05/04/07

Poor alternative

by cgcarl519

It's a little strange when a place which advertises itself as "The ER Alternative" berates a potential patient for showing up there rather than going to the ER. But that's exactly what happened when I took my girlfriend to this place. She was experiencing a lot of pain that she had actually sought treatment for earlier in the day. She was really worried, though, that things weren't getting better, so we found this place, thinking that we could have a doctor take a look at her, treat her, and determine if she needed more serious attention. Instead, the nurse made her out to be a fool for showing up there because "they don't have the type of equipment" to do the needed tests. That was after not even bothering to examine her at all. She was treated as if she walked into a Starbucks and ordered a Big Mac, instead of having an urgent health issue and going to the "Urgent Care" clinic. Extremely unprofessional treatment.

On the flip side, the receptionist was very cordial and sweet; the chairs are very comfortable; the artwork is interesting; the place is clean; the vending machines are stocked; and I'm sure the doctors are really fantastic.

• Pros: Receptionist
• Cons: Nurse/Assistant who castigates patients for showing up there

04/19/07

an awful experience

by lazysenora

When my grandson got an earache on our vacation in San Diego the front desk recommended Urgent Care and More on Midway. By the time we got there his stomach was upset also. The nurse, Carol, was unsympathetic and arrogant, and turned us away because I didn't have a note from his parents (I do have one, but hadn't thought to bring it to San Diego). When I asked about the Hippocratic oath she snapped at me that it isn't legal in California. I called my grandson's parents to give permission on the phone, but then she refused to talk to them, saying that she didn't like my attitude. I asked a waiting patient, and he said he just thought I was reasonably distressed at having a sick grandson while out of town, and that the nurse was behaving improperly. While I don't believe that I did anything wrong, even if I had I don't think it's right to turn away an 8 year old in pain.

When we arrived at Children's Hospital there was a large sign in the lobby with a large heading saying "It's The Law", stating that (this may be inexact) all patients have the right to an evaluation. I believe that Carol was acting illegally by turning away an ailing child.

When I reported all this at the hotel front desk, a young man working there said the same clinic had turned him away when he had an allergic reaction to penicillin. I was assured that the hotel will not be recommending that clinic again.

• Pros: close to the hotel
• Cons: the staff was bordering on abusive