Although I filled out their paperwork in their office and waited for about an hour, I declined treatment and took my paperwork with me. I was there for an earache.
I found that these people were not ones I'd normally choose to treat me or anyone else in an emergency. They wanted to take at least two other patients with less urgent need - before taking an elderly woman in a wheelchair with a nasty cut on her brow. I left the office before consultation and treatment.
While the receptionist was pleasant, she asked no specific questions about whether my particular insurance would cover what they would see me for. When I discovered on my own that their office visit would be $135 in my case, I opted to stay and be seen. But I changed my mind after hearing some of what went on in their administrative office, and most importantly, this:
About 40 minutes into my hour wait, an elderly woman (late 70s?) in a wheel chair was escorted in by an Upset woman in her late 60s. The elderly woman, I overheard the Upset woman telling the receptionist, had ""fallen and cut her head."" There was a 2 1/2"" cut on her right brow, and a small cloth was held to it periodically to absorb a little blood. They sat immediately opposite the reception window in plain sight of at least two office staff in the window. Several minutes after arrival, the Upset woman had left, and a Cooler-headed woman in her late 50s replace her and waited with the elderly woman.
After waiting around 20 minutes, the elderly woman had not been seen by medical staff, had not been offered a cold compress or icepack, and several more people had been admitted to the waiting room.
Next, the remaining patient who would precede me in line was provided admittance to the inner office to consultation. She showed no signs of pain or injury and had waited patiently until she was called, and during her wait didn't look around the corner where the elderly woman and the Cooler-headed woman sat. The elderly woman had been there at least 20 minutes by then. Maybe 5 or 10 minutes later a cold icepack was offered to the elderly woman, and shortly thereafter I was invited to enter the inside office for consultation.
When I was invited in, I said that I'd prefer that they first take the elderly woman. The assistant said that she'd be attended to next, that they would first get me ""checked-in."" I declined the invitation, the assistant said, ""O.K.,"" and then closed the inner office door.
I then stepped up to the reception desk and asked the receptionist to return my paperwork, the Cooler-headed woman heard me and offered a very polite, ""Thank you."" The receptionist politely returned my paperwork to me, and I left.
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