Susan sent me an email that I find interesting. It’s an experience that many current and former LabCorp patients have lived through. It goes to the root of the problem, that the supervisors and managers at LabCorp, in my opinion, are some of the worst in the industry. I can’t blame the technicians, phlebotomists and clerks for their actions when the managers and supervisors fail to properly train them or even call to their attention their wrongdoings.

As many LabCorp employees have stated in this site ”forget qualifications, if you kiss butt at LabCorp you move up.” In my personal case when I complained to Bob Blanco, the district manager, he insulted me and called me a liar. The director of patient services, Ana Garcia, also insulted me and said I was lying. This is how these bad managers cover their incompetence. If the employees are not doing their job appropriately, the managers are responsible. By supervisors closing their eyes to reality and making believe that everything is good, they believe that they did their job. The worst part is that the company executives believe them and instead of firing them, promote them. I predict that this fantasy land scenario will bring this company down, regardless of how much money they sucker out of Wall Street.

I am very bad with computers and didn’t see where to post my own story,  but I have quite a tale that you can file with whomever you wish.  I would title it “Lab Corp technicians are not fully trained to a competent level.”  I sent a similar story to Lab Corp a while back and called our insurance company,  BC/CS of NJ Directly this morning.

On January 22, 2010,  I had a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) done at a Lab Corp.  The technician told me I was scheduled to have a one hour GTT and directed me to drink the sugar water.  Startled, I asked if they didn’t need to take a base line blood evaluation ahead.  He said no, so I drank it.  Fifteen minutes later a worker came rushing into the waiting room and said I needed to take a base line test IMMEDIATELY.  The same now nervous tech took 3 tries getting my blood.  Admitting I should have had the test prior to drinking,  he also told me that I had only drunk 2/3 the amount of glucose required for that test,  therefore guaranteeing me false results.

For the next 45 minutes  I shivered on the table unable to get warm (shock?).  I’ve had cancer and mono and so don’t take such tests lightly.  During that time  I heard my tech giving instructions  on “how to do it” to yet another tech that was administering another GTT in a different room!

For the final blood drawing my tech tied the rubber tubing so tight around my arm that I yelled.  He loosened it,  but I had fairly continuous tingling in my hand for the next 5 or 6 days, and still do on occasion weeks later.  Yet a new symptom and worst,  when I went to get off the table  I couldn’t walk.  More than 5 weeks later I still have trouble walking.  I pointed out to the insurance company this morning that they have spent an exorbitant amount on me for this mistaken test.  I have been to emergency and specialists’ rooms fairly continuously since then.  Indeed,  I spent the night before last in the hospital under observation;  the reason being that I could not stand at all.

I told our insurance company I was making a complaint about Lab Corp and “suggested” that they do one of two things.  Either they should not have Lab Corps as their only covered lab or that they pressure the company to adequately train their technicians before releasing them to commit mayhem.  Weeks ago  I had written to Lab Corp that I didn’t feel that the technicians are the responsible parties when I see TWO at such a loss.  I blame the company!

I was motivated to call this morning since I need yet another blood test tomorrow to find out why my legs keep collapsing.  I dread another visit to Lab Corp!

There are many complaints about employees in LabCorp locations throughout the country mistreating patients. Deb sent me an email about her unfortunate encouter in LabCorp’s Arlington Virginia Location. What one would expect to be a 5 minute event turned into an hour ordeal. Why? Just because they can. Management in these LabCorp locations does not seem to care about patient satisfaction. After all, LabCorp is the low-price leader to HMOs and insurance companies. Who needs to treat people with the respect that they deserve when you get them through pricing practices. While I find Laboratory Corporation of America employees who treat patients this way revolting, it’s really managements fault. The supervisors do not seem to care and just push for production. Patients will complain as Deb did about the Arlington VA location, but management does nothing about it.

I went to LabCorp in Arlington VA last Saturday am in the middle of a snowstorm that was getting worse by the minute. All I had to do was drop off a specimen, and I informed them of that the minute I walked in. After two more interruptions by me asking why I couldn’t just drop it off, they finally took it from me – an hour after I walked in the door. So, I sat for an hour in a waiting room filled with sick people (and I am not sick), while 8 inches of snow was falling and the roads getting worse by the minute, and they couldn’t be bothered to take a plastic bag of test tubes from me. They weren’t even apologetic. I think I would have been there another hour if I hadn’t finally thrown a huge FIT at the desk.

I wrote an email complaining to them about this, but you know they won’t even respond to it. They are a terrible company.

About a year ago this web site was launched as a result of incidents in LabCorp’s Miami, Florida facilities. Before it was launched I had a conversation with Laboratory Corporation of America’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Don Hardison. He seemed genuine and acknowledged that Laboratory Corporation of America had many operational problems. He stated that he was fairly new to the company but intended to fix all of them. I believed him.

After a year it looks like Don Hardison has not fixed LabCorp’s problems. I recently contacted the Miami division’s office and was informed that the regional director is still Bob Blanco, and that the Patient Service Center director is still Ana Garcia. I would have thought that after all the damage that these two have caused Laboratory Corporation of America, they would have been terminated. How can you fix a problem when the people creating the problems are at the helm? These two managers outright lied to me, and used the old “lie about them before they tell the truth about you” technique to get away with their incompetence.

The fact that Don Hardison did not fire these two incompetent employees after my complaints makes me believe that he is not as genuine as he first made me believe. He talks the talk but he has not walked the walk. So I now ask, would the real Don Hardison please stand up? The Miami region’s customer service is probably worse than it was a year ago (according to comments on this site). This web site seems to get substantially more complaints about the company and its service centers than before. So what has Don Hardison fixed? All I see is the mask coming off and the real Don Hardison coming out. Just another Laboratory Corporation of America manager covering for the incompetence of those below him. It’s the “If they look good then you look like you are doing your job” philosophy. Forget reality.

In reference to the LabCorp Sucks web site, I intended to pull the plug once these two employees were fired for their actions. Their dismissal by Hardison would have shown that he, and  LabCorp, really mean what they say and that they intend to clean up the company and focus on customer service. That has not happened so this site is still up. Not to sound negative, I think that LabCorp Sucks will be around for a while.

When you are not treated properly you usually have the ability to go to another service provider that will give you satisfactory service. That is the beauty of a democratic system that allows free enterprise to compete for your business. It allows you to vote with your dollar. The best service provider wins and those with inefficiencies and lack in service disappear. Well that’s how it is supposed to work, in theory. Here’s a letter I received from a patient in Virgina. Unfortunately, due to restrictive insurance rules and insurance company’s zeal to work with the lowest bidder, the free enterprise system does not exist when it comes to reference labs, such as LabCorp.

Here’s a letter I received from John that details his experience at LabCorp Virgina. He sent this letter to LabCorp managers:

The following is an email sent to LabCorp to complain about the services provided at one of their locations. To date I have not received a response from LabCorp nor do I expect one.

This morning 29 May 2009 I visited one of your facilities located at 805 BATTLEFIELD BLVD N, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, Phone: 757-547-4892. I arrived and signed in at 7:50 AM, at that time there were 8 patients, including myself in the waiting area. Of these 8 patients, 7 had not yet been processed by the technician at the desk. I waited in the waiting area for 40 minutes, during that time 2 more patients were processed at the desk and only one patient was called to the back for sampling/processing. At 8:25 the tech at the front desk left, stating she was supposed to gone by 8:00, and no one was there to replace her, if you recall there are still 5 patients waiting to be in processed. At this point I left the facility. I will try ANOTHER LABCORP facility later today. The only reason I would ever set foot in a LabCorp facility again, is that my insurance requires the use of LabCorp.

This is not the first occasion of slow or non existent service at this location during the morning hours. I visit this location in the morning on my way to work and I have NEVER been met with prompt service. If this office is aware that they are busy in the early morning, would it not make sense to staff for this, or maybe they just don’t care. From the attitudes of the front desk clerks I believe the latter is the case.

I worked in health care for 20 years as a hospital corpsman in the US NAVY. I have spent many years in a clinical setting both in a lab environment and a pharmacy environment. I can tell you, if we provided the level of service provided by this particular LabCorp facility, changes in management and staffing would have been forthcoming immediately. This facility provides terrible customer service and is a disgrace to your company.

I am available for further discussion at XXX-XXX-XXXX. I would greatly appreciate a response to this communication, either written or verbal

Thank You in Advance
John XXXXXXX

Even in this economy, LabCorp jobs are available. So what does it mean when you have a down labor market yet LabCorp still can’t find all the phlebotomists and technicians it needs? Maybe it’s the low wages they pay or the constant turn over that they have because of management issues?

U.S. labs employ 309,000 clinical workers, including 145,890 medical technicians who’s job entails running simple diagnostic tests, and 163,270 medical technologists who perform more complex tests. Technicians in the United States earn an average $17.36 an hour, or $36,110 a year. Technologists make $25.20 an hour, on average, or $52,410 a year. Technologists  require training comparable to that of a nurse, but earn less and have less chances of advancement. Besides low wages, job issues also compound the LabCorp problems.

Hospitals employ 97,370 medical technologists, that’s nearly 60 percent of the total. They also employ 64,300 technicians, or 44 percent. Hospitals tend to pay better for these jobs and therefore demand higher standards.

What does it all mean? Just read what their employees are saying in LabCorpSucks.com and that will give you an idea of how they feel about their employer. Another problem at LabCorp is the disproportionate amount of male to female managers. While a majority of the techs are female, the majority of the managers are males. It’s ripe for government action and sanctions under anti-discrimination laws.

My problems with Labcorp started with the Miami service centers. I went through the proper channels to resolve the matter but instead of getting a resolution, I got insults and disrespect from two Miami LabCorp managers. The Miami region manager, Roberto Blanco, lied and even contradicted his own statements on multiple occasions. From my conversations with him, it is obvious that he has no clue as to what customer service and being a manger is about. He just doesn’t get it. But worst than him was the Manager of Patient Services, who’s name was Ana. You can read the full details in my own Labcorp Complaint.

I recently received an email from Jackie about a LabCorp manager by the name of Ana Garcia, who seems to have no respect for others, whether employees or patients. With poor people skills, she continues to drag the company down. When you treat employees with disrespect and try to rule through fear, the good employees will flee LabCorp, leaving the company with the bad employees that are unable to get a job anywhere else. In addition, since in her mind intimidation works for employees, she uses the same methods on patients.  While the email refers to the manager as Ana Garcia, the email did not contain the region or service center affected by her actions. My gut feeling is that it is the same Ana who called me in reference to my complaint. In my case, instead of trying to resolve the matter,  she insulted me, lied and was outright rude and disrespectful. She, along with Bob Blanco, are the reasons this web site exists.  The email clearly shows that she treats the employees as bad as she treats the patients. Her demoralization of employees leads to their poor attitude, and to LabCorp’s lousy customer service. With all those great managers available as a result of the weak economy, why would LabCorp keep these inept managers? Here’s a portion of the email that Jackie sent me.

I know two LabCorp employees, and I have a comment regarding one of their bosses, Ana Garcia (I’m not sure if it is spelled correctly, nor do I really care as she is so rude), and the patients that go to the sight. The two girls that work at this lab are really sweet, they know what they are doing, and they work so well together that the wait time is not very long.

A good amount of the people that go to this sight really look forward to seeing them, and will sometimes bring them gifts for working so hard and treating them with respect.

Another group of people will scream at them if they do not smile every moment they work, if they are asked to hold on a moment while the employees finish one of their current tasks, or because they did not take the time to tell if their insurance is taken there, etc.

There was recently an incident where a pen was thrown with great force at one of the employees because the patient was asked to leave the pen next to the sign in sheet.

As for Ms. Garcia. She very disrespectfully addressed the employees this evening over matters she explained were not personal. She told the employees there is no reason they should be late, and there is absolutely no such things as emergencies.  One of the employees had an urgent family emergency where a family member’s electric wheelchair broke down in the middle of U.S. 41 highway and needed to help her, seeing as nobody else would. Because of the emergency the employee was a bit late to work, and was thoroughly screamed at for what Ms. Garcia claimed was very unimportant. If that was your family member, I’m sure you would help them rather than leave them stranded on a highway.

Ms. Garcia also screamed at the workers for not smiling every second of their day and told the employees that her complaints were not personal, but at the same time she called the man who works there ugly to his face, and made another employee cry.

If the bosses of the company were not so rude to their workers, it is possible that the workers would have different attitudes.  Something needs to be done about this Ana Garcia, she should be fired but I’m not sure who to speak to.

As I stated above, the workers at this LabCorp sight try to give their all for you, but the bosses make it really hard for them. Thank you

I received this email from a Texas Labcorp patient. Ironically, this is how my problems with LabCorp started. In her case, the LabCorp employee actually waited for her. In my case they threw me out 15 minutes before closing time. Just like her, the supervisors failed to return the calls. In my case when I finally spoke to them they stuck up for the employees and called me a liar.  It looks as though the employee attitude, lack of response by manager and finally the insults are a chapter in the LabCorp training manual.

Oh, my, gosh!  Where do I even start??!!  My experience took place on January 13, 2009 in Dallas, Texas on Garland Road.

I asked my doctor to call the Lab Corp (in network with United Healthcare) that was just around the corner from the hospital at 4:45 to make sure that someone would be there when I got there before 5:00.  I could tell that my doctor was having a problem with the person on the other end of the line when my doctor kept insisting that I would be there momentarily and kept saying that she would greatly appreciate it.

When I got to Lab Corp, it was 4:55 and the woman was waiting outside the door for me; please keep in mind that the business does not close until 5:00.  When we walked in the door, she screamed at me, “Is this an emergency?”  Like it was any of her business!!!   When I sat down to have my blood drawn, she kept venting that she couldn’t believe this was happening to her and that she should already be on her way home.  I asked what time they close (different locations close at different times) and she said 5:00.  I tried to explain to her that it was just now 5:00 and I got there before they closed.  She insisted that was not correct according to her time. 

I have NEVER been treated the way this lady treated me!!!  She was extremely rude!!!  I was beside myself.   I was in my car, on the phone with my doctor’s office, complaining about the experience at 5:02.  Had the woman just done her job and stopped complaining that she had to stay until 5:00, she might have actually been able to lock up at the correct closing time of 5:00.

The very next day, January 14, 2009 @ 10:35 a.m., I called Lab Corp to speak to her superior.  I left a message for her to please return my call.

After waiting two weeks, I again called Lap Corp on January 27, 2009 @ 9:55 a.m., to speak to her superior (the superior of the superior).  This time I got names.  The first lady I left a message with was Kay Hipshman.  This time I left a message with Mike Alvarez to please return my call.

It is now three weeks later, February 18, 2009, and I still have not heard from anyone.

Signed ~

A very disgruntled patient

I wonder if part of the training at LabCorp includes passing the blame to someone else or actually creating a distraction so that the real issues are skirted? Is it part of LabCorp Career training? I say this because I have read posts and emails from existing employees who defend the company and its actions. Here’s the most recent post by an employee:

I also know that this site was set up by a disgruntled former employee who is trying to start his own lab company, so take from that what you will.

These employee posts are aimed at questioning the credibility of this site. As I have posted before, I was simply a patient who had enough and made the mistake of calling the regional manager about the poor treatment and service. Instead of getting a solution or an “I am sorry”, I was insulted and belittled. I do not work for LabCorp or any other lab. I have never worked for them or any other lab. I have no interests in any lab nor do I have plans to open any labs. From this and other posts by current Labcorp employees, as well as the way I was treated by managers, this creation of doubt and passing the blame on non-existing boogie monsters seems to be the modus operandi of career employees in this company. How sad that instead of fixing the problems, employees are sent to this web site by company managers to create excuses and raise doubt about the real problems being raised by patients and honest employees. I guess that evading the problems is easier than fixing them.

I received this complaint that was also submitted to Labcorp through the patient feedback section of their web site. Complaints like this one should be immediately followed up by LabCorp managers. Whether they are followed up or not, now that’s a different story. LabCorp’s regional managers tend to find secondary excuses for the complaints. In other words, they find ways to blame the patient instead of the LabCorp employees who are poorly trained or worst yet, poorly supervised. That seems to be the universal problem in almost all LabCorp regions.

I recommended to Nancy that she contact United Health Care and notify them about the incident with her child. Hopefully that will persuade United Health Care to select better quality lab service providers. Here’s Nancy’s complaint:

I had to take my 11 year son to Labcorp yesterday in Deland Florida and we had a HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. First the tech gave him something to squeeze, tied off one arm, poked and prodded with her finger, untied it, tied off the other arm and did the same. Took the tourniquet off and called in a co-worker to “hold his arm, he wasn’t co-operating.” I said to her, “He’s holding perfecting still, what do you mean he’s not cooperating?” She said “He’s not squeezing hard enough”. She then stuck him with the needle, nothing came into the vacutainer tube, she then proceeded to stick it in DEEPER and wiggle it around……I told her take it out, she had one shot, and by this time he was crying and I hadn’t seen him cry in years….She then says, “Well do you see how thick his arms are for a kid?” “Go take him to the hospital” and as she took the tourniquet and supplies away I saw that it was a glass blood tube that she was having him squeeze…he was afraid he’d break it……I still have to get his blood work done but I’m checking other labs for cost because my United Health care pays for Labcorp only and I’d rather pay out of pocket than go to Labcorp again. I was going to go to another site but after reading all the complaints online it seems they are all as equally unprofessional, rude and inadequately trained.

Here’s the email I sent her:

Nancy:

I posted your incident on the labcorpsucks.com website, and withheld your name. How sad that they would do that to a child. I highly recommend that you contact United Health Care and let them know of how your son was treated. They might even authorize you to go to another lab or have the blood drawn at a doctor’s office. Having unqualified or poorly trained personnel at a lab service center is the fault of management. I have noticed that there are many complaints about management in your region. Please feel free to refer United Health Care supervisors to see how many complaints are posted on labcorpsucks.com. Hopefully that will move them to stop using LabCorp and select a lab services provider that will provide higher quality health care services for their insured. I will also forward your incident to Florida’s AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration). I highly recommend that you call Florida’s AHCA and file a complaint with them as well. Here’s the info on how to file a complaint in Florida:

Consumer Complaint, Publication and Information Call Center

The agency provides a toll-free telephone system for consumers to call in order to file complaints, receive publications, information and referral numbers. This system can be accessed by calling the number below between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. Eastern Time Monday through Friday. Complaints about health care facilities are taken during regular business hours, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time (EST).

(888) 419-3456

For registering your complaints, requesting publications or requesting information, use the following options:

Press Option 1

Available Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., EST. To file a complaint about a health care facility. The call center can also refer you for information on facilities.

Good luck.

I had a talk with one of the managers at a service center about the jobs that people perform at the company. Here are some interesting things that she had to say.

1) Job turnover in the Miami region is very high. The revolving door is a result of the way that they operate the company. Labcorp jobs are always availabe because so many leave the company.

2) Managers are not too familiar with who their boss is. They know the name but have never really met them or interacted with them.

3) About Bob Blanco – “Oh, he’s the guy who signs my checks. He’s the big boss. I never met him but he gives the orders to pay me.”

Q: have you ever met him?      A: No but I know him by name.

How can a service center manager not have met the district manager? I guess when you are a district manager that sits around the office, you never really know what is going on outside your little cave. Maybe they need lessons on how to be a successful executive. That “isolation from reality” seems to be a common problem in most districts.

That’s something that I admire about Bank of America. Part of the job requirement to be a banking center manager is that you have to walk around the floor during busy hours and interact with the customers and employees. Now that’s customer service. If you have a question or problem, ask the boss. Forget that executive attitude. The manager is just another person trying to provide a favorable banking experience.