Brentwood Eye Care - Helen Boerman, O.D. FAAO

Reviews 4

JE

Jessica Shaffer

The staff other than the doctor was not very nice from the get-go. But the real problem was the lack of knowledge with my insurance and what would be covered. My disability benefits covered the cost of my appointment and I was misinformed about them covering the cost of glasses and was under the impression I could get them that day. After my exam the doctor told me she would extend their $99 special and I asked about getting them covered fully like I thought they would be. So I went out to the fitting area to wait for someone to check on this. While waiting, someone came out with a book to fit me for the $99 special glasses and started explaining the various costs of everything. I then had to explain again to her I was waiting to see if they would be covered and needed to call my insurance company to check since they hadnt bothered to do so. I was able to confirm they would not be covered at that location and I had to go elsewhere to get them free. I then brought up I had additional private insurance just to see what benefits I could get with them. After that information was checked and relayed without me knowing, the woman who had came out for the fitting started running through numbers to see what everything would cost me with my additional insurance. After she gave me those figures I told her I would rather wait to see if I could use my benefits at a location that accepted my benefits than pay, duh. The insurance confusion was annoying but could be forgiven; the reason for the 1 star is this: from the get go before the insurance mess it was assumed I couldnt afford the designer glasses and could only get the $99 special. I felt like they were continuously treating me like I was poor and they were helping out with a charity case without knowing anything about me or my finances. I was told over and over how great this special sale was for me instead of them even explaining the cost of the full priced products. I felt like they were talking down to me the entire time they were attempting to sell me glasses. I was initially open to seeing what they had beyond their special they kept pushing (if in fact they would not be covered at all), but after being treated like I was beneath them from start to finish there was no way I would do business with them at that point.

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PH

Phil Thornton

So first things first, Dr. Harman is a good doctor and a nice enough guy. The problem I have with this practice is that after several years as a patient I dont believe that they truly care about the patient. Let me explain why I left after so many years. I recently lost my last pair of contacts right before a trip out of town. Naturally I called the office and asked if I could buy some more, and possibly buy one pair immediately for this trip until the others arrived. I know from experience that Dr. Harman keeps an extensive inventory in his office and didnt think this would be an issue. The lady that answered the phone told me that "it has been over a year, you need to come in for an eye exam." I then asked her when my last exam was because I didnt think it had been a year. She looked it up and sure enough, my last exam anniversary was 8 days away. I then told her that I was actually fine with making an appointment for an annual exam later, for now I just need a pair of contacts for this trip. She then put me on hold for several minutes. When she came back on the line she asked me "which is better, mornings or evenings." I told her that I really just need to get some contacts, do you have any in stock? She then told me that AFTER I make an appointment she will check to see if she can sell me any contacts. I immediately told her I was done playing these games and that I would be finding a new optometrists. They, sadly, are just like these other optometrists that hold your prescription hostage or try to force you to spend more on exams. Again, it hadnt even been a year since my last exam and they were not concerned at all with helping their patient, just on getting more money out of me. What is sad is that I did like the doctor and would have been totally fine with an annual exam. I just dont like playing games like this with businesses, you shouldnt either.

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CH

Christa Hall

Some of the front desk are not well trained in customer service. I made an appointment for me and my husband to have an eye exam and explained that he could not make the appointment until later in the day. I asked what their latest appointment time was and the receptionist said they could see him at 4:30pm. I went to my appointment and met the blonde with short hair who I had spoke with on the phone. I was a little late to the appointment but they fit me in. Today, my husband shows up for his appointment and the same exact woman (according to his description) who made his appointment with me over the phone and who I confirmed my husbands appointment with before I left, told him that there was no record of an appointment with him and that they never do eye exams at 4:30pm. This woman didnt offer to schedule him another appointment, nor did she apologize for the "mistake". Simply was rude and sent him on his way as if he was at fault for the error. Funny thing, they had his birthday, name and address on file, but oops, no appointment. Honestly, I think the appointment was purposely cancelled because there were some issues with my insurance while I was there for my appointment a week earlier and unfortunately was not able to get my frames that day. I needed to call and sort out my coverage with them because the eye clinic was trying to overcharge me. My advice, go somewhere else. The doctor I saw was great and Nancy, the woman who does insurance, was completely friendly. But the head honcho blonde is obviously someone you dont want to rub the wrong way.

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MI

Mika Meschievitz

Find somewhere else. The doctors are nice and very helpful but their staff is ridiculously inconsiderate. Let me explain, I switched there recently for my normal eye exam and to update my glass and contacts. That appointment went fine I loved the doctor I saw but the support staff seemed a little uncaring. However, I had to come back for a second appointment for an issue with my tear ducts. I showed up for my appointment 10 minutes early and they set me in a room at the time my appointment was scheduled for and then they left me there for an HOUR. No one came in, to explain what was taking so long until about the hour mark and all she said was "thank you for waiting". Really? Really? After about 15 more minutes I came out and said I couldnt wait any longer and needed to get to work. The girl at the desk asked if I wanted to reschedule, and I proceeded to tell her no I would find another optometrist. She said she was sorry (rather callously) but there was an emergency patient. I would have been fine with that if someone had bothered to tell me BEFORE I had been sitting there for almost an hour and a half. If someone had actually came back there and said Im sorry for your wait there was an emergency, I would have politely asked to set up another appointment. If someone had talked to me I would have been ok, but to leave me in there waiting for an hour and a half with no explanation is not acceptable.

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