Last Saturday evening my 6 year old son cut his finger badly with a knife.
I took him to a local "Urgent and General Care" clinic at 5:50 pm.  The
clinic was open till 6:00 pm.  The receptionist went to the back and told the
doctor that we were there, and came back and told us the doctor would not
see us because she had someplace to go at 6:00 and did not want to be delayed
here.  During the next few minutes, in response to my questions, with several
trips to the back room, the receptionist told me:
        - the doctor was doing paperwork in the back,
        - the doctor would not even look at his finger to advise us on going
          to the emergency room;
        - the doctor would not even speak to me;
        - she would not tell me the doctor's name, or her own name;
        - when asked who is in charge of the clinic, she said "I don't know."

I realize that a private clinic is not the same as an emergency room, but
I was quite angry at being turned away because the doctor did not want to
be bothered.  My son did get three stitches at the emergency room.  I'm still
trying to find out who is in charge of that clinic so I can write them a
letter.   We will certainly never set foot in that clinic again.

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Space Telescope Science Institute
Baltimore, Maryland

Report them to your local BBB (Better Business Bureau).

Bill Claussen

        [story deleted]

- be bothered.  My son did get three stitches at the emergency room.  I'm still
- trying to find out who is in charge of that clinic so I can write them a
- letter.   We will certainly never set foot in that clinic again.
-

The people in charge already know what kind of 'care' they are
providing, and they don't give a rat's ass about your repeat business.

You are much more likely to do some good writing to local newspapers,
and broadcast news shows.  If you do, keep the letter short and to the point
so they don't discard it out of hand, and emphasize exactly what you
are upset about.

It's possible that the local health department can help you complain to
someone official, but really, that 'clinic' exists for the sole purpose
of generating walk-in income through advertising, and *nothing* you can do
will change them -- all you can hope for is to help someone else avoid them.

I'm glad it sounds like your son did ok, anyway.

My opinion only, of course,
Steve

Speaking as a physician who works in an urgent care center, the above
behavior is completely inappropriate. If a patient who requires extensive
care shows up at the last minute, we always see them and give them appropriate
care. It is reasonable for a clinic to refuse to see patients outside of its
posted hours, but what you describe is misbehavior. Ask to speak to the
clinic director, and complain. Whatever their attitude, they have nothing to
gain from angering patients.

Brandon Brylawski

Ok, much as I hate to do it, here I am posting an EVEN BETTER "Dr. Idiot"
story.

I was in my 18th hour of labor, had been pushing for 4.5 hours and was
exhausted.  My OB and I decided to go for a csec.  The OB called in
the anesthisiologist (sp?) and asked him to help prep me for surgery.

AFTER, watching me go through a couple contractions, the anes (or{*filter*} as
I like to refer to him) said, "Well, I am off duty now." (still staring
between my legs at that).  The OB asked to go call whomever it was who
was on duty and ask him/her how long it would take...and if it was going
to take more than a few minutes, to please stay even though he was off duty.

The anes. went out, supposedly to call the on-call anes.   In a couple of
minutes the nurse came running in to tell the OB that the anes. had left
without even trying to get ahold of the on-call.  It was the only time
during my labor that I swore.  The on-call anes. took 20 minutes to get
there.

Come to find out, the anes. had only just gone off duty (about 2 minutes
before) and technically was supposed to stay in the hospital until the
next on-call got there.  Good thing for all of us (especially him) that
it was not a critical emergency.  But boy would I love to knock that
fellow's ouchie places ...just to let him be in pain a
few little minutes.

I have run into "Dr. Idiots", "Mechanic Idiots", "Clerk Idiots" and "Etc.
Idiots" in my time, but this fellow I would like to have words with.

Deantha

The ``surgery'' involved digging out a pine needle that had buried
itself under my tongue.

Mike