Rockville Eye Surgery Center

My surgery was for early afternoon and there was underground parking entering from the back on the next street. Every single person was relaxed and friendly but so competent! They hit every prep item and I’d and ride ID in the lobby and once in the back they were even more thorough! The surgery was running behind so a longer wait - but if I needed extra time on the table, I’d want them to keep going until it was fixed - so I was happy to wait. Operation was successful and after the two weeks of extra drops and being careful all better. Great professionals. Notice the important details - these folks are super.

The TL/DR version: The staff are poor communicators prior to surgery (with surgical coordinators and patients) and the front desk staff are loud and share your surgical and financial status with everyone in the waiting room because they talk too loudly. Full version: Mama and I are back at this facility for her follow-up surgery and all I can think is that I wish Eye Doctors of Washington would disassociate themselves with this poorly-run facility. I echo other posters who cite HIPAA violations and general disrespect for the patient. First, they don't allow people who assist elderly patients needing help to accompany their loved ones to the registration. This creates frustration when they get things wrong and the patient is confused about what's happening, causing additional stress right before their surgery. For example, last week, our surgical coordinator confirmed laser eye surgery prior to the surgery. However, after we arrived to this center and I checked mama in, I couldn't accompany her to the registration and then they had the wrong procedure documented for her. My mama corrected them and came out of the registration process stressed. She and the nurse returned to the lobby where I could get everything straightened out. It was an unfortunate situation that could have been prevented stress for mama if they'd simply let me accompany Mama to the registration. Mama was worried right up until her procedure time when she could verify with her doctor that he was performing the procedure she expected. Add to this distress the fact that the front desk personnel are shouting people's names, giving direction and sharing the type of procedure and financial status of patients to everyone in the waiting room within earshot. Fast forward to this week. The papers we received in preparation for the surgery say that the surgery center will reach out to confirm the time of the appointment (surgery schedules are subject to change). When we arrive, I check mama in at the kiosk and then we wait to be called. After several people arrive after us and are called before us, I kindly check in at the desk. Only then does the person at the front desk tell us that we are an hour early. I asked why they didn't call us to verify the time and they claim to have sent mama a text message on her phone. Of course, when I check her phone, there was nothing! Positive: The warm blanket!!!!

As other reviews have said the medical staff and my Dr - Dr. Kolker were fantastic! The waiting area is small and crowded so I sat outside in the sun and they came and got me which was super nice. The staff was super nice and when I had expressed concerns about possibly getting a cold - they had said they would be flexible about rescheduling. But I didn't need to do that in the end. I was a little concerned after reading all the negative reviews about the billing department and the staff. I can't say their billing department fills me with confidence as they gave me the wrong numbers for the cost of the surgery but their automated system did gave me an estimated number for the in-network procedure and they answered my questions over email. Assuming no other issues transpire I would still rank the whole process as smooth and easy.

Great experience all around. I took my mom here today for cataract surgery. The instructions to check her checked in where clear and they were prompt and ready for her. During the procedure they not only sent me text messages of her progress, but the nurse called me twice to fill me in. There was plenty of staff if we needed assistance and everyone was friendly. A very efficient operation.

The doctors do a fantastic job but the people at the front desk need to be trained. HIPAA is totally violated here. They shout the patient's name out loud and then discuss matters with them openly and loudly. I felt bad for the couple today who came in to have surgery done and wasn't aware there was a copay. The young lady kept speaking loudly that the center is not associated to the doctors office and that they have a copay of X amount. Then she proceeds to tell them that the center sent a message to them and repeats their number to them loudly. I could tell that they were embarrassed as the wife of the patient said to him where is the privacy. While I understand that everyone is coming in to do the same surgery, it should not matter. Privacy should be held at ALL times and as healthcare workers, we need to exercise more sensitivity to our patients. They deserve that respect. Just imagine yourself in the patient's shoe sometimes and you'll respond better. HIPAA applies to all situations, not just some.