Although this is a 4 star rating, I would prefer to give it 4 1/2 stars as my experience was just…read morewhat the doctor ordered, pardon the (sorta) pun. I had severe pain in my left hand last month that had not improved for two weeks so on August 22nd out of sizable reluctance (but in much agony) I went to the Edgewater facility where I had been on three past occasions. The receptionist advised there was a two hour wait due to all the people there (it was true) and I might want to visit office on Lincoln where there were just two patients and I could get in much sooner. I thanked her and went. Indeed there were two patients when I arrived at PIC Lincoln half hour or so later but I was told there was an hour wait. I had no choice so I did wait for an hour before going one of the exam rooms (they were all occupied at the time so the receptionist at this location wasn't lying). They did my vitals when I got in, then a short time later a short elderly black lady came in. Initially I was mildly concerned but though monotone, Dr. Claudia was quite caring and knowledgeable. I explained my history of gout (though this time I didn't think my pain was gout related) which she well understood. She didn't think I had anything severe when testing my hand motions but wanted to run X-rays to be sure. Their mobile X-ray technician was out of the area at the time but got there fairly quickly. Tests came back negative. So she gave me a prescription for Prednisone (which I was well familiar with) and told me if I'm still having problems to come back within 10 days and they would check me out again but now at no charge (recent policy update). How nice (since I pay out of pocket)! And I truly needed it. Prednisone has historically been a godsend for me so I thought it would do the trick. Well, it did, that is to past troubled areas like my back and legs. When my 7 days of meds were up the following Monday, the hand pain returned and hit hard. Wednesday I'm back at PIC but this time was seen in a 1/2 hour. After my vitals were taken, a Dr. Vicky came in to see me. Didn't have on a doctor jacket, just regular attire, no big deal, just the observation. So I told her how I relapsed and was in rough shape. She had me do some different hand movements from the previous visit but promptly stopped when she saw I was hurting. She tried finding a brace that would fit my hand but the two she had did not work. When I asked about a steroid injection (which historically has worked well for me), she said they don't do them but would give me a referral. She also prescribed like 50 capsules of Indocin which is great on pain but you must be careful if you have heart issues (which I did in the past). I expected maybe 20-25 capsules for a week to 10 days but 50, that was awesome. Moreover, Dr. Vicky exhibited much genuine compassion throughout my visit, extremely noticeable. I could not have asked for better. And true to their word, my follow up visit was indeed no charge. Come the next day (3 weeks ago Thursday, the 31st), sure enough, I get a call from Illinois Bone/Joint Institute (the referral). I wanted to give the Indocin a few days before I would make an appt. to see them. The Indocin was working but taking longer than expected, perhaps in part due to cutting my 3 a day dosage to one or two a day. I didn't follow up with the referral as my hand was gradually improving, now to the point I take one Indocin like once every two days. My left hand (which never was a problem previously) is like 90% back to normal so I'm quite pleased with PIC. And since I write with my left hand and need it to type (and since I type a lot), my Internet use was limited but the keyboard now feels fairly comfortable. I owe a lot to Dr. Claudia & Dr. Vicky. I noticed quite a few negative reviews from years ago, including one less than two years back but I don't understand. Maybe the front desk person could have been slightly friendlier but I have no complaints. Maybe they had some bad apples in the past. But I received excellent care here and text follow up. It may cost me more to see an urgent care facility than the doc in my medical plan but I save much time and my spirits feel better here than at my doctor's office. I recommend this facility (better than Edgewater, the main reason due to nightmare traffic in the community). They may be short staffed (which is becoming more common due to various changes at many medical facilities these days) but if you come here and need patching up, be patient as the signs at this facility request. You will get seen and get proper treatment. Kudos to those working here.

I made an appointment because I've previously been here and had to wait because I didn't have one…read moreat the time and learned my lesson. Coming in today, someone came in after me without an appointment but was immediate brought back and taken care of. Now it is 30 minutes from my appointment time and I'm waiting to see a doctor still. Places like this should stick to their policies so people who do it the right way don't get burned. I'm giving it a bump up in stats because I just met with a doctor finally and she was wonderful. The doctors are always great here, at least.

since the other review is from 7 years ago, i'm here in 2025 confirming that my experience was…read moregreat! it took me 10 mins after my appointment to be seen and it looked like there was at least one care provider on duty. my insurance is blue cross blue shield il and i was charged $25 for a strep test and flu shot. my care provider was Ndembeleki Freitas and she was so so sweet. i have had a very negative experience with a doctor before so i have anxiety before visits, but Dr. Freitas was super nice and funny. when i brought up my medications, she took the time to give me extra care compared to my old doctor, who scrutinized me for taking them. i would go back again knowing their staff takes care of their patients and treats them as people!! i don't have any notes on prescription times or the pharmacy as i didn't need anything, but i wanted to write a review for people who get nervous at the doctor :)

This is a great alternative for someone that does not have insurance. There is a Nurse Practitioner…read moreon site and can handle what most primary care physicians can do. Prices run from $99-$129. I scheduled an appointment online and walked over. I saw the NP and she was very friendly and knowledgeable. They also take insurance and give Flu shots.

I unfortunately have to echo all the 1 star ratings for this location. Had a horrible experience…read moretoday. I called in advance to ask if they take outside referrals because I have one on-hand from my doctor. I was told yes, so I drove all the way to Skokie to get my xray done. I got to the front desk just to be told they cannot help me because they don't take outside paper/physical referrals. The person at the front didn't say hello, didn't even apologize for the inconvenience, and looked very annoyed that I was there.

This urgent care facility is the closest one to our house and it's super convenient. You can make…read morean appointment (and sometimes they recommend it so you're not waiting a long time) but they take walk ins as well. Yesterday I walked in and was seen in minutes. I was diagnosed, given a prescription and on my way back home in under an hour. As I said, super convenient!

To Whom It May Concern:…read more Want to control your own healthcare costs? And not have to pay too much or wait too long? Think about using Walgreen's Take Care clinic for routine tests or treatments. I have used their services for employment-related tests, which had I tried to get from my own M.D. would have been more expensive and more burdensome. Here, you come in, sign in to a computer and then wait for the clinician to contact and assist you. You can even do some shopping while you wait. It's just a more efficient and reasonable option than clogging up your doctor's office with little things like TB tests, vaccinations, skin irritations, colds, etc. I've never found it to be too crowded, nor have I ever waited too long. You can get treatment for Respiratory Illnesses, allergies, eye ear nose and throat stuff, skin conditions, minor scrapes and injuries (when mom is not around to kiss your boo-boo,) pregnancy and TB testing, and numerous vaccinations. I did have an odd episode trying to pay them one time. The credit/debit card thing wasn't working, and they had no cash for change. When I tried to change a $20 bill at the front cashier counter they wouldn't just give me smaller bills. So I left and returned to the line with one small York Peppermint Patty ($.50) and paid for it with the twenty. No problem! I felt so George Costanza. In summary, affordability, accessibility and Peppermint Patties. Just try to get those at your doctor's office. yours truly and uninsuredly, J.P.

Seriously, this is so much better than any other clinic I have been to in the States, and 100%…read morebetter than going to the ER. Check in was a breeze with the kiosk, and the wait was not bad at all. I knew I had a little time to kill, so I went and got something to drink and browsed the shelves. Better than sitting watching the chaos and breathing in all the germs in the ER waiting room. I was treated by Maxee and she was fantastic! Professional and friendly. She actually listened to the answers I gave to the questions she asked, and helped me clarify my symptoms. (If she is reading this..I share an acct with my husband and thanks! I'm feeling a little better already. I got the store brand of mucinex.) I had no idea what to expect but I could not have been happier. No hidden charges and the costs are known upfront. Honestly, I found them to be pretty reasonable considering the fact that a week from now (or a month) I am not going to start receiving mysterious bills. I was in and out, meds in hand, in about an hour! The pharmacy is right there, and they were also very helpful and friendly. The woman who rang me up even suggested a way for me to save some money! I know where I will be headed when something comes up and I need a Dr for something other than a life-threatening emergency.

Years ago I complained about coughing in the mornings and after dinner. Dr. Lamaster had me do…read moreannual chest CT. The second year the CT showed a gallstone. The coughing progressed into choking, gagging and recently trouble swallowing. After the coughing complaint, I reported random diarrhea, which was dismissed. Then I complained of vomiting. For years my symptoms got worse. Finally the vomiting was so bad, I insisted on seeing a surgeon. The gallstone that was documented on my medical records years prior turned into Chronic Cholecystitis, which can be life threatened. It can also lead to Pancreatic cancer, from which my mother died; she too was undiagnosed for years. Advocate Ravenswood let me suffer for years and harmed my long term health. This is not the only undiagnosed issue. Dr. Mikesell and Dr. Lamaster both dismissed my complaints about cognitive dysfunction for years with repeated complaints from me. The dysfunction now seems to have been caused by seizures. Two head injuries are in my medical records and they dismissed me and never followed up. Negligent or incompetent? Does it matter which? Also I rarely saw Dr. Lamaster. His residents were the only appointments I could get. One told me that I did not need to check my blood sugar... I am diabetic. Another put in my medical records that I had high blood pressure, which is incorrect and caused me problems with the anesthesiologist prior to gallbladder surgery. I have many other more examples of incompetence but individually they do not seem important. However, when a medical practice has consistent mistakes and the residents do not read your chart, they put your life at risk. Chronic Cholecystitis can be life threatening. It inflamed my pancreas and liver.

I'm a little shocked to see all the negative reviews! We've been visiting this doctor's office…read moresince my son was born back in October and have had nothing but positive experiences. The building is bright and welcoming, as are the folks working the front desk. I also appreciate how clean it is. Our Doctor, Dr. Serrano, has been absolutely wonderful. From the jump she's always expressed genuine excitement to see us and our baby. We feel so comfortable and confident in her care, she really eases any worries we've had as we navigate parenthood! I've called the help line more than once when I've had questions or concerns and there is always a doctor ready to assist. So far, I'm really impressed with all experiences I've had here and want to thank them for keeping my baby healthy!

psychologist is compassionate and works well with client. The best therapist I havre ever gone too.read more

Waited hours to be seen by a doctor, and then when I was finally in the waiting room I had to wait…read moreanother hour while the doctor laughed with patients in the other room like the rest of us didn't have appointments also. Don't go here if you care about being seen in a timely manner. Staff don't respect patient's time and lives the way they used to.

Initially, I kind of felt maybe I should wait a couple years before reviewing things, but this…read moreneeds to be said. I've found Oakton Park Medical Center to be extraordinarily competent from the front desk to the doctors. And they are technologically advanced - you get notifications, online access, electronic sign-in... even a tablet if the front desk is occupied. Doctors listen and explain everything. There's no rushing you out. No rushing you off the phone. If you have a question, they answer confidently and competently and do what they say. It's a medium sized office and they do stuff like ultrasound and labwork in-house so you don't need to run around for everything. One little thing I'm slightly concerned about is if under an HMO (since you need to see your PCP) an appointment will be available on short notice like a walk-in. Some larger places have walk-in hours, but that's not really a huge issue for me and I'm pretty sure they'd accommodate anybody in need based on the situation as they've been nothing but helpful with me. In my past experience with a Northshore Health office, my past provider was similar to ATT or Comcast - just too big and clumsy... Rude front desk that was too busy to answer you. My doctor would come in, see me for maybe 5 minutes, then walk out for five minutes. Then walk in for another minute and that's my appointment. If there's a billing issue, there'd be nobody competent enough to help you or if there was, good luck figuring who that is. At the time I had a PPO. After a couple years my specific Blue Cross PPO was no longer accepted by Northshore but nobody thought to check before my appointments. So I started getting charged out of network and I didn't understand what was happening so I paid. And they keep sending bills for something they should have caught. So I don't want Oakton Park to be too busy and turn into this mess, but they deserve the gratitude. A breath of fresh air in Skokie.

A very salesy practice where the doctor looks down on you and feels very confident about your lack…read moreof awareness about your own ailments. Expect them to sell you on changing medicines even when there is no medical benefit.

The receptionist this past Saturday and today was so so kind!! I hope she see's this and knows her…read morelighthearted banter made a rough morning a delight. Both physicians assistants as well as nurses that took my vitals were both great. I also appreciated the first one started with a low dose of stuff and told me to come back Monday if it didn't improve. This time I also made an appointment so it was a much faster wait. This place has long waits during busy times but they are honest if the wait is going to be long. I work in customer service and I was impressed how kind they were even around frustrated folks. Thanks y'all!

The male front desk associate is condescending, unprofessional and rude. The majority of female…read morestaff are exceptional yet, it is the male staff who lack experience & professionalism. Robert Mazalewski, PA exhibits the most ignorant, impatient, unwavering arrogance that appears to be adopted by the aforementioned male associate. The facts are clearly established as, their rating is indicative of the quality of, and their attention to, patient care, "the office experience" & accuracy of service. Do yourself a favor, and don't waste your time. You will be better served as this location lacks the capacity, competence and credibility to serve the diversity of the community in which it is centrally located. I was inconvenienced to return and wait an hour, standing in the waiting area as Robert Mazalewski, PA, lacked the intelligence or expertise needed to accurately input my name & address as shown on my State Of Illinois Drivers License. He failed three times to enter the information accurately. An administrative mistake (a typographical error), which could have been easily avoided, had he checked his work. Taken the limited effort to dedicate a couple minutes to check his work. I was 1of3 other "patient customers" to have some "issue" to occur as I waited and others were made to take time out of their day, to return and address the rude, time-robbing "Gate Keeper" who, like the P.A., blamed the female staff who work within the Lab, for issues that clients experienced. No Ma'am! The issues are with you Sir's.

i wouldn't say amazing…read more i went there at 1pm. the receptionist said they close from 1-2 for lunch. if you need immediate care, this might be important to know. went back at 2pm. after paying and getting checked in, i was told it would be approximately 25 minutes. it was closer to 1hr before i was seen. that said, the tech and practitioner both apologized for the delay. from there, my visit went very much as expected.

The walk in hours for this office is 9 am to 6 pm or so. I have come here twice now, well before…read morethe stated closing time (once at about 10:15 am, and another occasion at about 3 pm) only to be told that they are no longer taking patients for the rest of the day! The reason? They are so far behind (a 3 hr wait) they don't want to accept additional patients. What's the point in posting afternoon and evening hours if you're going to stop accepting walk-ins less than 2 hours after you open for the day? I

I have been a patient here for about two years and unfortunately my experiences have been very…read morefrustrating. At the front information desk, I have sometimes felt dismissed or spoken to harshly when asking for directions or clarification, especially when I mentioned that I had visited before but needed reminders due to medical issues and medication-related brain fog. During some specialist visits, I felt that my responses were not fully acknowledged when I answered questions in ways that were unexpected. This left me concerned that parts of my medical information may not have been clearly reflected in my records. I have also struggled to get assistance from the Galter Life Center. Despite having a referral from my specialists, I have not been able to schedule an appointment or receive clear guidance through in-person visits, phone calls, or email. Additionally, I have attempted to contact Patient Experience and Advocacy several times but have not received responses to my calls or messages. When the system moved to NorthShoreConnect, I hoped communication would improve, but many of my messages there have also gone unanswered. Because of these experiences, I personally feel that my concerns have not been addressed adequately, and I would encourage others to carefully consider their options when seeking care.

Excellent care for my sister. She was brought in by a wonderful team of paramedics and was admitted…read moreimmediately and cared for on the spot. They did all the necessary tests and got us answers right away. She ended up getting admitted and some minor hiccups she was successfully released. Kudos to the medical team and nursing staff. Thank you for caring for my special needs sister. You guys were awesome.