leave approved by combining TWO forms.  Thank you Jesus for kind souls.

By this time, my four month follow-up appointment has come up. I’m debating of switching obstetricians obviously at this point but I don’t for 2 reasons.  The next appointment is to determine the sex of the baby which my husband and I are super excited to find out.  Secondly, the doctor was good at the first appointment when I talked to her; it was just her office I was having issues with. I figured I can just let her know what is going on.

The appointment is set for 2:45 on September 2^nd, 2015.  My husband and I arrive excited.  The doctor is running late. They take my vitals at 4:00 and I ask about the sonogram. The nurse informs me that the doctor did not request a sonogram. I explain the doctor had told me last time I was there, that I would have a sonogram at this appointment. I explain this is the reason I brought my husband so we can find out together. She sees  I am starting to get upset and says  “Ok, I’ll see what I can do.”  They squeeze me in and we finally get to know we have a beautiful baby girl!  My happiness is short lived.

 At 5:00 my husband leaves for a meeting and the obstetrician sees me.  She tells me, I’m sorry about the mix-up with the sonogram, looks like the “girls” didn’t request it.  We go over results.  Then she asks me if I have any questions.  I say no but I did want to let you about some issues I have had with your office.  She says “Ok, let me know.”

So I proceed to tell her about the UTI scenario. She tells that she does not prescribe a prescription unless the urine test is positive.  I told her that I understand that but was wondering if she prescribed anything for the symptoms like Uribel.  She said I don’t prescribe that for pregnant women.  I told her how I had asked if there was anything else I could get besides the cranberry tablets since they didn’t work for me and was informed no.  She said you could use this over the counter medicine which is like Uribel (forgot the name she said).  I advised her, that when I asked if there was anything else for the symptoms, I was not informed of that option. Instead of apologizing for not being informed of the over the counter medicine, she asks me who was the person I talked too? She says, “Without a name I can’t do much.” I can see her change in demeanor towards me by this point.  I told her I have talked to alot of people since then so not sure. She said well in the future; make sure you get a name so I can talk to them. I can understand that so I didn’t get upset.  She started talking about how she had a substitute and they don’t know her recommendations but now they have one dedicated person who will run all questions by her directly  so that should help.  So I’m okay with that even though at this point I am feeling she is pushing off any responsibility for her office. 

I then told her that when I went to the pharmacy to get my prescription it had not been sent.  She got very offended (I found later she is the one that submits the requests)  and said if we said it was sent, then it was sent.  I said I went to Walgreens and it was not there.  She then says well not sure what happened; sometimes Walgreens doesn’t get my requests although CVS always gets them! I haven’t had any problems with CVS.” I understand there are sometimes issues with the transmission so I let it go.  She then says, “When we called you, to give you the result, that’s when we sent it.”  I say, “Ya’ll didn’t call me. I called your office to get the results so maybe that’s why the prescription didn’t get sent (allowing for an out).”  She looked at me like I was lying, to the point I asked her outright if she thought I was lying?!  She said, “I don’t think you are lying but that’s not how we do things around here. “  She then says, “When you called you THEY told you, you had a UTI? I said yes.  She said,” They don’t know unless I tell them so I don’t understand how they told you, you had a UTI,” shaking her head.  I said very calmly, “I don’t know how she knew, but she put me on hold for 15 minutes, came back told me I had a UTI and said the prescription would be sent to my pharmacy.”   She looked with an incredulous look and said “Wait! WE didn’t call you?”  raising her voice and throwing up her hands. I tell her she needs to calm down because I am not raising my voice and not mad.  I said, “That’s right, I wanted to know the results as soon as possible and I called on Monday.” She once again just looks at me like I’m lying.  I tell her this not the only situation.

I then tell I had to fax my FMLA paperwork 5 times.  She then cuts me off before I can finish explaining the situation.  She raises her voice again and looks me directly in the eye and says “Wait! WHY do you need FMLA for now”  FMLA is for when you deliver the baby.” (I am astonished assuming FLMA is common for working pregnant women and would assume she would know why it’s needed, especially since she did FINALLY sign my paperwork. So  at his point, she signed my paperwork without reviewing it since the last form provided leave from 8/21/20 to 2/05/2016)  By this time, I am getting upset and I raise my voice too and answer that I need it to cover my doctor appointments.  She looks at me like she can’t believe I just said that.  She then asks, “Do you want to TRANSFER doctors”  I can’t believe she just asked me that as I thought the issues I was bringing up were minor!  I said, “Yes, I would love too. “ She said, “Ok GREAT! Let me get you paperwork.” so I follow her to the front office where there is like 4 receptionist/nurses sitting.  She tells one of them to send me my release paperwork to me certified.  THEN she says. “Because I just FIRED this patient!”, In front of everyone. They all turn to gawk at me and I say, “YES and I APPRECIATE IT!” and walked out.

This day was supposed to be a joyous occasion for me and my husband but she ruined it for me. Instead of telling all my family and friends, I was so emotionally upset, I didn’t tell anyone.  I am truly appalled with her behavior as it was totally uncalled for and unprofessional.  I understand we all have bad days, but for her to be like this towards me is beyond reprehensible.    I am filing complaint with the Texas Medical Board/her Board of Directors and everyone I know.