September 18, 2009 8:31 AM
To Dr. Daghigh at Loudoun Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center
Dear Dr. Daghigh -
I am writing this open letter to you because your staff would not allow me to talk to you when I was in your office Tuesday morning.
As a mother of 12, including four kids with special needs (3 adopted), I have met hundreds of medical professionals and their gatekeepers. But in 40 years of doctor appointments, I have never, ever met anyone as rude as the two women who work for you in your Lansdowne office.
As my husband and I were once business owners who cared about our public reputation, we were always grateful for customers who let us know when there was a problem. In that spirit, I need to let you know that you have a very big problem in your office.
Here is the complaint I have filed with the Commonwealth of Virginia:
On September 15, I arrived at 10:15 with my daughter Madeleine for a 10:30 appointment with Dr. Daghigh. I gave his receptionist my insurance card and advised her that we were in the process of switching to a COBRA plan (where we have taken over payments for the same plan my husband's employer had been paying for.) She called Anthem and informed me that my daughter could not be seen that day because we were not insured.I told her that the paperwork was in process and that our son had been a patient of Dr. Daghigh's for two years. My daughter had prepared for this visit as instructed by being off her allergy medication for a week. I was told these things did not matter, that without insurance she could not be seen. I asked to appeal to the person in charge of making these decisions.
Another woman came out, even ruder and more hostile than the first. She refused to allow my daughter treatment. I offered to pay and she said it would cost $250. As I do not have a credit card, I prepared to write a check, but she said they would not accept a check, that I had to get cash. When I pointed out that my bank was 30 minutes from their office, she said they would wait an hour. Since Maddy needed to be back at school at 12:15, that was impossible. Not to mention demeaning.
I asked to speak to Dr. Daghigh and they refused.
When I shared what had happened with my COBRA plan representative the next day, she was shocked. I also will note that the next day I had to take a son to the eye doctor and the personnel there were very understanding.
I am filing a complaint against Dr. Daghigh because he is responsible for the for the people he hires and the authority he has given them to turn patients away or to make requirements like cash for visits when they are in transition with COBRA. Both employees seemed to enjoy wielding their power and humiliating me in front of my daughter.
Their hostile attitude was also noted by my COBRA worker Nancy Tripodi, who called them the next day and was told it was none of her business and they didn't care what she thought. She said she had never encountered such rude behavior from a doctor's office in her professional experience.
Dr. Daghigh, perhaps you are unaware that patients are being mistreated by your employees and that their attitude is haughty and demeaning to those seeking your help with allergy problems. My daughter is a professional singer and was really looking forward to beginning a treatment plan. It was difficult for her to go a week without her medication to prepare for this visit. And it was even more difficult to be turned away by two very hostile and angry women.
Posted in Complaint Department | Permalink
