On Sept. 8, my back had a swollen sebaceous cyst. The pressure and pain were immense and the infection was making me sick. Since it was Sunday, my husband drove me to the local Akos Urgent Care.
My first clue this wasn't a trustworthy place was when I asked Monica if it would be possible to bill me the copay. She gave two non-nonsensical answers: 1) "We don't do that here." My response: "I meant your billing department." 2) "Well, they aren't working today." Of course, billing departments work during the week to bill insurance companies. Couldn't they also bill me? Monica never answered that question.
There were only 2 people in that office, Nurse Practitioner Diana Curd and a clerk, Monica. They both had to divide their time between me and other patients. When NP Curd lanced my cyst, my husband assisted. I asked if there was anyone to help her, and she stated Monica was busy with other patients. In spite of what Akos advertises on their website, there was no doctor on duty. The NP took a sample for the lab and told us the results would be available by the following Saturday. Then, the antibiotics will be adjusted accordingly.
On the 9th, 10th and 11th, I had evening fevers and chills, in spite of the 3 different antibiotics the NP put me on. (One was injected, the other 2 oral.) I took ibuprofen to manage it. I had a follow up appt with my own doctor's P.A. and with the doctor-on-call after hours. We all looked forward to getting the lab results so my antibiotics could be properly adjusted to the bacteria that hurt me.
I called on Wednesday, the 11th and spoke with a guy named Yuriel. He seems to have a stutter and speaks English with an accent. People in the background kept talking to him while he was on the phone with me. He told me it takes 3-5 business days to get the lab results. I explained my situation, in detail. He said he'll email the doctor and then call me back. I asked the name of the doctor and he answered, "Diana Curd." I corrected him. "She is not a doctor," I said. "She is a Nurse Practitioner." Then he suddenly realized she wouldn't be in until Saturday, so he'll send an email to the doctor that is working in office and call me.
I called at about 2:00 on Friday, 9/13. Yuriel did apologize for not calling me back. He stated he would contact the lab and then call me back. I told him I'll give this until 4:30, and then I'll call back and speak with a supervisor.
The supervisor called me at 4:20, to inform me the lab informed them the sample was too small and had dried up, so they couldn't do a culture. At least she was honest about that, I suppose. But then, all this ass-covering started. She suggested maybe the driver left it in his car. (!) She didn't know what happened. I said it would have been nice to have been told this on Wednesday, to which she answered this was the first time the results were requested. I corrected her, stating I spoke to Yuriel about this on Wednesday! I explained to her Yuriel has been referring to NPs as "doctors". This is misrepresentation and ILLEGAL. She said he's a new employee and will train him.
My health and well-being have been placed at risk. Of course, I will get a copy of my records and file proper complaints with my insurance company and other places. I'm writing this to help other people who are in pain or sick. Stay away. Go somewhere else. Phoenix is a big city. There are other Urgent Care Centers that are better equipped and cleaner and more professional than Akos. read more
