Groover Christie & Merritt

What a poor medical practice. I waited three hours to see an ultrasound technician and after all that she performed the procedure wrong, so I need to go back the next day. The business manager told me insurance would not be billed due to the poor service I received, as well as the procedure being performed incorrectly. On my way in they next day, they called and told me my new appointment was cancelled. I was in transit when I received the message, so I still went. They were able to fit me and my new technician was wonderful and performed the procedure successfully. But, they never sent the results to my doctor, so I waited a bit thinking the lag time was on my doctor. Then, to top it all off, my insurance was billed twice, once for the poorly performed procedure, and then again, for the successful one which resulted in more calls and time spent on the phone with them.

GCM’s office has the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced (their billing department). On 5÷21÷15 my doctor referred me to this office because my left leg was swollen and I was pregnant… the fear was that I had a blood clot and that it would harm my baby. Luckily, I didn’t have a blood clot, just a very swollen ankle due to my pregnancy. I was billed for my visit and my insurance paid the claim in part. They applied $ 125.56 towards my deductible. I called my insurance to ask them why they didn’t pay it in full (because my pregnancy costs are covered at 100%). They said they would rereview it and let me know the outcome. I also called GCM and was referred to Michella, their billing liaison. She said she would look into it and get back to me. I called her back once I received a collection notice from GCM. She said they were looking at the claim and that she would tell their collection agency not to contact me any further.
After numerous calls back and forth a supervisor at my insurance admitted that they didn’t pay it in full because of the way the doctor’s office coded the bill. I explained this to GCM’s liaison, Michella, and she said she would look into it and let me know what she found out. I never heard back from her after that. What I did receive from that office was a second collection bill for $ 321.44. So, not only did I not hear back from them, but the amount I apparently owed GCM increased.
After more than seven months, on 1÷8÷16, I finally got my 1^st letter from the director of operations; in it she said that their office had not miscoded my bill and that they’ve done everything they could. Funny how she didn’t say they had tried to recode the bill. In all of my follow up to this office, I rarely received a call back. In fact, had I not called them in 1÷7÷16, they probably wouldn’t have sent me a letter telling me they had given up. On 1÷8÷16, I also received a third bill from their collection agency telling me I had 14 days to pay or I would be reported to my creditors.
So on 1÷9÷16 I called my insurance again and they said they only needed a verbal okay from GCM to switch the billing codes… to date they haven’t called my insurance to tell them it’s okay to switch the codes.
Unfortunately this office’s liaison did not figure out what was wrong with the billing. I had to find this out after numerous calls to my insurance. I told their liaison how to fix the problem per my insurance and yet GCM does not want to recode the bill. Instead the director of operations encourages me to pay their collection agency so that they can get paid.
I’ve spent hours and hours trying to get this resolved but I never get anywhere when it comes to GCM’s billing department.
Congratulations GCM, I’m paying the collection agency today.

My wife was a patient and when she died, per Maryland statute, any remaining balance is not collectible. I had to have my attorney remind their billing company three times. They still turned the account over to a collection agent.
I would avoid this group due to poor billing and business practices.

I had a very bad experience with new radiologist there. Her name is Doctor China, she asked me do everything from X-​rays, MM Scan and Ultrasound and her result is «we found something but we don’t know what it is, you need breast arthroscopy». I thought if they found something they think it could be cancer then they will send you to go for breast arthroscopy. My goodness, she asked me to pay for all kind of analysts tool but she didn’t provide me any professional result worth for money at all.

Crazy outdated Services.
They closed their location on DC and for any reports of previous work done with that office, they want their patients to drive to Bethesda to pick up the reports.
They will not mail them to their patients even if they paid for the mailing cost!
Ps: who used a CD drive anymore anyway. Many laptops don’t even have those anymore!
Last time I will ever have any work done with this facility.

Competent, efficient, and friendly staff. Results are sent to physicians quickly. I was unexpectedly late one time and they were kind enough to accommodate me.

I’d make it 4−½ stars if I could.
This was my 4^th or 5^th encounter. Most have been super-​efficient. Technically, today’s 1−½ hour visit was within published norms.
But I will quibble: though told «diagnostic mammograms» could take up to 1−½ hours,
#1 how is it my job to know that mine was in this category? and
#2 how is my sitting in a state of undress for 1−¼ hours BEFORE anything technical happens a necessary part of the 1−½ hours?
Many clear efforts to manage patient expectations – almost there!

Very professional and caring doctors.

Five stars for one of the best radiologists I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, and for the phenomenal front desk staff. They’re both efficient and realistic in scheduling and processing patients. When my referring doctor prescribed the wrong exam, they coordinated the correction themselves. Paperwork was given in advance when possible. Adam is an extremely courteous and gentle tech– his demeanor is more professional than some doctors’. Reasonable waits for films/​disc. He’s the highlight of my X-​ray trips!
Sadly, I have to factor in my first traumatic CT scan visit where I raged against the machine… operators. I really felt like the other techs didn’t know what they were doing, nor cared to speak with me. I was treated like a piece of meat. They didn’t explain the process or lack of aprons, contorted my body into painful positions, and still drove my head and shoulder into the interior wall while sliding me into the machine. On a return scan, Jacqueline was much more competent, and insurance administrator Mary was very discreet about my privacy of information. Billing is otherwise refused to be addressed in person.
Part of the Rockledge plaza, so paid lot/​metered street parking.

I asked for a business card today because I’ve had many exams, procedures, and surgeries over my lifespan (thus far) of 66 years. Today marked an exceptional experience at CGM. The Doctor who performed my sonohystogram was Dr. William Craig. .His professional demeanor was on point but the way he communicated with me as a patient was well beyond the norm. He was incredibly kind and took the time to make me feel especially comfortable This was not an easy situation for me and after a few minutes of genuine conversation, I explained to Dr. Craig that I had this procedure done before and it was very painful for me. I anticipated it to be very painful again but instead, Dr. Craig helped me through every step from the very beginning and talked me through it so that when I had any feeling of discomfort, he stopped, I relaxed, and we continued. In a matter of minutes, it was done and Dr. Craig was showing me the results of the test on the monitor and explaining what I was seeing.
This is the kind of Doctor we should all have. I highly recommend him and his assistant, Nazanin, who was just as wonderful and considerate from the moment I entered the room and throughout the procedure. Very professional but very warm.

My wife has used the GCM office in Rockville and we have always been pleased. However I moved an appointment with this office and they never changed it in their system. I came in and apparently the person who made the appointment never changed the date. The only reason they aren’t getting 1 star is that they worked hard to try to rectify the situation.

I had 2 breast biopsies performed 2 weeks apart at Groover Christie & Merritt by Dr. Rhonda Stewart. It was a scary time but she was not only professional, but warm, caring and did everything to make me feel as comfortable as possible during the procedures as did her staff. She even followed up on me after wards to see how I was doing which meant a lot considering both of the biopsies were positive. I would absolutely trust her again with any procedures and the care she can provide.

I am a 38 year old physician. I had my baseline mamo here (it was convenient). The front staff and techs are professional and good. They were able to get me my images quickly during business hours which I appreciated, Long wait time, but I don’t care if quality is good (its not btw). A mass was found, I was called back for additional views several days later, and at that 2^nd visit an ultrasound was done confirming a mass. Well, the radiologist, Dr. Rhonda Stewart came in, repeated the ultrasound, and said, «this is it». Can you tell me what «it» is? «Well, its not a fibroadenoma», and listed all other benign breast masses, including a lactation adenoma (I asked because I recently stopped breastfeeding my 1 year old).
A week later, (a week of panic, thoughts of not seeing my children grow up, unable to sleep, not functioning well at work, etc) a biopsy done elsewhere (Georgetown Breast Center) and a confirmed benign fibroadenoma.
So, I called Dr. Stewart to give her some feedback, to let her know how statements like, «its not a fibroadenoma» can affect an individual, when you cannot be sure. Well, she totally backtracked and said, its «obviously well circumscribed», «clearly a fibroadenoma»., and «that’s what I told you» Really? The report she dictated does not say this, and I know what I heard her say.
Honesty and integrity are essential to being a good physician, I know, because I am one, and I take the hippocratic oath seriously, and a good physician would take the feedback (even if you disagree), LISTEN, (not say «uh uh, never said that» «you’re wrong, I’m right»), incorporate that feedback into their practice and become a more sensitive and aware provider.
Stay away from this practice. Especially if you have a serious breast concern or issue (i.e.cancer) get care at an academic center– I cannot say enough about the breast center @ georgetown.
Also, I don’t post often, but I don’t want anyone to have to go through what I (and my family) just experienced over the past 2 weeks.

Decently run and the MRI techs are cool to talk to and work with.

So, I was supposed to have a lady-​type test done at Washington Radiology Associates, but their machine broke, and I had to scramble to find a new facility. I landed here, and am SOOOO glad I did. From securing an appointment to filling out paperwork with the front desk staff, this place was fantastic. Dr. William Craig, who performed the procedure, and his nurse Beth, were AMAZING. So friendly and informative. They even allowed my husband to put on a lead apron and stand in the room with me, knowing how uncomfortable and scary the test was. I really, really liked this place and from now on will be coming here instead of WRA. Thanks so much Dr. Craig and GCM, you guys are tops.

I went to the key west location for an MRI and will never go another place. The staff is professional and pleasant. Anthony the tech seemed concerned about my comfort. People get scared in MRIs but he assured me he would «be right here». And what threw me! I walked out with my films, a CD and the report! By the time I got to my car it was in my doctors office.

This is their Suburban Hospital Outpatient Center office. They handle mammograms and breast biopsies here, along with other radiation services. Calling to schedule was easy, I got in within a week.
Going for a biopsy is a scary experience. Their staff was very helpful. All were very professional.
Dr. Song, who performed my procedure, came and walked me through exactly what she needed to do. (I also did research online before hand.) I felt comfortable going in and was never surprised by anything that happened. She personally called with the results 3 days later and explained what it meant. She even gave me her cell phone number in case I had questions.
My only complaint is that their DC office (which sent me to this location) did not tell me that I had to pay for parking. It turned out to be inexpensive but going to a biopsy, I didn’t need another thing to stress me out.