I tried to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bartos as a new patient, since a good friend had recommended her. The first available appointment was 1 month away. After I went ahead and scheduled it, the front desk staff said they require all new patients to leave their MasterCard or Visa number on file with them, because they will charge $50 for no-shows on the 1st visit. When I expressed discomfort leaving my credit card info with them by phone, they said I would have to come in and leave a $50 deposit before making the appointment -- ""we work kind of like a hotel"" is what I was told. I have never had that experience with a medical professional. I am a medical professional myself, and I do understand the inconvenience of no-shows (not to mention the loss of income when that happens!), but it seems unethical in my opinion to require an up-front deposit of money of all patients BEFORE they can see the doctor. I just wonder what happens to people who don't have credit cards, or who don't have the money to place in deposit -- do they just get booted out the door? Maybe this is the ""new"" way of doing medicine, but I've never heard of it, and find it very questionable.
Pros: I don't know, as I'm not scheduling an appt.
Cons: needs that cash up-front!
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