Universal Medical Service

PRO: I’ve been a pt at this clinic for about 5 years now. Honestly, the only reason why I am still a client here is to see Dr. Bing Lu. He is very patient and passionate about his work. He devotes each session time to ensure that his pt’s gets the care they need.
CON: Dr. Bing Lu is always away or on vacation, if you’re lucky you can probably find him here on a Wednesday. Also, this place is a mess in terms of organization and nursing staff (doubt any of them are licensed, some can’t even take blood pressure). The front desk allows people to walk in and out of the clinic and knock on doors even if the Drs are seeing other patients. This is extremely rude to other patients and the «medical assistants aka nursing stuff» is the worse. They look through the pts medical record and discuss it like its nothing… please provide training to them so they can learn about confidentiality. They also need to be trained in phlebotomy. I’ve had a medical assistant try to take blood and not succeed, leaving a large bruise mark that last for days… Lastly, the medical assistants have such a high turnover rate. Each time I visit the doctors, I’m assisted by a new staff.
Overall, I think if there is better organization and structure at this clinic it can be one of the best clinics on 8^th avenue/​sunset park. Dr. Hu and Dr. Lu make a great team. However, please invest in some long term employees.

I found an acupuncturist here on my insurance carrier’s web site. I went on a Saturday and was told the doctor (Dr. Bing Lu) I had come to see would not be in until the following day. I returned the following day to be told he was not there again. I was willing to try one of the other acupuncturists on staff, but I didn’t even get far enough in the process to see one. One of two receptionists was on a very loud (full volume) speakerphone with an automated insurance interface, and was very loudly discussing the personal details of a patient — name, date of birth, insurance ID#, etc,. I could not hear the other receptionist, who was insisting that, even though the Dr. was in-​network for my HMO I would still have to pay $ 100 up front until they got paid. I protested, and asked several times for the other receptionist to turn off the blaring speakerphone, and she did not even acknowledge my request. I relented and agreed to pay the $ 100 but asked that it be returned to me via mail, because I live in Brooklyn only part-​time (Chicago, usually) and would not likely have another chance to go to their office until sometime in the summer. They said that mailing a payment was something they just would not do, and that if I wanted my $ 100 back, i would have to return in-​person. I have not ever been treated so shabbily by a healthcare provider; the experience was truly maddening.

This place is listed as an Acupuncture facility– it’s not. I’s a regular GP with about 4 regular doctors on staff. Not having any health insurance, this is the most affordable option — $ 60 a visit– in my neighborhood however, the staff will want you to come in for everything. If i just need a refill on my asthma inhaler, they want you to come in and spend $ 60 for the priviledge of waiting for 20 minutes to see the doctor. And then when the doctor finds out what you came in for, they say «Why did you come in? why didn’t you just call?» BECAUSE YOUR SUPPORT STAFF REFUSE TO PUT THE CALL THROUGH. The staff here should work for collections agencies. Brute squad in medical scrubs.