SimonMed Imaging - San Francisco SFAMI

Pretty surprised at the reviews here since I had a very smooth experience this week. I received a referral from my physician for a MRI at this location so the process and prior insurance authorization was started by Simon Med on behalf. I just filled out the forms online to schedule the MRI.

The only gripe is that I didn't know the exact MRI order that I was referred for, so I scheduled the appointment for the wrong area. The receptionist gave me a call to let me know that there was a mismatch between what I scheduled and what the physician referred me for and got that cleared up a week ahead of my appointment.

My only suggestion is that you give your insurance a call ahead of any imaging to make sure they've given approval for the order. I was able to confirm that they've received the request for the MRI before my appointment so I felt peace of mind when arriving.

The process was quick and the MRI of my spine took less than 15 minutes. Was in and out instantly and the facility is clean. The staff was very nice to me at the prime hour of 6am.

This place is so badly run. Operationally they're a disaster. It takes 30 minutes on hold just to reschedule an appointment. The whole place is held together with duct tape and baling wire, and it makes some of the shitshow startups I've worked for look like paradigms of operational excellence by comparison.

I don't think it's incompetence; I think it's just a culture of no accountability combined with understaffing, resulting in schedules that bear only a whimsical relationship to when you'll actually get seen. That comes from leadership, and I'm forced to conclude that the leadership of SimonMed couldn't find their own asses with a map, flashlight, and proctologist advisor.

This place is the absolute worst. I had planned to get a full body MRI and lung CT scan here, and my appointment has been canceled two times in a row with just a few hours notice because the technologist failed to show up to work.

My husband had managed to get a scan here a couple of months ago, and the experience was awful. When we showed up, there was no one working at the front desk and there was a sign that said "out to lunch". We showed up on time for the appointment, so there should've been someone at the front desk to get us checked in. When someone eventually showed up, they had a bad attitude and was rude. When my husband was inside the MRI machine, he could barely hear the technologist giving him instructions.

Stay away from this place. Poor equipment, sound issues, rude and unreliable workers.

I would only recommend coming here if someone else is paying for your ultrasound. While the care I received was great and the facility was fine, billing was an absolute nightmare. I was charged 4 bills totaling $5137 by SimonMed when in reality I only owed $140 according to insurance. It took OVER A YEAR of phone calls and emails to get them to acknowledge that and stop sending me bills.

DO NOT GO HERE. I had a CT with contrast scheduled on Friday, and the sole technician there is not sufficiently trained in inserting an IV. He tried 3 times, even though he told me their policy is to try twice, and failed painfully. I've never had a problem getting an IV before. His technique was bizarre. Ultimately I had to reschedule the procedure-- the 3rd time scheduling since they canceled the first time at the last minute due to the machine being down. I was told they only have the one technician there so I will not go back. Two days later I'm still bruised and swollen and in pain.

Fast quick make sure to get an appointment well worth it. Chest x-ray was taken. Try to get ahold of the office dude to one x-ray technician. He works at multiple different locations. Don't risk it. Also takes insurance and cash/card payments.

Can't even get through on the phone. Phone kept ring then going to busy so I made on an appt on the company website for this location. I received a voicemail this morning telling me my appt has been cancelled and asking me to call back. Again, every time I call the phone rings 4x then i get a busy signal. I will never try to go to this location again.
After I posted this I tried calling the corporate number on their website. Told them of the issue and that I wanted to schedule at another location. After trying to run me through all my contact and insurance data again, because of course I could be spoofing myself, she gave a date and time, then started telling me the address and I told her I was done because she had scheduled back in this black hole of a facility again!

My daughter came here for a abdominal CT scan and they required us to pay for the visit prior to the scan. We paid the sum of $460.00 on a credit card. They also billed my insurance for the visit for the same amount. They were paid by the health insurance carrier and have not issued us a refund for the overpayment.

This issue was discussed in length with the billing department, billing supervisor and met w/ frequent excuses why the refund has not been made. I've tried to discuss this w/ their corp offices but have not received any responses. It's been over 2 months since payment was made by us and the insurance and no refund has been issued. Filing a complaint w/ the BBB, my insurance carrier and my credit card company.

I can not recommend this facility due to their poor business practices, questionable behavior and unwillingness to accept responsibility.

UPDATE:
Services were paid upfront per "their" policy at the beginning of April 2023, filed multiple complaints against them through the BBB, insurance and credit card company. I additionally reached out to multiple individuals at their corporate offices. Finally received a refund on 7/25/23. Approximately 4 months after initial payment was made. Totally unacceptable business practices. My family and I will not be using Simon Med for any future diagnostic testing.

I would leave them zero stars if I could.

Had an MRI 3 weeks ago. Facility was sketchy - odds and ends stacked in the MRI room, changing room had no door, only a curtain. Only one tech doing the MRI and one woman at the front desk.

More outrageous: I still have not received the imaging, only a brief report that my doctor found unhelpful and incomplete. I submitted a medical records request ten days ago and have not received a copy. Multiple, multiple calls to the number result in me getting either disconnected, transferred and kept on hold....

Also, they charged me $800.

I would give this company zero stars if I could. After four cancellations and endless rescheduling with absolutely clueless phone staff, I finally got there to have an MRI. I was already distressed because I'm claustrophobic and had disclosed it to the staff. The technician, who was to lead the exam was so rough, insensitive, in a hurry, I had a major panic attack. He strapped my legs, shoved a ball into my palm, pushed my arms together. All this within seconds while he was barking orders at me. They quickly pulled me out in seconds and sent me home, without ever giving me a second chance, rescheduling me for an open MRI. I trust that my insurance was charged for this visit. They should not be in business of mis-treating patients claustrophobic or not. And that rough technician devoid of any empathy and care ought to switch to another line of work.