Group Health Cooperative – Everett Medical Center

I’ve had group health forever and worked right next to this building for many years. I love that it is large and close to the freeway. I am also a fan of the big parking garage that does not charge for parking like some of the other medical facilities in Seattle. Whenever I come here its easy to get a spot right by the entrance. This is not the location closest to my house so I usually only come here for things the Lynnwood location does not offer. This tends to be mostly eye care. I have always been satisfied with the service I have received and never had reason to complain. On my most recent visit I saw that they eliminated the check in people and are now using kiosks. I was very satisfied with how easy and painless this was, although confused about who I talked to if I had a problem.

After a few years with Group Health, we are giving up & changing policies for next year. Even 2 stars is generous in my opinion. While we’ve had some ok experiences at other locations, Everett is the worst we’ve ever experienced for medical service as far as the ability to get answers or make appointments. I was seriously ill last summer & it was impossible to reach anyone or to make an appointment. I probably should have just gone to an E/​R because we couldn’t get out of the endless hold & wait & be transferred to someone in Spokane & then hold again & then leave a message loop. It took me over 4 weeks of trying to finally see my Dr. Then I was continually told different things by different people – we’re talking important advice about drug interactions, etc, so that I never knew what I should really be doing. I felt like I got better information searching online. in addition, the pharmacy made several errors on some prescriptions & when we tried to get it fixed they seemed more interested in blaming someone else than just fixing the problem. When I told one Dr that I read an FDA warning & many articles saying that the 2 drugs I was prescribed should NEVER be taken together and in fact caused the very problem I had, he had never even heard of that advice. Now I’m trying to make an appointment for a recurrence of the problem & have been trying to reach someone all week & am again getting the «message loop». We pay a ridiculously high amount for insurance coverage we almost never use & it is horribly frustrating to be unable to talk to anyone on the rare occasion we need to use it.

We took our infant to the ER on a Saturday for a fever and the doctor felt her stomach, took her temp, and sent us elsewhere within 5 minutes. Dont waste your time taking your infant to this E.R., just go to Seattle Childrens Hospital directly. We learned our lesson. On the plus side, her regular pediatrician at this hospital is top knotch. They just dont serve infants in the E.R.

What I like about GH? Pharmacy is always pretty quick and always polite. The ladies in the lab are always quick and friendly. Getting my mammograms are always done quickly and by great staff every time.
My dislikes about GH hate check in up on the second floor. They are usually talking to each other and ignoring the patient that’s standing there wanting to check in. The nurse in my Dr office is never the same one. Quite a few of the nurses come into the room and don’t even make eye contact with you. Think we are going to switch insurance this year.

My Daughters Dr. (Whitely) is nice, and very soft spoken to my child, but the staff is so bad that it’s almost not worth the headache to get to her wonderful Pediatrician. I have been treated to hatefully when being connected with the Doctors office, receptionists answering the line with no more than «Yeah», or their name. Having no clue if I’ve been connected to the correct office, and when politely asking I get snapped at.
I have tried to let this go, but this is every time I’ve been directed to speak with a nurse for a question in my daughters health. The Doctors there may be great, but the staff needs an overhaul badly. Even at check in I’ve been handled very rude.
Also, there are constant issues with her chart. Recently, for instance, I’m no longer listed on my child’s chart; I’m her mother. I get human error, but this is just getting silly.
I’ve been a member here for 3 years, and in the past year it’s starting to drastically decline.
*Granted, this isn’t the treatment with the customer service center, it’s only when dealing directly with the office for her Pediatrician. The Customer Service Center seems top notch, but the office has some learning to do on common courtesy.

Hopefully you will never need to see Dr. Harold Stewart the occupational therapist. Because if you do, it is a waste of time. He is the worst doctor I have ever had to experience. Rude, inaccurate for diagnoising your issue, tells you that you don’t know what your symptoms are. It’s high time he retires!

I’m not a fan of GH. Especially because one of the walkin PA’s is so MEAN! I won’t say her name however if you need the walk in ask for Kelly or find out who I’m not talking about!
«penny for your thoughts» I’ve said too much…
OK I’ve been treated really swell here once I got used to the conveyor belt service. It’s friendly and fast.