Pacific Medical Center – First Hill

Staggering inefficiency in administrative and support staff. 30 mins being transferred and being put on hold to get through to one department is ridiculous! Your call is lost and no one calls you back. Very unfriendly receptionists with attitudes like you are disturbing them if you call to make an appointment. Horrible management! I found elsewhere to take my business.
Don’t waste your time here! Gaahhhh Run!

Who loves waking up on Friday morning with a medical condition which needed immediate attention by a specialist, ugh! After calling several other larger groups and getting a run around about not having a physician referral, I called Pac Med, First Hill. Dr. Kuntz (ophthalmologist) fit me into the schedule on short notice — and as a new patient — a miracle! He was very awesome, diagnosed what was ailing me, provided a treatment and… get this… wait for it… gave me his cell phone just in case I had any issues over the weekend. I hope not to use it, but WOW, what a great physician who cares about patient care and experience. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

The only reason I’m not giving this review a five star is because of the wait times. Other than that, my experience there has been nothing short of «very satisfied». From the minute I walk in, all the staff there have been great to work with. The front desk is always cheerful and efficient, and all the doctors I’ve seen there (about 4) have been what I would consider some of Seattle’s best.
Some reviewers have commented on billing fiascoes, luckily I have never had a problem in that regard. I’ve been seeing this group about ten years and have no reason to switch.

Not sure what the fuss is about. This place is a-​ok with me! Clean, expansive hallways, fast elevators, easy to find DRs offices (via the handy directory) and parking within the building. I was in and out in less than an hour and if I need to come back for another appt, well shoot, I hope it’s not too soon.

Just an update to confirm that, despite the business comment offering additional assistance, my immediate e-​mail to them has gone unanswered for 6 days now. No w-​mail, no call. Unfortunate that a clinic would be so dismissive of serious health concerns posed my patients. They are a business, not interested in patient care at all.

This review is about Pacific Medical Centers billing practices and not about the doctor I saw. The care I received was great, but…
Before seeing a cardiologist there, I spoke with a woman in his office regarding my insurance coverage. I offered to call my insurance company myself if she would give me details about what would be done because I wanted to verify my insurance company would be paying since I couldn’t afford to pay for it. She assured me that she would call and verify since she knew all the information about what they would bill for and said there was no need for me to call.
A couple weeks later the woman returned my call and assured me my insurance company would be paying. No mention of a deductible or anything I would be liable for. So I made the appointment and had the procedure.
6 MONTHS LATER I got a huge bill from Pacific Medical Centers. My insurance company did NOT PAY because the procedure was subject to my deductible, which I had not met. I’ve tried speaking with multiple people, including a supervisor, in the Pacific Medical Centers billing department and my insurance company has spoken with them also on my behalf. They refuse to acknowledge that anything was done incorrectly and blame me for not knowing my insurance policy better than they do. In addition, my insurance company records all calls and they have no record of anyone from the provider’s office calling to verify coverage. Not only was I given incorrect information, I was encouraged not to call my insurance company myself, and then lied to about them calling to verify my coverage.
Pacific Medical Centers is now refusing to work with me on the charges. My only options are to pay the full amount in installments or to receive a 20% discount for paying in full immediately, which is standard and not in recognition of their mistake.
If you go here DEMAND that they give you every billing code they will submit to your insurance company and a full description of what they plan to do and INSIST that you call for yourself. They don’t care if they screw up verifying coverage and withhold important billing information because they will simply demand you pay out of pocket. And, guess what… unless you feel like letting a medical bill go to collections, you’ll be stuck paying.

Just to be clear, I am not writing a 5 star review for Pacific Medical Center.
This review is for Dr. Kendra Bergstrom in particular. She is amazing! I first saw Dr. Bergstrom for a dermatology related visit in 2009. Dr. Bersgstrom listened to my description of the symptoms and then offered various solutions. She was professional, empathetic and offered solutions that worked.
I have been back to visit her on several occasions — the last time, she noticed a small spot on my face that turned out to be basal cell carcinoma. She did the biopsy and referred me to a surgeon for removal. I am so thankful to Dr. Bergstrom for taking such great care of my skin!
She is truly a gem!

I have been on hold on the appointment line for over ten minutes. Seriously? It is like this every time. I just don’t have the time or the patience to be kept waiting. And it is like this all of the time. Every single time I call in for a simple appointment, this is what happens. On hold, still on hold, irritated, still on hold…
Why cannot Pac Med just hire one or two more people to man the phone lines? I believe that they would ultimately save money, because people like myself would stop getting frustrated and choosing to go to another doctor. Because I can!
Hanging up now, and looking for another doctor.

Oh hell, naw. HELL NAW. This place just wasn’t for me.
I went in for some acne medicine cause my ego was taking a beating with each new bump that surfaced. I needed a new dermatologist that didn’t want to just pump me full of antibiotics cause homey doesn’t play that. The doc I got to see was cool, she was down to earth and pretty hip for a doctor. That’s cool.
While I was there I asked if a particular mole could be removed eventually. The doc said no problem and that my insurance will cover it all. I was all game if my insurance was going to knock that out for me — I told here I could do it the next time I came in after I checked with insurance. Newp. She wanted to do it. So she numbed me up and BAM the deed was done. She said it was a normal mole and wasn’t anything to worry about. No discussion of biopsy or anything.
Several weeks later I get a few bills from a couple medical facilities. One was for a biopsy — whut? And another was for blood work (I had some blood drawn) but there were about 8 tests that I had to pay a chunk for when I was expecting three, max. When I followed up with the doc she explained that they just do that — she said they don’t have to but they just do it and didn’t think I would mind. Yeeeeees I mind. I had to pay out the nose for some of that stuff. It wasn’t even precautionary! Shoot…
Anyway. So that’s my issue. I just felt taken advantage of. Maybe I’m being a brat or a crybaby but it just felt like «pay your doctor bill and ask more questions next time». Saaaaad.

PAC med eye care is terrible!!!

The vision department works likely a poorly oiled machine. It took me over two weeks to get the contacts that I was promised would take only 3 days to deliver. On several calls it took about 7 minutes of hold time and 3 operators to connect me to the proper person, which (shocker) actually voice-​mail. My calls were never returned.
When I ask them to call in my prescription to the drug store they said they could do it in a day, other offices will do it in no more than 30 minutes.
During my eye examination they opted to put in numbing eye drops and touch my eye with a machine to check the pressure. Other offices use an easy, side effect free test using a puff of air. The numbing eye drops made my eyes tired and I had a difficultly focusing for the remainder of the day.
I will not be returning.

recently visited dermatology clinic at pac med, not only was i greeted and felt comfortable, i also felt at ease sharing my insecurities. after my visit with Dr Bergstrom and her assistant, i had a sense of relief. Thank you!!!

The whole team in the ambulatory surgery center was wonderful.
When Dr Dianne Bai came in, I was laying down on the bed, she took my hand and cradled it in her hand in a compassionate, motherly manner. She told me what to expect while she gently stroked my hand the way a mother might comfort a child.
I was comforted and I was also just so amazed at how thoughtful she was. The whole surgery team that day seemed to have a wonderful rapport and worked in a seamless. teamwork manner that conveyed their confidence in their skills and joy for their work.
I would definitely recommend Dr Bai and the rest of the team who was working 12÷30÷11 in the am!

I am writing this specifically for Dr. Jessica Rongitsch at Pac Med. She is an amazing Dr. If you need someone for internal medicine, I highly recommend her. The office staff here are efficient and won’t keep you waiting. Her medical staff are also delightful. I won’t be surprised if her practice fills up.

I love the doctors at pac med. I’m here now for Dr. ballard and he’s extremely knowledgable but cautious he rather have surgery be your last resort.
Only complaint is about maria the office receptionist, I got lost went to where I had my surgery (i was there on time) and was 30 minutes late and she was so rude, virgina mason even called to let them know I was late.

I saw Dr. Kendra Bergstrom for a fungal skin condition on my back (due to humidity). She was very nice and helpful and I had a good impression of her as a person and doctor. She gave me a prescription but after I finished the bottle, my condition did not go away.
I called her office and left messages with twice with a live person, one of whom was her nurse. After promises of call-​backs, I never received a single call. I only wanted to know if she could give me another prescription or did I need to make an appointment to come back in to see her. My calls to her office were 2 weeks in between, so i had waited a reasonable time to call again. Silence.
It doesnt matter to me how decorated a doctor you are from NYC. If a Doctor cannot simply return a simple call as an after-​service to answer a patient’s concerns about a persisting condition, I will simply go elsewhere to someone competent and follows up. I have since made an appointment elsewhere for my skin condition.

How many does days does it take for a fax to travel a three blocks south from Broadway & Madison to Boren & Madison?
PacMed says 12 and counting…
I was referred here to a specialist (whose department does NOT have a direct number) by my primary care provider, who has stated that time and time they fax referrals here – and that PacMed insists that they have not received them.
They suggested that my doctor re-​fax and call them at the same time so that they can be apprised of and «ready» for it.
It’s not as if they’re the size of Mass General, Harborview, etc.
I cannot vouch for the quality of the specialists here.* But I can state that the administrative inefficiency of PacMed, at least at his location, is staggering.
This is wasting everyone’s time… and getting on not just a few nerves.
* I do, however, recall coming here 12 years ago. One of their podiatrists was engaging in a less than above-​the-​board billing of my health insurance: periodic weekly one-​minutes visits («check-​ups») that in the short– and long-​term were ineffective in treating my chronic foot problem.
Upon hearing that I had been going there for twelve weeks in a row, my doctor rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.