1) If you have a primary doc, why don't you go to him/her? Why come here and expect to be fixed by someone who knows you not from Adam's housecat? I'm great if there's not an appointment available, or they're closed. But you just know that some are using the minute clinic as a candy shop, or don't want to be bothered with having to make an appointment.
Another thing in the same vein that I don't get...why, after, say, 3 rounds of abx for an upper respiratory complaint, is it considered an insult to advise someone to see their PMD?
Had that happen the other day. 3 rounds of abx in a month, no betterm chronic conditions that we knew little about. Suggested her PMD might be able to offer different tx that would be better for her. She got mad and left in a huff.
2) How can you not have a pediatrician for your child? That chaps my hide worse than any, I guess. A minute clinic is not a pedi office, yet you'd be amazed at how many people drag the kiddos in here, expecting immunizations, well-child care, etc.
Had one the other day that brought in a young teen, wanting the clinic to clear her for sports. New patient, no one had any history on her. The aunt brought in the physical form from the school, filled out front and back with all the child's health problems, including a rather severe heart condition. No cardiac follow up in 7+ years, no general medical exam in 4+ years. I flat-out refused to clear her, and I kept the clearance form with me, that woman was so squirrelly, I'd not have put it past her to forge a siggy. Called the PMD of record, they'd only ever seen her once. How can you consciously do that to a child with those problems?
3) Why does it always have to be our fault, when we've advised, treated, been ignored and then (GASP!) they don't get better? I know the answer to that, just frustrated, lol.
Glad you feel comfortable venting, but yeah I have a PCP who if I actually try to see him I will either be better or dead by the time I get in. And those physicals, well $30 beats $160 any day. Do you want patients or not?
Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..
In the area where I'm originally from, it's so rural there are no Pediatritians there. There are only family docs and one Cardiologist. I'm so thankful I moved to a better place.
Specializes in med-surg, psych, ER, school nurse-CRNP.
Glad you feel comfortable venting, but yeah I have a PCP who if I actually try to see him I will either be better or dead by the time I get in. And those physicals, well $30 beats $160 any day. Do you want patients or not?
Never said I didn't, I said I didn't get it. The feedback has been something, I never knew my doc was so good as far as an appointment.
And you're still paying too much. Our physicals are free.
I want Michelle Obama to make a series of public service announcements (commercials) for the general public about when to go to your PCP (when you feel well if you have a chronic condition); when to go to the urgent care/minute clinic; when to go to the ER.
I think people would really listen to her. Usually, when someone is upset or in pain is not the time to try to explain this type of stuff.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i've used a "doc-in-a-box" numerous times over the last year i was with my previous pmd. she decided she only wanted to work part-time, and suddenly appointments were difficult to get unless they were for an annual physical, in which case you made them months in advance. then she decided to take an impromptu vacation and cancelled my husband's annual physical -- months after he'd made the appointment. he couldn't get another appointment before he needed prescription refills, and instead of just extending the refills by two months (until he could get in for a rescheduled annual physical), the office manager called our house and left a message on our answering machine excoriating my husband for not getting his physical done on time.
i've been to the doc-in-a-box for bronchitis, for salmonella poisoning and to get my foot stitched up on the fourth of july. i have a new pcp now . . . hopefully she'll be available when i need her. but if she isn't . . . my insurance pays for an er visit if i'm referred by a pcp or a doc-in-a-box, (or presumably if the ems brings me in after scraping me off the highway or the floor of the mall) but not if i just go to the er. i'll be using the doc-in-a-box if i need to.
AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN
2 Articles; 1,291 Posts
Altra, if I could thank you a million times, I would.