Scripps Health

Hi everyone, I felt compelled to share that my experiences at this clinic have been consistently excellent. From my PCP, Dr. David B. Lavine, to the nurses, lab technicians, receptionists and support staff, everyone has been professional, attentive and kind. The lab is efficient and well run, and the staff are always kind and caring. Over the past 10 years, the care and service I’ve received have been outstanding. I truly appreciate the consistency and level of attention this team provides.

Facility is nice overall. Went to see a specialist who had me get unnecessary x rays considering I had recent MRI AND Xrays done. They had them in system. The techs were OK, lots of unnecessary junk that costs money in the xray room I guess good for kids but was strange art that I don't think would appeal to kids having a few and having been one. I hope not bought with patient money but probably was. The machines had lots of duct tape and looked beat up... I was there early and waited past the appointment which is not terrible if getting actual diagnostic medical help. The x rays surprisingly did show history of healing from a moderate injury which no one mentioned since I got them. I asked this specialist, Dr Barr who ignores it and says it's not important. Connected directly to the problem area. I ask about the other issues I'm having and he tells me to see someone for pain when I am unable to use my foot. Told my bug toe is no problem when something like 40 percent of your step off is from the big toe, effecting a cascade of issues in the foot, ankle, and entire leg even the back....etc. But he legitimately just stared at me after I tried politely to nudge for answers. He's not the first at Scripps to push these injections and pain medication with no solution unfortunately (even though I was not there FOR PAIN.) I left feeling so defeated (no pun intended). It took MONTHS to see him and MONTHS to see the next for second opinion. Almost a year after my injuries and the other podiatrist actually takes five minutes to gently manipulate the foot and ask meaningful questions. Actually listened and tried this move that actually made a difference! I was blown away. Idk if also the timing but that's what has set me on the track to finally seeing progress after PT with no dx and many ignoring me. He was not at this location. But he was very difficult to get scheduled with and now I see he's one of the few doctors that gives a crap. He was honest and transparent about if I needed PT and no issue with giving me the rx later. (Probably have to legally but others acted like they won't if not at Scripps! I didn't have that issue with other organizations. ) Lastly, I saw another specialist at another location who knew Dr Barr and tried to politely say he "rubs people the wrong way'. I don't know if that's a joke....I wouldn't even say he was directly unpleasant except that he refused to do his job. He was brash when manipulating my joints and then nonchalant about my life changing due to injuries and gaslighting me about it. If a provider is both so unpopular in his conduct with patients and unwilling to provide real diagnostic care then why is he not on leave for coaching or something? I know Scripps seems to hate keeping providers available (maybe fired many good oens during the pandemic) but having ones like that seems like a waste of time and a liability.

I recently went in to see Allegra Conway. The moment she came in she immediately hit me with attitude and a condescending tone. She asked a few questions and when I tried to answer she talked over me, answering and giving some random explanation before I could even finish, saying things that were wrong and not applicable to the situation— had she let me finish. Any time I tried to explain anything to her she would respond with how it wasn’t possible, how she didn’t believe I had the diagnosis I had, and how if I really felt this way I should be talking to my primary about it instead. The topic came to weight loss and the ENTIRE time she made comments about how ‘big’ I was, or said things like “so it sounds like you aren’t active at all? Do you do anything, or are you always laying around.” With a really condescending attitude. It just felt like she thought she knew the situation better than everyone ( when we’d spent months trying to figure it out ) and she couldn’t even look at the paperwork ( she continued to give me attitude because I didn’t know the specific dates / procedures I got ). At some point in the conversation she made me feel bad because I forgot to take my birth control pills when I was younger saying “it’s part of the basic instruction” and “she knows teens that are responsible” It felt like she was convinced I was self diagnosed when I was referred to see her for these issues. By the end she said if I felt like this was my right diagnosis, then I could read this packet but that I should read it 10 times because that’s the only way I would understand it. Overall it was a terrible experience, she was not kind or helpful in anyway. She was rude, thought she knew better than everyone without having the full story, and didn’t even try to understand the issue. She acted like I was wasting her time after making me wait 40 minutes to see her.

I’ve had good experiences with the doctors and nurses here but the billing has been horrendous and deceptive on multiple occasions. The latest was the travel clinic for some travel immunizations - called in advance to get an estimate and was told the consult fee and cash price for each immunization. Paid at the desk before I left the amount I’d been told. A month later after I believed I’d already paid and had completed my travel, I get a bill which added on “administrative fees” of $60 for the first vaccine and $42 for each additional one. Their written estimate has a clever clause “please understand that this estimate is not a guarantee of final charges”. Not quoting these up front or including them on the bill when I paid at the desk after receiving care so I could discuss them with the person I confirmed the estimate with face to face is terribly deceptive. Did they think I wanted to administer the vaccines myself? Did they not know at the time of estimate they were going to charge these fees? Called them again on the phone today just to see if they gave the same estimate: once again they omitted the administration fees. I left Scripps a decade ago due to similar problems with surgical billing. I returned because the location is convenient and thought this was an extraordinarily clear procedure that there would be no excuse for billing exceeding the estimate on - I need these 3 shots. Nope - once again Scripps charged far more than they told me up front. I should have made the extra journey to the Sharp facility(who I’ve never had this type of issue with) or another travel clinic.

I've had to get blood drawn a couple of times. I truly have thin rolling veins. Since my 20's so I know I'm a blood draw nightmare. The techs there are SO nice. I had a young man work on me and he felt so bad he couldn't get it so another nurse came in and had to draw from my hand. A few days later I had to go back and the young man saw me and took me back and I told him exactly where to get the vein - he was so happy on the first draw. We laughed about it and the Phlebotomists there are very kind and patient. I told him I was good practice.