Group Health Cooperative – Kent Medical Center

I have had asthma since I can remember, and various female health concerns since I was in my late teens. I trust Dr Gill with my body, but this site has many problems. First, I do not like the other doctors, and will ONLY go to Gill because she does not throw every pill under the sun at me. Second, the wait time is horrendous. This used to not be an issue until around 2009 when they received a massive influx of new patients. I have to make an appointment two weeks out or pay more to go to the Tacoma urgent care, which can make things more difficult than they need to be. My advice, either wait for Gill or head to Tacoma (if you can afford it). On the plus side, the pharmacy is great.

I have never been so dissatisfied with my health care. I just signed up for Group Health, not really knowing much but loving the location. So far it has been a nightmare.
I tried calling customer service to expedite finding the right doctor, I needed to see a podiatrist, and the only thing they could tell me is I would have to see someone in family medicine first. After visiting GH Kent, surprise surprise, the doctor tells me I need to be seen by a podiatrist– $ 15 copay to tell me something I already knew.
The process for seeing a specialist is trying. You would think this would be a quick process, considering the fact that I am even in the office is because I am in some sort of discomfort. Oh no, the doctor must send in a request for ‘transition of care,’ which takes 7 – 14 business days to process. Only then, can you make an appointment. Fingers crossed, my toe doesn’t fall off by then.
The doctor I had seen, did not seem knowledgeable and was in and out of the room to check with other doctors about my condition. It was extremely painful when she got out her dictionary of prescription medicines and proceeded to consult with herself over quantity.
I was given the opportunity to have my prescription filled in office, which anywhere else may be a service. The pharmacy is set up like the DMV, take a number, have a seat. The waiting room was filled with 15+ people with those little tickets in their hands, so I asked to have mine filled at Rite Aid. The doctor agreed and printed out the prescription. I dropped it off at Rite Aid and got a call 30 minutes later, informing me they would not be able to fill it since Group Health does not use that pharmacy. Understandable, but why couldn’t the doctor have told me this in advance? Called back to customer service for GH, asked to have the prescription filled there at their pharmacy, no can do without retrieving the paper I dropped off with Rite Aid. Wonderful, I am back where I started.

The Group Health Facility at this location has been great so far. The appointments that we made, whether for me or for my kids are quick to get us in. The doctors or PA’s are great. They give us as much information as possible to whatever problems that we may have, and they assess it the best they can. The staff and nurses are friendly and attentive, which makes being seen easier.
However, the drawback I have is the person who does the blood draw. Wish I got her name… Normally, I’m a hard stick, and it takes time to see my veins since they are small. The phlebotomist didn’t even take the time to wait to see my vein pop out. She wrapped the tourniquet around my arm, and basically jabbed the needle in my arm. As a result, it hurt, and normally I’m good with pain. When I got home, my arm was sore in that area, and I had a huge ass bruise, which I know for a good blood draw, this shouldn’t happen.
Sure it’s great that they get you in and get you out as quickly as possible, but it shouldn’t be to the point where they need to rush it. I didn’t even think she took enough blood from me to get tested for the things my doctor ordered, so hopefully they had better not call me back for another blood draw, because I sure as hell won’t want to come back to her.