14 Sep 08 This is a typical story
I received an email this weekend from another frustrated patient. What a shame that they are violating Federal disclosure laws and laughing about it.
Well, here is my lab corp story:
I am now about 7 months pregnant, but began going to Lab Corp in the beginning for routine blood tests. They were always unfriendly, but I just let it go. The first thing that really bothered me about them was when my husband had to get blood drawn to make sure he was rh negative so that I wouldn’t need a shot to protect me if my baby had a chance of having positive blood. Well when it came time for my doctor to give me the shot (at 28 weeks into my pregnancy) they still had not received the results from his blood work, which was done 3 months earlier. To top that off I had paid for his testing (around $250) because he does not have health insurance. So I ended up getting the shot anyways (in the butt, and obviously uncomfortable enough that I was willing to pay $250 to avoid it). I still think someone should be liable for the money I wasted on a test that couldn’t get the results back in time. 3 months seems sufficient time to me. I am willing to overlook the fact that I had to get an unnecessary shot because lab corp cant figure it out. After all this, I still had to go to lab corp about a week ago for a gestational diabetes test. I had to fast the night before. The morning I went to go get the test, I had an argument with my husband and being as I was 7 months pregnant, I was pretty upset about it. So I went into lab corp and signed in. I had changed my name to my husband’s last name between this visit and my last. Mind you I have been married for 2 years, but I had put off changing my name and with the baby on the way, I figured it was a good time. So when they didn’t have a record of my new name (which was now on my health insurance card), instead of asking they just had me fill out a new patient sheet. Then when I turned that in (I figured if they didn’t ask I might as well just fill it out) I went and sat back down in the crowded waiting room and prepared to be there for an hour while the drink they gave me hit my blood. When I sat down I overheard them talking about how they finally figured out I had been there before, but my name was different. A male staff member said “Oh, she has been here. Her name is different. She must have gotten married.” and then the female staff member said “oh, well she is pregnant so you know how that goes.” and then they started laughing. At my expense. I wanted to go up there and inform them that I had been married for 2 years, was 25 years old, graduated college, and that my personal life was none of their business, but I was so emotional from the whole day I knew I would just start crying. So I sat there. For a whole hour. And they continued to have personal conversations right there where everyone could hear. I just cant believe that people can be that rude. I don’t know if they think being behind the check in window shields them from the patients, but I was about 10 chairs away and could clearly hear them talking about me. Even if I had gotten married because I got pregnant, it is not their business to be talking about at a place of business. I would love to do something about this, as it is still bothering me. Do you have an address where I can send a letter?
Here’s the address to send in your complaint. Don Hardison is the company’s Chief Operating Officer and he seems to be the only one that cares about straightening out the company. Not that he will do anything, but at least he will make you feel like he will.
Laboratory Corporation of America
Don Hardison, COO
430 South Spring Street
Burlington, NC 27215
Tags: General Labcorp Stories, labcorp centers, LabCorp Executives, LabCorp Stories, labcorp unethical
Reader's Comments
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I understand you are upset, and rightly so . But your name was changed , you filled out a new patient form , you did every thing right. But did you mark on the form that it was a name change? most of the patient that comes to my office simple tell me or fill out a new patient form and writes on the form NAME Change at the top . and place the name change and date of birth . Same with the address change.But know all Lab corp are requesting photo ID so it there is a 100% patient identity for all lab work. As far as violating discloser law. your name is public record. as long as they don’t state
what the pateints are there for (the reason for the test) It just simple cross talk. Now the missing test.
I can bet you dollars to donuts that your doctor got the test on time (2 to 3 days)from the blood collection time. It was sent to the doctor and was complete . But remember your doctor sees more than just you as a patient, so the reports comming there might over whelm the medical assisant and may have never been filed. If your doctor is a memebr of a group. than the paper return must be over whelming. The simple fix of the problem is to request a copy of your resaults when you go to the front desk to turn in your lab slip. remind them of your request when you go into the back to have your test done, and sign where it saids Courtsy copy patient. to make sure you are getting your copy. So, may be the m,edical assistant may have missed placed it and not file it. You should check to see also you can call lab corp customer service in your area and have the resault sent to you. ( the customer service lines are recorded for your safety)
Hope it helps !
Have a great day!
YOU GUYS ARE WRONG, I LOVE LABCORP I HAVE AN EXCELLENT BOSS I HAVE NEVER BEEN TREATED WRONG. I TREAT MY PATIENTS WITH RESPECT SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO MOVE TO DENVER COLORADO
No you should not call client services to get your labs you should call your Dr’s office have your dr’s office do their job and stop passing the buck to the lab.
have them call and ask for your labs it is not only part of their job but their responsibility to you as a patient under that Dr’s care.
If they don’t have the time then I think you should find an other Dr that dose care about their patients
client services is not allowed to give you your results by law so don’t blame labCorp.
you the people voted for laws to protect patient information change it by voting against it how is this the labs fault because they decided to protect your information (CALL YOUR Doctor’s OFFICE) why try to get someone who is just trying to do their job in trouble
love former employee