TAMPA, Fla. — There are still lots of questions and more than a little anger among workers and patients at the Laser Spine Institute.
The business closed its doors abruptly, citing financial issues Friday, leaving hundreds of people who had surgeries scheduled wondering what to do now.
“Like, when I found out, I cried. It was terrible,” said Elora Mejias.
Mejias had been scheduled for back surgery in a few days. But now she and scores of other patients feel as though they have been left stranded.
“I’m very concerned because that’s where we are. We’re back at square one right now,” said Mejias. “Because I have nothing from this place right now.”
Mejias tried calling for her medical records but says she was disconnected.
She and others have opted to drive to Laser Spine’s building in Tampa, but the door was locked. A few patients told us they were able to get in through a side door being used by vendors.
In addition to sensitive, private information, part of the concern for patents is financial.
Without their medical charts, many could be forced to repeat services they’d already paid for -- primary care visits, consultations, MRIs -- which insurance may or may not cover a second time around.
“When I found out that we needed that MRI, I said, 'Let’s go down there,'” said Mejias. “And I’m just gonna sit on their doorstep till we get it.”
“It really breaks my heart,” said Dr. Rudy Gari, founder of Physician Partners of America, a Laser Spine competitor which has already gone online urging stranded patients to contact them.
PPOA’s offices are only a short distance away.
“We have surgeons that are ready willing and able and very capable of taking care of them,” said Gari. “Legally, there’s a lot of regulations that you have to provide those records.”
A source tells 10News that Laser Spine Institute is doing what it is supposed to do by regulation, for now, by retaining about 75 people to help those who need their medical records. But how long that will continue was not immediately clear.
In a statement, Laser Spine Institute said it was currently reaching out to other qualified offices which “also provide facilities for patients to receive the requisite post-operative care."
“The fact that they had to shut down abruptly,” said Gari, “the sooner they get that done, I think, it’s the better for those patients.”
Kip Meleshko says a friend of his from Canada had an appointment next week at Laser Spine.
“He’s so frustrated he doesn’t know what to do. And he asked me to see if I can find out some information.”
Physician Partners of America says in addition to speaking with LSI’s former patients, they’re holding a job fair Wednesday. They say they could hire up to a hundred of LSI’s laid-off workers.
Not just doctors and nurses, either. "The openings include approximately 50 positions for collectors, coders, payment posters, billing, chart posting, etc.,” said Crystal Winkler, PPOA’s Human Resources Director.
In the meantime, hundreds are out of work. Thousands feel like they are out of luck. And patience among those patients is running thin.
“I mean I very much wish that they would have handled this differently,” said Mejias. “I mean, just closing out of nowhere was very surprising. To leave us just all out here with. like, not sure what to do next.”
The job fair at Physician Partners of America is taking place Wednesday morning at their Tampa headquarters on North Reo Street.
For more information, or to preregister information, applicants can visit the Physician Parners website.
BBB Complaints against Laser Spine
10Investigates looked into records for Laser Spine Institute and found dozens of complaints on the Better Business Bureau website.
Complaints vary from problems with services to advertising, but the majority of complaints are about billing. Most complaints have been responded to by Laser Spine Institute.
The BBB website says Laser Spine Institute has no rating "because it is out of business". The BBB does have a warning at the top of the page suggesting people seek legal advice if they have an "unresolved dispute" with the company.
You can find more on the BBB complaints here.
What other people are reading right now:
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.