Group Health Cooperative – Renton Medical Center

This review is for my fabulous PA Eli Wood who is as good as it gets in the way of kind and loving healthcare. I have gone to GH for a few years now and followed Eli from the Federal Way clinic to Renton because she is awesome and I want her to be my PA. Eli takes time and listens to you, which is rare in many healthcare providers in this culture. I will continue to see Eli whereever she goes, because the commute may be longer for me, from Sumner, but it is well worth it. She also has a dedicated staff nurse, Pam Noël, who is exceptionally helpful and kind and is always receptive to emails and call. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. There is no where I would rather be for my care.

The facility itself isn’t very nice. I went to the pharmacy and they were efficient. After my number got called, I waited about 10 minutes for them to fill my Rx. The workers are friendly.

Great doctors but the Indian lady working the front desk try to act too smart and make her own decisions without even looking at the persons health plan. I got charged 165 dollar for nothing and after talking to group health customer service, they said I should have not been charged. When I went up to her to tell her that instead of admitting her mistake, she acted like she was doing me a favor. Definitely not professional at all.

The best thing I can say about the Ranier Ave. clinic is they have a parking lot. Many of my questions have been responded to with «I don’t know» and a referral to a specialist. Much to my surprise G.H. has a billing policy where if you go in for a routine exam (such as an annual women’s check up-​covered by my GH insurance) and while there ask a question regarding another issue then the billing is somehow switched and the free annual exam is now billed under another heading. Combine this with the «I don’t know «responses and I’ve wracked up major medical bills for no solutions or answers. I’m not interested in treating symptoms with medication so I’ve learned to seek out my own natural treatments. The schedule is very inconvenient for the average employed person too. There’s no late hours (past 5:00 pm), no Saturday/​Sun hours and they’re closed during lunch. As the previous review stated, you can’t get an immediate appt. either so there’s little chance of coming in for an urgent care issue. So prepare to take time off from work (in a couple weeks or so) and pay a big bill just to see the Dr. and hear «I don’t know.»

I’ve had absolutely the worst health care experience from Group Health. I am absolutely regretting moving towards this Co-​op. Consistently putting bean-​counters ahead of patients health — good work GH.

Walking into the group health I asked who I could talk to about a bill I received. The volunteer in the front said the business office. Went there and the door was closed. Asked a receptionist nearby and she said no one in the office could help with bills. That’s not how they’re set up and I have to call customer service. Just be prepared I guess. I couldn’t even pay my bill there which I found really odd. I’m still happy with the visit but a little more leery of the financial bit now.

Most people don’t even know this location exist. I find the nurses to be very helpful and the Doctors are great. I specially like the fact they have Saturday Clinics in the morning so I don’t have to travel so far to Bellevue or Capitol Hill.

This review is actually regarding Dr. Chris Bjarke. I went to see him with a ‘female issue’ and after having my initial work-​up with the MA, I was instructed to get naked and wear the embarrassing robe that gapes open and exposes ones butt to the world.
Dr Bjarke came into the room and started talking without introducing himself. It’s one of the first times I’ve ever been exposed to a man who didn’t even bother to give his name.
For the exam he put the speculum under water… under COLD water! It would have been easier to open me up with his teeth, at least it would have been less painful.
The follow up paperwork I received from his office was all about the testing I need to have done and why, the problem was that none of it had to do with me.
Seriously, I wouldn’t return to this doctor.

There are many reasons why I plan on sticking with Group Health. If I went to other doctors, and had to get an x-​ray, I would get billed seperately, one from the doctor, one from radiology (happened at Overlake, thats for sure.) At Group Health I can pay my copay, (or have them bill me the copay) and any imaging or labs drawn all fall under that copay. I like being able to email my doctors and get a swift response in regards to my care, and its great to be able to log on and look at my medications and my medical history.
At this location in particular, (aside from one person) the people have been very professional and courteous. They have always answered my questions to the best of their knowledge without making me feel like I am wasting their time, or without making me feel like they were in a hurry. The lab tech had to do a test, but was very courteous in preserving my dignity. As a healthcare provider, we are taught to preserve patient dignity, but I see that going down the drain more and more.
There was one isolated incident where a nurse there treated my husband poorly. She just had an attitude, and made my husband feel like his position was his fault. It wasn’t, as he was going off of doctors orders. She went to dig stitches out of a wound, and wouldn’t even use a topical numbing agent, so of course he is going to be in pain. Don’t turn him away because of that. LUCKILY that is not the only wound care clinic. Not sure what ended up happening to her though.
The pharmacy techs were also great at preserving dignity. Instead of talking aloud about some medications, they were very discreet in talking to one of my friends about what she was being perscribed. They never named it, while techs at other pharmacies I’ve been to will speak freely of patients drugs. Maybe someone knows what that drug is for? I don’t want them to know what I may or may not have. Don’t humiliate me, please.
If you want a good primary care clinic, this would be the place to go. Take the time to look over the doctors and PA’s, and see who will fit you best.

With Group Health you can’t go to any pharmacies except their own. Came here to pick up a prescription… been here for almost an hour now.