Avina Women's Care, Columbus OH

Dr Busick is absolutely incredible! She is kind, thorough and truly cares about her patients. OB or GYN, Dr Busick never rushes the appointment, always makes sure she answers all questions and addresses all concerns. I recommend Dr Busick to all of my friends and family.

It's not often that I jump to write a review, but having relocated to Columbus recently, I needed to find a new OBGYN for my annual exam. My new PCP referred me here. I was a smidge concerned initially, as the reviews on Google aren't stellar.

Well here is my excellent experience:

The front desk staff were prompt, helpful, kind and thankful. She thanked me 2 or 3 times for showing up early to complete my paperwork. She was thorough in explaining what to do and next steps. Once I was taken back for my blood pressure, weight, routine questions, etc, the nurse was also so welcoming. She has some tough screening questions to ask, and she did it while maintaining eye contact, and staying so kind. You can tell she cares. The third person I encountered was Dr. McGill. I can't say this enough: she's the best OB I've ever had. She was so friendly, welcoming, encouraging and reassuring. I hope to stay in Columbus just so I can continue to get care here.

The OBGYN is fun for no one, but I've found my favorite place!

I'm in the middle of my first pregnancy but will probably consider going with a different provider for any in the future. I've waited countless hours on hold with questions, nurses, scheduling, and calling the office back by their request. I also call in advance to make sure the lab is open but then I get in and they're on a break for 30minutes or longer. I understand the need for breaks but adjust and post your hours accordingly. I work a full time job and don't have time to wait in their office for hours. The staff has always been friendly to me though

Avina womens car has wonderful ob’s. Delivered with them at Riverside after seeing dr Guinness during my pregnancy and they provided great advice, care and were always sure to check in on and questions I had and suggested things I may not have known about to see where my thoughts were. Ended up delivering with dr Sayat bc it landed after hours, and he made me feel extremely well taken care of and respected. Ended up having an emergency c section due to complications with oxygen readings for my baby, and he took all steps to ensure that I was in the safest possible position and checked in with me about how I felt about everything afterward. My son is 3weeks old now and we are both doing well.

I highly recommend both Dr Guinness and Dr Sayat

Their office is also very well managed. Never waited more than 5-10mins to go into my appointments. They also have a nurse line on their phone system for any concerns you have between appointments

Avoid this place unless you are masochistic. After being absolutely harassed (via texts, emails, phone calls) about an upcoming appointment, harassed to a point we were going to cancel anyway, we went to the appointment. We arrived at 8: 35 for the 8: 45 appointment. We waited at the "wait sign" for about 6 minutes in line waiting for a clerk. When out turn was up, we found the front desk clerk to be unfriendly, abrupt and rude as hell! She curtly informed us we needed "our paperwork" (They never sent us any). She then abruptly stated "you were supposed to be here at 8: 30"! We said we were here, but waiting. She looked at her clock and abruptly said, "It's 8: 42! " She then added that she would have to go talk to the doctor to see what to do. When she returned, she said, "We will have to reschedule you! "

At that point we told her never mind. With the type of classlessness and harassment we had already encountered, and lack of customer care in their disposition, we would rather die a slow death than deal with these people ever!

I had a new pt appt that had to be cancelled. The scheduling tech over talked me and hung up in my face. Not sure if that’s the standard treatment for patients but I thought she was very rude. I have never been treated this way by medical staff before. I was truly shocked and disappointed with the service. I wish I would have read the reviews and stayed away.

Front wait staff was exceptionally rude to me and to each other today (6/23/2022). Nurse and doctors did their jobs in a very normal manner. Lady who did my blood draw was great. Came here for my first ob appointment for my pregnancy and am seriously considering if I should try another practice.
Update, after reading reviews from 3 years ago still stating about the rude staff I think it’s best if I find somewhere else for the rest of my pregnancy. I already know this review will get a scripted response from the company and will not do anything to better their practice.

Don't be late. SERIOUSLY! I wish they would call and tell you if you're not gonna make it the '20 mins early ' they ask you to just stay home. I got lost, went to the wrong floor, damn near had a panic attack trying get here because the signage was confusing and with literally half the paperwork done and was told to go home what a waste.

I’d like to start out by saying Dr. Guinness is wonderful. She never appears to be in a rush, takes the time to listen to my concerns and is very thorough. The nursing staff have always been kind as well.

I have repeatedly encountered rude front desk staff and scheduling staff.

There was some confusion on when I needed to come in to have labs drawn. After hours of trying to reach nursing staff I finally got through and was told to come in today to have my labs drawn before 4: 30 PM. I hurried to the office and arrived at 4: 08 PM to a locked door and two other women waiting outside the office. One woman was on the phone with scheduling department who stated doctors had left for the day and they closed early. Mind you, I had just spoken to the nurse 10-15 minutes prior and she told me to go ahead and come in for my lab work as long as I could be there by 4: 30 PM. The phlebotomist opened the door to put something in their lab corps send out box and was extremely rude. She ridiculed us “for waiting so long to come in. ” She said they always try to leave early on fridays and that we showed up way too late. She went on and on about how we should not “wait until the last minute to come in on a Friday. ” We were put down and even blamed for them having to stay “late” when they weren’t even supposed to be closed yet! Other people have lives and work schedules they have to abide by too! And if you’re going to close early, maybe try to notify your patients and not tell them to come in for lab work.

If a business says they’re open until 4: 30, and patients are told to come in for lab work BY 4: 30, don’t ridicule and berate them for showing up 25 minutes before closing time. If your staff like to leave by 4 PM, maybe change your business hours.

I am a nurse practitioner myself and have worked for years in the medical field. I could not imagine treating my patients or families the way myself and 2 other women were treated today for showing up for lab work WITHIN normal business hours and within the timeframe we were told to arrive by.

The doctor wouldn’t see me because I wasn’t early enough even though I got lost and was still early, and she wasn’t even done with her previous patient yet. So I had to wait 20 minutes past my appointment for her to finish up and tell me that she wouldn’t see me because I wasn’t 20 minutes early.

Dr. Kim Shepard is absolutely wonderful, the front desk lady Debbie is a total angel, Nadia the nurse was so kind and so sweet. Nancy at the front desk was extremely rude and cold. Everything was a wonderful experience until I checked out with Nancy. She seems extremely unhappy in her position and is not warm or welcoming. Otherwise, everything has absolutely been great! I have only had one visit and I can’t wait to go back to see Kim. I’m so excited about our journey together through my pregnancy. I love that my husband will be able to come with me to all of my ultrasounds! This is definitely somewhere I would recommend to anyone based on my experience with Kim, Nadia and Debbie.

My daughter was a patient of Dr. Sayat who refused to give her treatment of a minor infection she had since she decided to have a at home birth. Dr. Sayat was aware beforehand that she was having a at home birth. Due to him denying her antibiotics she decided to change OGBYN. When she called to request her records they stated she had to pay a $25 fee and come in person to get it. What gets me is the form can be downloaded on the website and submitted via patient portal with no fee attached.
I’m truly disgusted and disappointed with this practice as a whole. I thought doctors made oaths to provide help or assistance to people that are in need of medical care!

Lauren, the nurse practitioner is beyond amazing. I just wish I could schedule online because when I call it always feels like the receptionists are super annoyed and angry and its uncomfortable

I’ve had nothing but positive experiences over the 3+ years I’ve been a patient here, including routine care, surgery, and delivery. The doctors care about their patients! I recommend this practice to friends constantly. (To the negative reviews about scheduling: don’t call immediately when they open after lunch. Problem solved.)

Dr. Crouser (MD) and Lauren (PA) both go above and beyond in patient care. They answer all my questions and are thorough in their evaluations. I highly recommend Avina Women's Care!

I had a hard time trying to schedule an appointment. Every time I called, I was put on hold for 30 minutes. There's no option to schedule online. When I got through to talk to someone, they confirmed my appointment and I wrote it on my calendar. I called back a few days later to ask billing how much the appointment would cost. They couldn't find any record of the appointment. I asked them to transfer my call to the office, but not only could they not transfer me, they also didn't even know what number I should call! So I looked it up, got put on hold for 30 minutes, and rescheduled the appointment. They wanted me to come in for two separate appointments to have my IUD removed and replaced, but never gave me a clear answer why (I have had this process done twice before, so I know it's not necessary to do it in two appointments). They never gave me a clear answer on how much my insurance would cover. I ended up cancelling my appointment with them.

I have been a patient of Dr. Kimberly Shepherd’s for nine years and it is sad that the staff they have at the front office is so unbelievably rude I have had both of my kids with this doctor and I called because my insurance changed and the receptionist was so rude telling me that they don’t accept “welfare”. They should be better trained with their Verbiage and their attitudes.

A summary of my interaction with Avina today:

Called Avina to get billing codes because my insurance company needed to see if specific tests suggested by my doctor (Dr. Bell) were included in my plan. First Avina rep in scheduling put me on hold and forgot about me. Second Avina rep told me that they didn't handle the billing codes, Riverside Hospital (that they referred me out to) would handle that.

Called UHC to double check coverage, and they asked me to go to my provider and have them submit a prior authorization request for the tests I wanted done.

Called Riverside hospital (Avina referred me here for the tests) and talked to maternal fetal medicine AND the price hotline. Both Riverside reps told me to call my provider back and get billing from my provider, because the provider was handling the billing according to Riverside.

Called Avina again and talked to Billing. Billing rep sent me back to Avina Scheduling. Third Avina told me to "hang on just a sec" and then transferred me to a random voicemail box and went to lunch (they don't answer their phones between 12: 30-1: 30pm or after 4: 30pm so if you call right around these times they will likely transfer you to get rid of you).

Called UHC back to give them what diagnostic and referral codes Riverside was able to give me. UHC rep again told me to go back to my provider and get billing codes or have the provider obtain prior authorization for testing so insurance wouldn't automatically deny my claim.

Called Avina back after 1: 30. They have an automated system that kicks you off the line if too many people are trying to get through at once, so the call was ended.

Called Avina yet again and was transferred to the nurses line. Noel gave me a new billing code to share with UHC.

Called UHC again with the new billing code. UHC said that they need to do a manual review and open a case for this, based on my age etc.factors but I couldn't open a case as a member, so they said to call my provider back and get that prior authorization (3rd time UHC asked for prior authorization from provider).

Called Avina for the final time to ask them to please call UHC and submit the prior authorization. I heard over and over that "they don't do this" with regard to prior authorizations and "UHC is wrong" but I asked Gretchen to just call UHC and give them what they were asking for, as UHC couldn't open a case by me calling - a provider had to call in to open the case.

Gretchen at Avina DID NOT CALL UHC AS I REQUESTED. She instead called a field rep for the pharma company that does this testing, and he called me with yet another sales pitch. I asked him to do the prior authorization, and he said they only do that after they get the test sample, but by then the billing process has started so that means UHC could deny coverage.

So after all the effort to have my insurance company take a look at a test based on a simple billing code and prior authorization, instead I got the runaround from multiple departments at Avina, and then a sales pitch from a pharmaceutical rep. 4 hours of phone calls logged today.

This review is not a reflection of Dr. Bell. He deserves better staff members.