Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The BBB's Opinion of Medstar Surgical
Watch your step. Even the Better Business Bureau has a low opinion of Medstar Surgical. The BBB gave Medstar a C-. See for yourself here. If you've followed this blog, no further comment is needed.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
BOYCOTT MEDSTAR SURGICAL
It’s been more than three months since Medstar Surgical delivered my wheelchair on April 11, 2011. In that time, Medstar was unable to make it useable. Today I had to give up and return it.
Medstar was told by phone, letter and a clinic meeting what needed to be done to make the chair useable. After the clinic meeting, I believed we were on our way to solving the problems and I would have a chair I could use. The most important issues were:
1- Modify ground clearance. I met with Pride Mobility’s rep. and Medstar’s salesperson on August 11, 2010. I asked a very important question- is the new chair compatible with the “easy-lok” brand lockdown device in my van? The answer was yes. I discovered that was incorrect. Pride’s rep. said it could be modified. When the chair was delivered to me July 19, 2011 no modification was made to the ground clearance and the chair is still not compatible with the lockdown device. As such I cannot transport the chair. If I cannot transport the chair, I would not be able to go to the doctor in it. After my sons and I further examined the chair this weekend, it is obvious this chair cannot be modified to work with my lockdown without removing the support for the rear wheels.
2- Install cantilever arms. The armrests delivered made transfers difficult for me, and we agreed at clinic to install cantilever armrests. Upon delivery, I discovered the chair was now too wide to get in my bedroom, which also means I can’t get to my bathroom. This renders the chair utterly useless to me, as I cannot walk or even stand.
3- Install new seat cushion. They got that right, but one out of three is still a failing grade.
I hit the roof after the chair was delivered in this unusable condition. After calling Medstar asking they make changes, I was told via email to accept the chair as-is or return it and go elsewhere.
Medicare paid for a $23,000 chair. After speaking with three different specialists at Medicare, they all agreed I should not accept a chair I can’t use in my home and that I have a reasonable expectation of using that chair to go to the doctor. Medstar doesn’t care whether I can use it or not.
Medstar needs to know they can’t treat their patients this way. BOYCOTT MEDSTAR SURGICAL AND BREATHING!
Medstar was told by phone, letter and a clinic meeting what needed to be done to make the chair useable. After the clinic meeting, I believed we were on our way to solving the problems and I would have a chair I could use. The most important issues were:
1- Modify ground clearance. I met with Pride Mobility’s rep. and Medstar’s salesperson on August 11, 2010. I asked a very important question- is the new chair compatible with the “easy-lok” brand lockdown device in my van? The answer was yes. I discovered that was incorrect. Pride’s rep. said it could be modified. When the chair was delivered to me July 19, 2011 no modification was made to the ground clearance and the chair is still not compatible with the lockdown device. As such I cannot transport the chair. If I cannot transport the chair, I would not be able to go to the doctor in it. After my sons and I further examined the chair this weekend, it is obvious this chair cannot be modified to work with my lockdown without removing the support for the rear wheels.
2- Install cantilever arms. The armrests delivered made transfers difficult for me, and we agreed at clinic to install cantilever armrests. Upon delivery, I discovered the chair was now too wide to get in my bedroom, which also means I can’t get to my bathroom. This renders the chair utterly useless to me, as I cannot walk or even stand.
3- Install new seat cushion. They got that right, but one out of three is still a failing grade.
I hit the roof after the chair was delivered in this unusable condition. After calling Medstar asking they make changes, I was told via email to accept the chair as-is or return it and go elsewhere.
Medicare paid for a $23,000 chair. After speaking with three different specialists at Medicare, they all agreed I should not accept a chair I can’t use in my home and that I have a reasonable expectation of using that chair to go to the doctor. Medstar doesn’t care whether I can use it or not.
Medstar needs to know they can’t treat their patients this way. BOYCOTT MEDSTAR SURGICAL AND BREATHING!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Medstar Surgical Abusing Medicare Patient's Rights - Again!
I delivered my wheelchair to Medstar Surgical and Breathing Corp. on May 31, 2011 so they could modify it to suit my needs (see previous post). The estimated time for repairs was about two hours of labor. After six weeks I got a call on Thursday July 7, 2011 saying it was ready but there was a Medicare problem. I called Medicare and it took me seven minutes to solve the problem.
I then called Medstar telling them how to verify the problem was fixed that same day (Thursday). My social worker called them Friday with the same message. Monday I got no call. Tuesday I called again and had to explain it a third time. I was promised a call by the end of the day. No call came.
I called again today, Wednesday, July 13, 2011 and left a message. Still no call back. Medstar seems to shit all over patient's rights with impunity. Medstar received payment for this wheelchair three months ago. They apparently have no motivation to finally deliver the chair now that they have lined their pockets.
I then called Medstar telling them how to verify the problem was fixed that same day (Thursday). My social worker called them Friday with the same message. Monday I got no call. Tuesday I called again and had to explain it a third time. I was promised a call by the end of the day. No call came.
I called again today, Wednesday, July 13, 2011 and left a message. Still no call back. Medstar seems to shit all over patient's rights with impunity. Medstar received payment for this wheelchair three months ago. They apparently have no motivation to finally deliver the chair now that they have lined their pockets.
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