Howard University Hospital Family Health Center

If I could give this place negative stars, I would. Personally I would rather be infected with the Plague or having lost limbs and NOT seek medical treatment from here than deal with them. Where do I even begin?
First off, this place would have zero business if it were not for the fact that Howard students are FORCED into paying for their services via tuition and that it is our ONLY option as students. Whether you are truly dying or feel absolutely miserable, this place will make you worse than when you came in.
EXAMPLE 1 —
I came here in January when my congestion (having lasted for over 3 weeks and did not go away with every single OTC treatment taken) would not go away. I tried to walk in and sat for 2 hours before they told me that they would no longer see any patients w/​o an appointment. Damn, I said. And made an appointment for the day after (1^st appointment @ 8 AM). Since I am first in line, I figured I would be in and out. Well, I was so wrong. After making it past the FIRST waiting room, there are actually a SECOND and a THIRD waiting room you must go through. After bouncing from room to room and getting one thing checked at a time, I finally made it into a patient room (2.5 hours after my appointment). The PA (not even a Doctor) sees me for 5 minutes and recommends me Allegra-​D and Nasonex… AKA two OTC products I have already tried. Steam coming from my head I just gave up and waited for the weather to warm up.
EXAMPLE 2 —
I didn’t even wait around this time, but my friend was waiting and I sought to bring her lunch. She had waited for 2 hours before Noon hit and they kicked out every single patient in the first waiting room, regardless of how long they had been waiting. Not knowing this, I walked into thee student health center only for the security guard to tell me I have to wait in the lobby (downstairs) until lunch is over. I said I’m not here for a checkup, I am here to drop food off and leave. He understood and let me up. I take two steps into the second floor before a woman RUDELY tells me I’m not allowed to be here during their lunch. Her tone of voice basically was telling me to «Get the Hell out of here». 5 hours after she arrived they finally saw her and told her to come back next week for the results. … A week after. If you were sick and wanted help, do you want to feel better in a week? –_​–
In healthcare, you are supposed to put your patients first and foremost. How Howard Student Health Center allows its employees to treat students and patients like garbage is beyond me. Where is the accountability? Does nobody listen to complaints nor reprimand the staff? All health professional settings are stressful. Nobody will deny that. But to treat your patients as if they are less than human is mind boggling. If they were working at a LEGITIMATE hospital or practice, I would have hope their employment does not last very long. The staff in the first waiting room are by far the worst. I think once you get through to the later layers, it is a little more reasonable but by the time you are there you have probably waited half the day.
To all students, I hope you are still covered by your parents medical coverage by the time you’re a Howard undergrad or grad student and not like me, having just turned 26 and have NO CHOICE but to suffer indefinitely to these clowns.

I honestly don’t even want to give this place a star. I am writing this, on my 8^th day of waiting for them to fill out medical clearance paperwork I need for work. I’ve called, faxed the paperwork, and they just keep telling me to re-​fax and then hanging up on me when I call.
I went to Dr. Otubu for a first visit a little over a year ago when my job switched from the MOST awesome Kaiser to Blue Cross. I went to Howard University for undergrad, so you’d think I’d have learned my lesson with Howard Hospital. But no. I tried it out because it’s close to my house and close to the metro. Epic mistake.
1. I went in for a normal, routine annual physical. I waited over an hour and a half for my appointment. The entire office smelled like carry-​out. Don’t get me wrong, I love fried food as much as the next person, but not while waiting in a Dr’s office watching Maury, waiting way too long to have my blood sugar checked after fasting the night before.
2. The person taking my blood gave me bruises and tried to draw blood from 4 different places on both arms. I had to call 6, yes, SIX times to get my very normal results. and then I had to go in to pick them up because they have no online services/​medical records.
3. It took 4 days to get my asthma inhaler prescription called into CVS. PLEASE DON’T DIE WAITING FOR HOWARD TO CALL IN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED TO BREATHE.
4. Called because I was sick, they didn’t call me back for 3 days. I ended up going to Mary’s Center.
Basically, this place is an inefficient horror show with awful customer service. Go somewhere else if that is an option.

howard university hospital is the 5100 towel bulding is the worst. dr never return phone calls, the wait in the room is 1 to 2hrs thenthe dr come in and you have 5 min to tell whats going on with you, never looking at you i do not think they remeber the reason they became a dr/​i think its just about the money and if you have medicar\medical o you can for get it i have call to talk with the dr to get appt, no but i have seen some one come in with out a appt and the dr see them, what is that about? i am loking for a new dr that cares about me. for get about leaving meggs theysays they never get them? yea right i will stop i can go on and on see for your self.

Dr. Otubu Oritsetsemaye — We waited for 120 minutes for a five minute visit. Seriously. Do not go to this doctor!!!

Unfortunately in this part of DC there not a whole lot of great options. Note– I wrote great options, there are plenty of options although I have had little success in the Medical Field.
The last appointment I waited for 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) and saw Dr. Otubu Oritsetsemaye for a grand total of 4 minutes. She had me schedule an appointment for what should have been a phone call– to tell me lab results were perfectly fine. The best part is I get charge $ 138.00!!! For 4 minutes of doctor’s time and a 75 minute wait! That works out to $ 34.50/minute of doctor time! I strongly suggest you do not go here.
Also, they screwed up my insurance and billed the wrong insurance company even though I provided them with updated insurance so I’m in the middle of sorting through this mess which is taking a lot of extra hours on my part.
I will NOT be going back to this Doctor or this establishment again even though I can walk there in 5 minutes. I will gladly spend 75 minutes driving to see a decent doctor.