CVS Minute Clinic

I would come back. The line wasn’t terrible and service was acceptable so nothing to complain about here.

Had a relapse — and had to pay again! I went to the Minute Clinic for some meds for a sore throat. They determined it was strep throat, and prescribed me an antibiotic. I had a relapse within days of ending my antibiotic so I went back to see if I was misdiagnosed or needed a stronger prescription. To my surprise, they made me pay another $ 120 to do the strep throat culture again. Perhaps they should focus on treating the patient correctly the first time rather than taking their money and NOT making them well.

So, I wasn’t feeling so hot on Friday and knew I had to catch this early because I would just continue to feel sicker and sicker. I had a terrible sore throat, ear ache, sinus pressure, and a headache. Also, all my joints and muscles hurt. When this usually happens to me, I have to take Levaquin to prevent full blown bronchitis. Because I just started a new job and just moved to the area, I do not have a primary care physician and just signed up for my insurance and didn’t have my card yet. I was excited to try the Minute Clinic because in theory this is a very good idea to prevent the over crowded emergency rooms.
I saw Joanne Tanner, FNP. I was the first person and only person in line there and signed in at the automated kiosk outside her office. She took me right away. There were some computer glitches that she was working on and it took her a little bit to examine me. I told her everything that was going on, and as an RN myself, I was pretty positive as to what was going on with me. She didn’t even listen to what I was saying and instead disagreed with everything and was more concerned about how I was going to pay for the visit before she even put a stethoscope to my chest. How rude!!! I told her that I didn’t have my insurance card yet, but usually there has never been an issue with looking that information up. She refused to look it up and sent me to the pharmacy instead. I went to the pharmacy and the girl looked like a deer in headlights — clueless! Had no idea how to access the database. So, I went to call the insurance company and of course you can’t get anyone there on a Friday night. So, I just decided I would pay for the visit myself because I was in desperate need of antibiotics and I would submit for reimbursement later. I went back to the clinic and she listened to my lungs, used her pulse oximeter and told me my O2 sat was 92 and she couldn’t see me because it was too low. I told her she had it backwards and that the light wasn’t on. When I showed her how to use it, my O2 sat was 98% with a pulse of 100. She said I didn’t have a fever and it was probably just viral. I told her that I was having chills and definitely thought I was febrile, but I took Tylenol around the clock before coming and it probably masked my fever. She didn’t even listen. Just asked for my payment (gave her my debit card) — she whacked it for 80 bucks and printed out some bull-S**t about viral rhinitis. I was shocked! I have never had an NP deny antibiotics for my symptoms (especially the gross dark greenish brown phlegm) I was coughing up. She seemed so heartless, inconsiderate, etc. I told her that I was supposed to be on business trips next week in Chicago and NJ and that I really needed meds because this can get out of control with me and spark a flare up of my asthma really bad. She told me, Well … you’ll just have to come back!
I was so furious but so sick I went home and slept it off. Loaded up on Benadryl and cold medicine and knocked myself out. The next morning I woke up coughing and wheezing in the middle of the night. Still with this dark green phlegm. I called the customer care line in my discharge instructions and the representative was equally heartless and refused to give me the name of her supervisor. I WILL NEVER COME HERE AGAIN!
A word of advice — GO TO A REAL CLINIC WHERE YOU DON’T GET THROWN OUT IN A MINUTE! THEY DON’T CALL IT THE MINUTE CLINIC FOR NO REASON. LOL. I’m still feeling like crap and am anxiously waiting to get in touch with my insurance company on Monday to seek PROFESSIONAL care.