Pinnacle Cardiovascular Associates - Opelika

*UPDATE: The supervisor over the facility gave me a call to talk through the issues I encountered below, I am grateful she reached out as she was very helpful in easing my mind. She seemed to genuinely care.** WHERE do I even begin.. So I haven't been seen here in about 3 years but I do have a heart valve condition from childhood and was having some very alarming heart symptoms recently as a 27 yr old female, so I scheduled a checkup. I had forgotten why I never returned to be seen for a follow-up previously and was quickly reminded... 1- the cardiologist literally got on his phone in my appt while I was mid-sentence after asking me to describe my symptoms, so I eventually stopped talking and sat awkwardly in silence for about 60 seconds before he looked up and said "just gonna take care of this real quick"...then he proceeded to explain how my symptoms were probably just residual effects of covid which I haven't had since 2021..? I will give him credit though, at least he ordered a few tests to help get to the bottom of things. 2- after testing, they blatantly refused to provide my test results upon request via 2 separate phone calls and 1 written conversation with the nurse who finally agreed and instructed me to reach back out to the "records" department. Records then told me they were "not allowed" to provide me with my medical records, to which I expressed -as someone who works in health care as a radiology tech- they were legally required to provide them. I then heard the rep turn and ask her coworker if she could give me the results, the coworker mumbled something to her, and she returned to tell me that I would have to wait for a nurse to contact me regarding the issue...which I explained was WHO had told me to contact them in the FIRST PLACE to obtain my test results. But they still refused. After waiting another week and receiving no return call from said nurse, it still took me physically showing up in person, speaking with the front desk, a random NP or nurse(I don't know or care at this point), then inevitably the clinic manager, to finally get my hands on these God forsaken test results. BTW- this was 3 weeks after testing and 6 weeks after my initial appointment. Which brings me to point 3- The clinic manager, Donna Duran(?), is probably one of the most unpleasant people to experience in every possible way. Despite how frustrated I've been, I put on a fake smile and maintained composure which she quickly broke through with her *immediate* rude and dismissive behavior towards me. She would not allow me to even complete a sentence and continuously used the phrasing "Is that all?" making it as apparent as possible in the MIDDLE of the lobby that I was nothing more than a bother to her, much less a PATIENT. The one good thing I will say is that whoever the lady is at the far right of the front desk deserves a promotion. Maybe swap her and Donna out, because she'd make a much more effective manager. 4- I returned 2 days later for my follow up visit (I don't know why) which was scheduled with a totally different provider from my original physician. I explained my persistent heart symptoms and asked if I should be concerned by them, to which she responded "no, you're too young."...I'm no doctor but I don't think it works that way. She then instructed me to drink more water and wear compression socks (my symptoms had nothing to do with varicose veins/lower extremity vascular flow whatsoever, btw) and sent me on my way! Oh, but I now know that the coca-cola, which I bought from the lobby vending machine and took ONE sip out of just to simply be able to converse with the physician at 8:30 God blessed AM on my off day, should not count as fluid intake for the day since it's "not what she means by water"...thank God I pay my insurance so much for these pRoFeSsiOnaLs because idk what my feeble young mind would do without their guidance. Give me a break, and from someone who has worked in healthcare for almost a decade, chose a different Cardiology clinic to spend your time/money on. They DO NOT care about you.
Apr 5th, 2024

This is the second time this office has FAILED me. First waited a month maybe 2 for them to get me in for a heart monitor. I wore it for a month. Fast forward to 2 more months later and I had to get the results from my neurologist(who ordered it) because pinnacle didnt call me with results or call me to come in to discuss the results. Now, 6 weeks ago my neurologist sent a referral for a tilt table test. THREE TIMES! THREE! Called this morning to see about it was on hold for 15 minutes. With them trying to help me all of a sudden and find it in their so called system. I wouldnt recommend this place to a dog. Theyre lazy, unorganized, and gonna get someone killed. Will be filing aHIPPA AND BBB complaint.
Nov 4th, 2023

Just avoid them at all cost. Dr Reams medical billing a nightmare and overcharged BCBS by a lot over standard prices. They would not release medical records and had to drive my 85 year old mom down there to sign a piece of paper even though I had a medical power of attorney. Worst yet they waited with no concern for my mom for 2 years to contact us after we asked another doctor, who was nicer, to take over my mom's health care. New Dr great and cares and no issues so conclude it is Pinnacle's policy and people that needed replacing.
Oct 17th, 2023

The building is falling apart. I had to help an old man on a walker in the door because their handicapped door was broken and the other door, on the other side of the BUILDING, was a pair of doors you have to pull open. There wasn't anybody in there who could see he was there, just an old man struggling with a walker and a door. At the same time, I was having to take care of my disabled grandmother as well. When I got in, there were people fighting the automated check-in system because it wasn't working for them. The layout is already absolutely nuts for a place that is supposed to cater to heart patients, many of whom are disabled. You have to walk forever to just get to where you will expect to wait ages for a NP and never see a doctor. The waiting room is a wide hallway the whole length of the building. Meanwhile if you want a bathroom, you need to go down two more hallways and past the vending machines to find it. This is STILL better than their old location which had no handicapped accessibility at all. It is a very low bar. And now the big problem. Their appointment system must be just a mass of worms. My grandmother had two appointments MONTHS ago, one for some scans and one for talking about said scans. They last-second had to cancel because someone got sick and there was nobody else who could do it. Fine. It happens. But when they rescheduled me, it was one appointment. I asked them if they meant for it to be one appointment since it was originally two. They said yes, it will just be one appointment. I double confirmed this. I walked in their door to confirm this, because I didn't want to deal with their eternal hold time on the phone. Flash forward to a few days ago. They called us early in the morning to "confirm" our appointment later in the day for those scans. It was not the day of the appointment they gave me, that day was yesterday. When I managed to get my grandmother in to deal with all of this, they said it had always been two appointments. I confirmed yesterday's appointment. Then they called in early yesterday morning to say the appointment is now tomorrow. I am sick and tired of being jerked around by this place.
Jan 27th, 2024

My Doctor is Dr Ryan and he is amazing and caring. He has great bedside manner.
Jun 7th, 2023