I had one of THE most infuriating experiences with AFP today, I can't not share.
I knew I had something going on with my ear. I had a lot of pressure, swelling, and pain. So instead of going into an immediate care or the ER, I toughed it out overnight, woke up first thing, hustled the kid off the school, and packed up my almost 3yo and 9month old baby to arrive right when walk-ins open. I get there before 8am, and I'm 3rd in line. Great. It still takes 50 minutes for me to get called back into a room. Fine. Everyone was pleasant up until that point, the nurse was very nice... even the doctor was very nice. Except... she was far more attentive to my kids than to me. She took her light and barely stuck it in my ear. "Oh yeah, you've got an infection." She went through the rest of her routine, and started talking about writing me a Rx for an antibiotic and a cough medicine. (I never complained of a cough, so I found this odd) We conversed a little more about how much rest I was getting, and I pretty much told her that I don't get much at all because my baby still nurses quite a bit during the night and even made a joke that I haven't slept in 8 months. We say goodbyes, she sends off my Rx to the pharmacy (costco) electronically, and I run some other errands up until costco opens.
I arrive at 11am, and am annoyed to find they haven't begun my order. I expected this. I walk around and shop for 30 minutes, and come back to find out there was a problem with my antibiotic Rx- the dosage wasn't correct, and they left a message for the doctor to clarify. Meanwhile, my ear is still very inflamed and painful. I'm congested, and winded as I also have a chest cold, and my babies are getting fussy. The pharmacy tech tells me to call the office to try to get someone on the phone to speed up the process. I do. I speak to someone who was very short and curt with me, and basically tries to tell me that the doctor is with her patients and she'll put my message on her desk. I told her I was waiting at the pharmacy, and that (at that point) I had been for an hour. She tells me the doctor will be available in 20-30 minutes.
So I haul my cart and kids through the checkout line, sit at the cafe and eat some lunch, taking our time, waiting for a call from the pharmacy that it's all set and ready to go. I got no such call. I go back to the pharmacy and find out that AN HOUR after I'd gotten off the phone with the last person, there was STILL no callback. The pharmacy tech even told me that she called them again, with no success. At this point, I am FURIOUS, but I keep my calm and call once more, getting a much more understanding person on the phone (who I'm sure heard my voice wavering as I was moments from bursting into tears) and she says that she will have the doctor call as soon as she wraps up the patient she was currently seeing. Fine. 20 minutes later, the call FINALLY comes, my baby is screaming because she's hungry, my toddler is crying because she's past her nap time... they call me up to pay for my meds, then shuffle me over to a window to review them. The pharmacist then tells me that the cough medicine is not recommended for nursing mothers.
ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!?
So, after nearly 3 HOURS at the costco pharmacy, I finally go home with my needed antibiotic and I get a phone call from the office along the way..."Yes, you called about having a Rx verified, but when we called back, they said you'd already picked it up?!?"
I lost it on this lady. I mean I laid into her, and the entire office's poor communication issues. She claimed that the pharmacy never said anything about me waiting there (which is totally false, as the pharmacy tech helping me specifically said she did let them know that) and I pointed out that I talked to someone personally (Linda) and told HER that I was waiting on this phone call with two small children, and that the pharmacy also placed another phone call... and between the 4 phone calls into the office, no one could possibly bother the doctor to take 2 minutes to call and straighten out the mistake. This is unacceptable. From the other poor reviews here, they all mention everyone in the office's "poor attitude" and clearly, it's because no one can communicate efficiently, or exercise common sense.
I will not be returning to this practice ever again. Had I known any of this was going to happen, I would have just ponied up the extra cash and gone to an immediate care center. I've seen several doctors here, I've only really liked one of them, and as I understand it, she's no longer with them. Scheduling an actual appointment for a physical or any other ailment has a month-long wait list.
I HIGHLY recommend you find another practice who actually values their patient's time and wellness. read more