Highland Urgent Care & Family: Beaulieu Nicholas MD
Reviews
So I decided to have an allergies test to find out if I am allergic to anything. I was just curious. I looked around online, read some reviews and chose a practice because of all the great reviews they have. I double and triple checked with them that my insurance covers the procedure. I came in the office on Sep 24th 2014 at 6pm, filled out some paperwork, and was seen by a lady who made sure I can go through with the environmental allergen testing. I passed. Then I was take upstairs to another office by another lady who asked me to fill out some more forms and just sign them and date them. The test was pretty simple, they dab some clear solution onto your skin, wait a couple of minutes and measure the diameter of the red dots with a clear ruler. After the test, she gave me a list of all the different things she tested on my skin and how allergic I was to them. The whole thing took about 30min max. Once the procedure was over, she said something that seemed strange: "So, let’s make an appointment for your therapy?" “Therapy, for what? I don’t need therapy?” I thought to myself. I did not pay attention and was like whatever, sure... my mistake! Not sure why I did not just say no. Not sure why I did not ask what she is talking about. I guess I just wanted to go home and did not want to get the whole sales pitch of why I should do something I know nothing about. I should just have said no. Well, she made the appointment for Oct 15th 2014 and I left the office and went home. And this is when things get interesting. I was going to cancel the appointment but I forgot. On October 10th 2014 my health insurance provider receives a claim for $7200.00 from this practice. I call their office and the lady that administered the allergy test knows exactly what is going on and the first thing that she tells me is that I signed the papers. Wait… what? Remember that second set of papers I had to ‘just sign and date’ in the upstairs office before the procedure was done? Well, one of them turned out to be a “Letter of Medical Necessity” that reads as follows: “Date scheduled for pick up: 10/15/2014 Based on the results of my allergy test (which I am yet/about to receive), I can benefit from Immunotherapy. It has been indicated as a benefit of my medical insurance and I request that Immunotherapy Medication be made. I would be unable to come to the office several times a week over the period of a year and understand the risk and benefits associated with Immunotherapy administered outside my physician’s medical office. Patients signature: Auri Date: 9/24/2014” 1. Notice how I was asked to fill this form out before the allergy test? 2. Notice how she filled in the pickup date (and all the other info of the letter) with the date for the appointment she set? 3. Notice that it already states that I will be ‘unable’ to do regular visits? 4. Notice how she failed to mention the whole thing about making Immunotherapy injected drugs for me that will do something about my allergies (which are unperceivable to none) and I will have to administer them either at her office or myself? 5. Notice how the first thing she told me was that I signed the papers? Premeditated deception and institutionalized entrapment for financial gain from a third party is what comes to mind with me ‘the mark’ aka the patient in the middle. I feel like have been take advantage of, used like a pawn in the claims wars between the doctors and health insurers. The worst part is they all know what they are doing and why it is wrong. At the end of the day it’s us patients who pay the price through sky high insurance premiums driven by the unnecessary/unknown procedures that doctors claim to have administer to the patient. Shame on them for going behind the patients back and claiming what they know is not rightly deserved (my insurance paid $4000 for this). Shame on me for not being more vigilant and trusting the doctors blindly. Wonder why our health care system is the way it is?
Dr. Beaulieu is so nice, he is a great listener, doesn't rush you, and very thorough. I was able to get a physical appointment right away. I would recommend him to anyone!!
I have never written a review for a visit to the doctor but I had such a positive experience with Dr. Beaulieu at Highland Urgent Care that I felt like I had to share it. I needed a physical to emigrate to another country and several doctors would not do the physical because it was so extensive and had a lot of paperwork. Dr. Beaulieu did the physical and took the time to review the paperwork with me to make sure that everything was correctly completed (lots of signatures and initialing of pages). He and his staff were professional, friendly, and efficient. I would highly recommend!
An urgent care visit turned into my primary care physician since I moved here 6 years ago. They're that good.
The Dr's there have been there for us when we really needed them giving us great care. Short waiting times, nice atmosphere and excellent medical advise. Dr. Nick and well as his associates are very knowledgable and good at explaining what is going on with your own body. I have recommended this practice many times.