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[MorningStar]

I know - perfect for Halloween, right? But, seriously, I need to have some blood tests done and am wondering if anyone knows of, or has had experience with, a good lab in the Monroe area? Where they know what they are doing? Forget Mercy Memorial - I would like to come out of this with my arm still intact!  Thank You for any input - it is greatly appreciated!

[ShorTea]

I've always had really good experiences at Mercy. The hospital was good, so are all the outpatient labs at various points around town. Good Luck! I'll refrain from being a smart-azzy  and saying Tran-Sylvannia.   

Really, I wouldn't worry about using any of the locals!

[family man]

I use the lab next to Dr. Kabir's office on Front Street across from the Post Office. They are affiliated with Mercy, but I have never had a problem with them, and it's usually not that busy there either. I know the hospital can be a hassle waiting, first at registration and then to get the blood drawn.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?ss=dr.+kabir&where1=Monroe%2c+Michigan&s_cid=ansPhBkYp01&mkt=en-us&ac=false&FORM=LARE

[BigRedDog]

I know - perfect for Halloween, right? But, seriously, I need to have some blood tests done and am wondering if anyone knows of, or has had experience with, a good lab in the Monroe area? Where they know what they are doing? Forget Mercy Memorial - I would like to come out of this with my arm still intact!  Thank You for any input - it is greatly appreciated!

I really am not aware of any labs in the area other than those run by the hospital.  If you go to south county you might find something run by a Toledo hospital (or of course go to Toledo).  There is some new facility just west of the little Burger King and truck stop on Newport road...   not sure exactly what it is but I think it's affiliated with a downriver hospital...  or of course got to Downriver.

Between my wife and I we're in Mercy Memorial quite often for blood work and neither of us have ever had a problem there.  Youngest daughter has real small veins in her arm and she has a little trouble sometimes.   And on the other extreme I have huge veins and about anyone could draw blood from me.

I use the lab next to Dr. Kabir's office on Front Street across from the Post Office. They are affiliated with Mercy, but I have never had a problem with them, and it's usually not that busy there either. I know the hospital can be a hassle waiting, first at registration and then to get the blood drawn.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?ss=dr.+kabir&where1=Monroe%2c+Michigan&s_cid=ansPhBkYp01&mkt=en-us&ac=false&FORM=LARE

We have found that using the smaller labs is usually quicker than at the main lab in the hospital too familyman.

My wife had to go to a specialist at St. Joseph's in Ypsilanti at the Reichert healt center a few weeks ago...   we had to wait in the lab close to an hour before they drew her blood.  We've never had to wait anywhere near that long in Monroe.

Depending on what you need to test for I saw that Walgreens does some minor tests...  you might check with them too.

[rwwjr]

The lab at Dr. Kabir's office is the one of the best at what they do, as is the office at Dr. Roecker's on Laplaisance Rd.  I am deathly afraid of needles, and I have no problem with either place, as do the kids.

[eriemermaid]

I use Dr Roecker's office lab also rwwjr.  That woman that draws the blood is such an efficient and NICE person!

[Tiny]

We use Quest Diagnostics - Monroe PSC
1046 N Monroe St., Monroe, MI 48162 Monroe
It's in the medical center South of Kmart, in the basement of one of the buildings. They are very good at drawing blood. We also found out they are a lot cheaper than Mercy's labs, if you have to pay for your blood tests.

[ell]

The Mercy Outreach labs are excellent, much better than the hospital.  I usually use the one on N. Monroe near Kmart.

[MorningStar]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.  I really do appreciate it! Myself and family members have been to the Mercy Hospital lab several times and it is, usually, very painful and we are left with huge bruises. That just doesn't have to be!  I will definitely use one of the outreach labs that was recommended. Again, Thank You! And Have a Great Day!

[The Fuzz]

I've always had really good experiences at Mercy.

Same here....and I am one of those that are difficult to hit a good vein to draw from.

[arpydave]

We also found out they are a lot cheaper than Mercy's labs, if you have to pay for your blood tests.

Whenever I don't have a need for an "urgent" blood draw I stay away from Mercy.  While the Lab Techs are skilled and competent, the MMH billing and accounting system is inept.  To the point they almost beg an audit.  Nah, I don't do Mercy in any regard unless I'm in such a serious condition that I can't be transported and treated elsewhere.

Ever notice that most Monroe Drs. have a MMH bloodwork form and there's a blank for "other" but none for "Annual"? Most Insurance Cos. cover the majority (if not all) of your "annual" bloodwork.  Just try to get an MMH person to code it Annual (yup, had it checked, my Sis can even look up the current code number) and bill it correctly.

Yup, that's your first step downhill into the quagmire of MMH billing hell.  Too many of my well paid and well insured co-workers and friends have had goofy annual bloodwork bills, etc.,  sent over to collection agencies.

Just when they had been getting over their 25 year ago reputation and provided quality care, they muck it up like this.

Nah, nah; stay away.

[MM1]

I've used the Mercy Hospital lab quite often.  But, I prefer to go to the Mercy Outreach Lab attached to Dr. Kabir's office on Front across from the Post Office.

There is NEVER a wait there (not more than 1 person ahead of you, if any) and they provide both blood draws and xrays. 

Since the remodel, the hospital lab system does seem a bit more expeditious.   But the outreach lab is still much faster. 

[BigRedDog]

Whenever I don't have a need for an "urgent" blood draw I stay away from Mercy.  While the Lab Techs are skilled and competent, the MMH billing and accounting system is inept.  To the point they almost beg an audit. Nah, I don't do Mercy in any regard unless I'm in such a serious condition that I can't be transported and treated elsewhere.

Ever notice that most Monroe Drs. have a MMH bloodwork form and there's a blank for "other" but none for "Annual"? Most Insurance Cos. cover the majority (if not all) of your "annual" bloodwork.  Just try to get an MMH person to code it Annual (yup, had it checked, my Sis can even look up the current code number) and bill it correctly.

Yup, that's your first step downhill into the quagmire of MMH billing hell.  Too many of my well paid and well insured co-workers and friends have had goofy annual bloodwork bills, etc.,  sent over to collection agencies.

Just when they had been getting over their 25 year ago reputation and provided quality care, they muck it up like this.

Nah, nah; stay away.

They definitely have "issues" in their billing and accounting "system" arbydave...

my wife works in accounting on a daily basis and MMH drives her up the wall when she tries to figure out their billing... 

She does have a 'standing' order for bloodwork...   I wonder if that is the same as what you're talking about?  Not sure if our BCBS pays any different on it or not?

What we have found when my wife can not decipher their 'system' is that if you actually show up at their billing department they will assign someone to actually explain and usually then actually 'correct' the billing (they actually do make mistakes sometimes too)  while you're right there in person. 

They're in the basement of the new hospital building on N. Dixie just south of St. Charles in Newport.  It seems really out of the way and then even being in the basement...   you have to take the elevator down and they were actually 'startled' the last time we showed up down there.

[MM1]

OMG!  Don't even get me started on the MMH billing system.  Calling them inept is giving them a compliment! 

I understand the "begging" for an audit. 

The only way to get an audit on your account is to put it in writing stating that "no additional payments will be made until every charge and credit applied to date resulting in the current balance due is received."

That is the ONLY way to get what you want.  Documenting a problem does wonders toward a resolution. 

It's messy to clear up, but I keep thinking if enough people put things in writing the system may get better. (cc Annette Phillips, President and CEO of course.)

Go big or go home. 





I have NO IDEA who gets "credit" for the current billing system.  I seriously doubt anyone will be claiming THAT one. 

[arpydave]

So MM1 and BRD (I respect ya both from yur past posts, whether I agree w/ them or not), why refer anybody to them?  At least without a caveat?

I still do use local Drs., but I've actually had 1 look up at me in surprise while he reviewed my bloodwork results and said, (absolute quote) "Promedica? Why Promedica?"