Kaleida Health-Corporate Offices — Local services in Buffalo

I developed a small lump on my chin and got a referral to have it removed.

I called the office ahead of time to know the cost, so I could decide if I could afford the procedure. The secretary was rude to me and would not give me the price, and kept trying to dismiss my question. Eventually she connected me with a corporate number where I could get the pricing.

This person understood my question immediately, put me on a brief hold, and then notified me that it would cost $200-400, so I went through with it. We were billed, we paid the bill.

A few weeks later they sent another $2200 bill for using facility. I called and disputed this ambush charge and told them how I asked ahead of time for the costs and they never disclosed these fees.

They put the account in dispute, resolved in their own favor, then sold my debt to a debt collector without so much as a phone call to tell me they resolved the dispute.

I called to put it in dispute again, but I have no hope that this will be resolved. The person you can talk to on the phone has no authority to do anything. They supposedly write down your problem and pass it along to the deciders, but the deciders will never call you, let you call them, nothing. They just rule for themselves and insulate their offices from the rightfully angry public.

Truly an embarrassment of a resolution policy and disgusting business practices. If there's any humanity left in the American health care industry, you certainly won't find it here.

EDIT: After writing this review, the PR manager of the hospital reached out to me. This was a personable and nice individual, who listened to my story and empathized with what happened, but again, has no authority to help me. After months of nothing, she connected me to someone with authority.

This person was the worst person I have spoken to yet. She was boldy terrible.

She continually interrupted me as I explained my story, just to be argumentative. She pretended several times to not understand what I meant by saying I called and "put the charge in dispute".

She literally told me I should not have believed them when they told me the cost would only be $200-$400. I was in and out if 30 minutes, it was local anesthesia and a minor incision. She said I should've just known it would be more.

As for selling my bill to a debt collector without letting me know they resolved the dispute in their favor, she argued that they sent me statements. I received statements before I put it in dispute, then I called to put it in dispute, and I continued receiving statements. She's trying to make it sound like that is notifying me before selling it to collections, but I got no letter regarding the dispute. They could have called me. They could have emailed me. I was getting the statements, but waiting to hear how my dispute was resolved.

She ultimately made it clear that their position was that the price quoted to me was only for the doctor, and that the facility is within their rights to ambush me with a $2200 fee after the fact, even though I asked for a good faith estimate ahead of time and they did not disclose this to me.

I never once got the impression from anyone at this company that they care at all about what is right or wrong. Terrible people serving profit accumulation for even worse people by holding the health care of our citizens hostage. Disgusting experience all around. I'll die before I subject myself...

My husband was in the hospital from 3/9/15 - 4/10/15. He passed away at Cleveland Clinic on 4/11/15. Although there are good nurses and staff everywhere, the overall experience at this hospital was awful. Staff was good on the 10th floor. The first hospitalist we had during the first couple of weeks was great. She understood his illness and fought hard for him to get into MICU when they turned him down the first time with pneumonia. She was the only passionate doctor I saw the whole time we were there. The second hospitalist was awful and as I found out later, I could have asked for the first one back. Too bad no one tells you this. The cleanliness was inconsistent. I was there every day for at least 9 hours to overnight on occasions. Sometimes they cleaned the floor and sometimes they didn't. I wouldn't feed the food to anyone. I brought it in for my husband daily as there is no fresh fruit or salads. Biggest issue is the weekend. Staff is reduced and on a holiday weekend, it's even worse. I think they are overworked but that should not be my concern. That is the responsibility of the hospital. Twice on the weekend m husband developed pneumonia. The first time, when I came in on a Saturday at noon, he said he was having trouble breathing. Did not the nurse or doctor or tech notice anything the entire morning? He had breathing treatments the whole weekend. But not until Monday, when the hospitalist came in did they even call MICU. It took two days to get him in there. Thanks to my first hospitalist. The second weekend, I said on Friday that he wasn't well, and that something was wrong. Nothing happened until Sunday. The nurse called back the doctor but he did nothing. Then I requested the cardiologist who asked for an MICU consult after I said he needs help. Even thought the MICU doctor said he was sicker than his numbers indicated, he was turned down. But I was told someone would be up to check on him hourly whether or not they took him. No one said he was refused, but I later found out he was. This started at 2pm. They finally took him down at 3am. That was the first time a doctor came up that whole day. Spent a minute with him and left. Not enough staff on a holiday weekend. What happened to patient care? What has happened to looking at the patient and spending more than 2 minutes with them? Test results aren't everything. They say how great this hospital is, but I believe they are talking about the vascular center. The hospital is an awful and depressing place to be. I am so sad that my husband spent his last weeks in that place. Be very aware of everything. Question everything. Demand service and do not be afraid that something might happen if you complain. If the doctor has already been in, ask for him or her to come back. Never assume anything. Never. I have filed a couple of complaints with the hospital, and for the last one, I met with someone there. That was more than 2 months ago without a response. I took the time to write an 11 page outline of every deficiency I saw there and requested their policies, including the requirements for MICU and they cannot respond? They want to be part of this medical corridor, then they need a lot of help. I will never go to that hospital again. I will not recommend that hospital. If you have a choice, go to Strong...

*VERY recently, I had the MISFORTUNE of being a patient at Buffalo General Hospital, as I went to my usual hospital 1st for a serious issue...but my heart, respirations, and blood pressure levels dropped , so ALL THAT, then took focus. I was told they wanted to transfer me ( after several tests and physical examinations were done etc ) ✅️ to Buffalo General bc they are known for " their quality cardiac team " and they would be more equipped at finding out what is going on and needed treatments. This amazing Dr at that amazing hospital proceeded to explain that she had the ambulance 🚑 ready and I would be going directly to ICU at Buffalo General Hospital ( CICU - CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ) at BGH 🤢 And all I can say..is MY LIFE, MY MENTAL WELL-BEING, ETC ETC..WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN 💯 Hopefully with therapy ( Im actually a Counselor /Therapist myself..go figure 😢 ), I can eventually forget about this and move on with my life..my husband and my 2 young children . But it will take a long time ⌛️ if I am freed from the aggregeous acts that occurred during my 5 day stay in ICU at Buffalo General Hospital..where I still should be..but I HAD TO SIGN MYSELF OUT " AMA = AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE " because of what they were doing to me..AS A HUMAN BEING away from my home 🏡, family, in a new surrounding, etc . Without starting to cry again..PLEASE. DO NOT GO TO THIS HOSPITAL. Read the reviews. BGH is riddled with incompetence, fake nurses, liars, just a hoard of unprofessional people. IF WE DONT STICK UP FOR THIS AND THE POOR TREATMENT INFLICTED ONTO MANY UNKNOWING PEOPLE BY MANY DOCTORS..THEN WHO ARE WE LEFT TO TRUST ? WHO DO HAVE TO PROVIDE GOOD ETHICAL CARE PRACTICES ACROSS THE BOARD...