I always had the idea that Artemis is a little more professionally run than some of the other healthcare facilities in Gurgaon. I have even written some good things about it in the past. The past week has however taught me that such is not the case. At the bottom of it all, they are just trying to make a sale and will do anything to get a customer, even though it may not be in the best interest of a customer.
Two incidents happened which has almost ensured that I am never going back to Artemis.
They don’t care about the customer’s time
I have been having a pretty severe pain in my wrist and needed to visit an Orthopedic. I went to Artemis and sat at their OPD registration desk. They told me that Dr. Hegde is on call, and I can have an appointment with him. I said, that is fine. Then as he tried to book the appointment, he told me that Dr. Hegde will only be available after one hour, and so I had to wait. Since I didn’t have the time I told him not to bother and I will come back another day (as I can’t wait for an hour). Then he told me to wait while he got on the phone. Then he said, a doctor will see me now. He said another doctor who is an associate of Dr. Hegde’s will be able to see me. Since, I was only there for a preliminary diagnosis, I didn’t care and told him that it is alright. Incidentally, this doctor wasn’t even listed in their doctors’ database, and the appointment was made in the name of Dr. Hegde.
Never mind, I said to myself; I made the payment and off I went to look for this doctor. Now here’s the kicker. I still had to wait in this doctor’s office (there were no other patients) FOR ONE HOUR. This is after I told them that I had more important things to do and I can not wait for an hour. It all went downhill from there. I couldn’t leave as I had paid already and every visit to the registration desk yielded a he’s-just-coming response. I would have expected that after waiting for an hour, Dr. Hegde will show up; but no, it was his ‘associate’. If ever, a doctor has not looked like a doctor, it was this time. In any case, all this guy did was hold my wrists for a minute or two, move it around, and then told me to go get an MRI.
That’s it.
Getting an MRI and how incompetent these people are
I went back to the OPD to see if I could get an MRI right then (I was already late), but I guess I was overly optimistic. There was no chance of that, so I left thinking that I will take an appointment and then come.
Well, a couple of days later when I did have the time, I called them up for an appointment. I asked and they gave me an appointment for the same day, and asked me to come sharply at the appointment time. Well, good I thought. Since that would mean I wouldn’t have to waste my time.
I got to the hospital almost on time, and went to their diagnostics desk. For almost 10 minutes, nothing happened. This is a private hospital, they charge a lot of money for their services, and they are still understaffed? The guy who was holding the prescription just didn’t do anything about it for 10 minutes. He just kept yapping on one phone call after another.
In any case, when I got a little pissed, he started looking for my appointment details, and then told me that I don’t have an appointment. I said that’s impossible, since I had confirmed the appointment on phone. He then looked and found out that I had been given an appointment for the next day. Once again, this was a sheer waste of my time.
I told him to cancel my appointment for the next day and left. Of course, I still haven’t got an MRI done on my wrist, as it seems that there are not enough MRI machines in Gurgaon and too many people need to get an MRI done, so there’s always a queue.
Tags: artemis, Clinics, Healthcare, Hospitals
I completely agree! I had a harrowing time at Artemis myself. Had taken my mom-in law to the same orthopaedic doc( Dr. Hegde) . He actually did not spend even a minute examining her and asked for an MRI to be done!!! i am amazed that these days a simple diagnosis by a doctor needs n number of tests to be done. I miss my old docs so much!!!
I am a 42 Yrs old Senior Nurse worked with Artemis Hospital Gurgaon since its started its operation till last year. I have left this profession now but inner conscious asked me to post something here
There are different people with different assumptions and anger, In my experience of many years of serving patients I have experienced be it any place or any room of the hospital, I always see people in frustration and Anger because Hospital is the place where no one wishes to come of his own. In my whole span of working with hospitals except a Maternity Wards and Cafeteria I merely see people in good mood that’s human tendency.
A very interesting thing which I experienced about this profession is every patients and his family member is always in a requesting mode when he enters the hospital, Doctor is like god to him till the family member is showing improvements and soon when they are discharged they say they are robbed by the same God. That’s true !
A real example of this truth is above, I merely seen patient going dissatisfactory from the Artemis Hospital and this I am not saying in anyone’s favor I left this profession already but It’s a bad luck of this profession that none of those satisfied patients which we serve like our own family member day in and day out would comes back once they get discharged to say a word of thanks, rather you will still see many of them coming out with their angers and frustration because they met with a medical problem.
As a retired Health Staff, I would like to say I am a great witness to say this is one those Hospitals which actually values patient care and his values. Many small issues just concerning to a single patient were addressed personally by the CEO and I have seen many happy faces and experienced warm hugs of all those patients who went happily back home !
So as you believe in God, believe those professionals who mean God to us when our loved ones are treated by them.
Our case has been much worse……. a family friend had gone there for a laproscopic operation for removal of gall bladder stones. The surgeon who operated (don’t know if he was adequately certified also) on him messed it all up and punctured some other rogans as well. As a result 3 days later , while he was still in ICU, he had to go for another surgery where they removed 9 inches from his intestines as it was perforated and the body waste was not getting excreted. later they came back saying he has had multiple organ failure and neede dialysis. after 3 sessions of that and when he kept getting recurrent infections, they took him again (a week later) for another exploratory operation to fin what is causing all these infections as they were not able to ascertain anything from scans and tests. I hate to say this but going by there utterly disgusting commercial and inhumane approach towards such a noble profession, they have almost killed my friend !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello all! i am a doc who previously worked in Artemis hospital, gurgaon. i am amazed to see that how could any of you fallen in their trap. This whole hospital is shit and i am a witness to everything that they do. i worked for 5 months there, the whole hospital is run by a bunch of shitheads!! The CEO, a so called CV surgeon ..just ask him about his success rate in OT. Look at pediatrics….Dr Sarika Raj……even a dumb ass resident in India would know more than her. she knows nothing more than vaccination that too i am not sure. all others in her department are crap!!no resident stays there for more than 2 months. the only thing they care for is money….and dont get fooled by these docs foreign degrees they know nothing!!
take care..
Dear Sumit,
Please come out with your true name. You will be fired if you almost killed a baby in NICU, under the assumption that you know too much!!If you need anger management
I can suggest you name of people who can help you out!
Dr Sarika
Scary!
HE ALL,
THANSK FOR YOUR VALUABLE COMMENTS. ACTUALLY, I WAS PLANNING TO TAKE MY NEPHEW FOR MRI BUT AFTER READING THESE COMMENTS I THINK ITS BETTERTO LOOK FOR OTHER OPTIONS. ABNYWAY, CA ANY ONE TELL ME WHAT MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA AND GOVERNMENT OF HARYANA DOING TO STOP SUCH IMHUMAN PRACTICES.
REGARDS
DEEP
Artemis hospital was opened with the right amount of infrastructure and looked promising initially and the panel of doctors looked promising. However over a period of few years nothing seems to work out in artemis. The most prominent thing observed in artemis is that everyone has to wait for the doctor or be it anything. u utter a word and ask for help and u have to wait so be prepared to wait wait and just wait for everything and anything be it any department and at times the wait can be endless into hours. Local people who create a scene by raising a voice at all the helpdesks are a sincere witness to this. Waiting for a doctor is not a crime however the hospital management team needs to carefully conduct a Six Sigma study on the no.of hours wasted for each patient and the wait time involved if they really wish to cut operational costs and deliver world class customer care service and carve a niche for themselves in the sector of hospital management and day care. I am sure if Greek God Artemis would come down on earth and in this hospital he would surely have to wait and no doubt with the waiting time he too would faint and would land up in some dept of artemis with a huge bill forcing him to conclude that HEAVEN IS WHERE HE IS SAFE AND FOR SURE ARTEMIS PATIENTS TRULY BECOME PATIENT AFTER HAVING LOST THEIR PATIENCE AND ALSO NOT TO FORGET THE FACT THAT THIS NOBLE PROFESSION OF DOCTORS IS TRULY TURNING OUT INTO A MONEY MINTING BUSINESS…RELATIONSHIP MANAGERS OF ALL MNC BANKS ARE YOU GUYS LISTENING..ARTEMIS DOCTORS ARE GOOD BAKHRAS FOR FULFILLING YOUR MONETARY TARGETS AND ENSURING THAT U GO UP THE CORPORATE LADDER. NOW TELL ME WHO SAYS ARTEMIS IS A BAD HOSPITAL..ITS HELPING ALL OUR MNC BANKS TO GENERATE THEIR REVENUES WHICH IN TURN HELPS TO KEEP INDIAN ECONOMY FLOATING…LONG LIVE ARTEMIS..
So apt Reema,
its 3 in morning.. i am at hospital .. my dad is admitted here… frustrations with so called the best hospital is keeping me up. yes, bigges problem is waiting.. processes..
good: great infrastructure.. hygenic..
BAD: worse nursing station ever.. they just dont bother.. 2 hours back.. my dad diabeties went down to 55.. he was sweating badly.. they wont give anything to drink.. cause CANTEEN is closed.. i cant get anything from outside.. took them 25 min and lots of screaming on my behalf to get one glass of juice.. and they wanted money before hand , in cash to give biscuits.. everybody seems to be busy filling some papers.. he was sweating.. and no reaction from any of nursing staf.. i cant even describe support staff.. they look and behave like its a govt hospital.
noise levels.. extremly high.. had to request nurses to keep their phones on low ring.. and you will find most of support/ security/nurses busy on phones.. with that smile that they are talking to somebody important.. and in between as an afterthought they will look at attending the emergrncy call from patients somebody not that important.. not just my case.. i had.. lots of them running around in galleries.. lost.. frustrated.. it looked more like a police thana thn a private hospital..
nurses keep changing.. doctors keep changing.. though their mission is “patient care” and one of patient right is know how.. i have yet to meet a doctor.. after two days in hospital.. ( being a weekend .. only time we me doctor was wn we got him in emergency two days back ) i was sitting here.. wondering.. what can we do to get this one thing right in this country.. how much more money we need to give to doctors.. who charge per visit.. and loads.. of it.. and seems to be busy counting.. somebody mentioned six sigma processes.. why not ?
maybe they say its just a job… people die everday.. we cant let go of our lives.. sure.. their perspective.. but wasnt doctor.. as a profession something else.. dont we call them sir.. doctor.. dont we listen to them.. look up to them.. pray to them.. even after being educated and able.. we look at them to share some information with us.. like we are from some village.. why why .. why cant even money be enough? how much .. will be enough.. cahrge more.. double.. triple.. why cant somebody make a super hospital.. charge as hell.. but atleast give some decent care.. why is no business empire.. doing serious business.. CARE is serious business.. why is nobody learning from google.. give quality to cutomer and money will follow.. i have spent my life defending Indians to all firangs and NRI’s .. and i know medical services is one place i always give up.. one reason.. everytime i am in hospital.. i want to leave this country.. somehow.. something tells me.. nothing will change.. congress.. bjp.. appolo.. MAx.. nobody.. Indian life is cheap.. doctors are businessman.. and care cant be bought..
you know that feeling.. i should call up somebody.. or use my linkedin to find a known doctor.. otherwise it wont work.. you know delhi/NCR.. if you dont know them .. it just doesnt work.. why .. doctors claim to be professinal.. why cant we have best treatment just because we are paying customers.. and to imagine all this wn i can afford.. these expansive places.. if you cant.. well… god help you.
one day.. someday.. something will change… it has to.. somebody will bring them out.. i am so sure it will happen over internet.. India will rise to concept of customer care… no doubt we rank 150 something in standard of living. shame on us.
I know what you mean and feel. It’s actually very frustrating. VERY FRUSTRATING.
Iam really sad to see all these frustrating comments , However I’ll be joining this health care system. I am an Indian citizen, having done my medical school here in India and my post graduation abroad …….I would like start having these inputs so that I can really serve my people better. Anyway , as of now I just joined the system ….pls feel free to contact me via email with your compliants …..which I notice that Its mostly related with time / waiting issues ……I deeply apoligise on the behalf of the the current state of affairs. There must be a solution to this frustrations…..I’ll start with the current complaints as waiting and a 24hr caffeteria, so that I make this a better place. AND PLS LIFE IS NOT CHEAP ……I TRULY WANT THE BEST FOR MY PEOPLE …..YOU DESERVE IT AND I’LL DO WHAT I CAN WITH THE BEST OF MY ABILITY . amulraje@msn.com
Hi Emmanuel,
Thanks for leaving this comment. I don’t think that the problem is with the capability of doctors.
The problem is with the treatment of patients (and by treatment I don’t mean medical treatment).
For a facility such as Artemis, which is state of the art, and also relatively more expensive, one expects very professional treatment from the staff.
And it is sad, but that is totally lacking. I don’t think that they even get it.
My experience is also not good, i opted for Artemis over Max, Paras and Umkal which are right next door to me…but it was a big mistake…and my last too.
I thought it will be better, transparent and professional but i failed and was cheated heavily. I thought i will save some money. I was not opting for a delivery package and they told me economy room will be available only if i opt for economy package and i had to go for it.
then every thing went well and both baby and my wife were fine. the doctors did not discharge my baby even after she was normal and i was charged unwanted consultations and room charges which were totally unjustified.
I could not save anything as my budget was for 25-30K and i ended up paying 40-45K.
I was not at all happy with the services. the only thing good about this hospital was the infrastructure is excellent.
but i will never recommend this hospital to anybody in life neither i will visit this hospital again.
i went for Physiotherapy on saturday.that female knows nothing.she gave me a high intensity and i had a CURRENT-SHOCK kind of feeling in my leg.she tried to teach me Anatomy and Physiology.Dr geeta,so called senior,absconded from there.that female the one who was attending me,does not know anything about nerves and muscles.IS ANYBODY LISTENING AND CAN DO ABOUT IT OR WE JUST KEEP WASTING OUR HARD EARNED MONEY AND THROWING THE SAME IN THE DRAIN…………….
This message is for all those people who have written their “Bad Experiences” with Artemis as well as to those who have been there and came out with smiling faces.
I read each of the above articles written by various “Victims” and I could conclude that when so many people have written such things about Artemis, then probably it may have some truth in it. But I believe this is not the complete truth.
From a professional point of view, each organization goes through some lows and highs during its growth stage. Sachin Tendulkar & Amitabh Bachchan are the living examples for the same. But let’s not talk about them rather let me share my experience with Artemis and its staff.
I am a football player and very active mo-bike adventure rider. I got my left knee ligament ruptured since 3 years while playing. I consulted numerous doctors in good hospitals but none of them were able to give me confidence if I could play again or even ride my bike back. One of my friends suggested the name of Artemis. I got my appointment done with Dr. Ashok Goel and was asked to be on time. On the appointed day I got caught up in the traffic and reached half an hour late. To my amazement my doctor was waiting for me and still attended me with a smile. He did a thorough check up and explained me every small bit about my injury in layman’s language. By his jovial nature and straight conversation, he made me friends with him. He told me that I can continue with my exercises and spend my life the way it is but if I want to play football again he need to perform a surgery on my knee. I was moved by the confidence he showed in his treatment as well as on my enthusiasm & vigor to play. I agreed for the surgery. At the registration counter, I hardly had to wait when I was given a clean and tidy room. Next 3 days were bliss for me. The ever smiling & courteous attendants & the nursing staff, the friendly & caring visiting doctors have made my stay a memorable one. Trust me friends, I felt as if I have come to a 5 star hotel. The only difference being I could not go out as my leg had been operated. Dr. Ashok Goel himself used to visit me at least twice a day, sometime even more often. The dietitian and the physiotherapist were very well trained and caring. During the change of duty hours, the attendant used to introduce me with his or her replacement. I haven’t got such care at my house after the discharge.
Today after 6 months of surgery, I am able to jog every day, I am able to ride my bike and I can perform my duties at work very comfortably. I do see myself playing football again in another 3 months of time.
I thank Artemis for all the care and especially to Dr. Ashok Goel for his friendship and wonderful treatment.
Greetings & Wishes.
Ratul Moitra
moitra.ratul@gmail.com
Hello Ratul,
Glad to see that you are better.
I am not denying that excellent medical care can be had at Artemis, and nor am I saying that the doctors are not good.
My point is to bring out that one expects a lot of professionalism when one visits a private healthcare facility of this caliber. And that was just not up to par in my experience.
Cheers.