I've been a Kaiser Permanente member since birth and generally have had positive experiences, but…read moremy recent visit left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. For the past few days, I've been dealing with typical viral cold symptoms that escalated to include a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, throat irritation, nasal congestion, bloody discharge, and a severe headache that turned into a migraine. Concerned about these symptoms, I tested twice for COVID-19--both negative. After my chest pain worsened, my friends and family urged me to seek urgent care.
At urgent care, I explained my symptoms and received a strep, flu, and another COVID test--again, all negative. Despite feeling like there might be an underlying issue causing my symptoms to worsen, I was given a breathing treatment, prescribed an inhaler, and sent on my way, feeling like I had wasted both time and money.
After following the care plan to the letter with no improvement, I made an appointment to see my Primary Care Physician (PCP). Instead, I was met by a nurse, Ms. Roberta Owens, at the East Denver Clinic on August 26th. I arrived slightly late, feeling absolutely miserable, and received a call while checking in, warning that my appointment would be canceled if I didn't check in within 10 minutes of the scheduled time. Already struggling to speak due to my symptoms, this added stress was not helpful.
Ms. Owens quickly took my vitals and started asking pre-questions. From the start, our exchange felt defensive and combative. I was coughing so severely that it interrupted my speech, yet she continued to push the conversation. There were no tissues in the exam room when I asked for one, adding to my discomfort. I expressed my main concerns--particularly the intense sinus pressure and headaches--and suggested that I might need a referral to an ENT specialist. Instead, she ordered a chest X-ray, which unsurprisingly came back clear.
Back in the exam room, Ms. Owens reiterated that what I had was likely just a cold, dismissing my concerns. While I understand that sometimes immediate medical remedies aren't possible, compassion and kindness can go a long way. Unfortunately, Ms. Owens seemed dismissive and didn't listen to understand my concerns. Her demeanor left me feeling emotionally drained on top of already feeling physically unwell.
This experience was a stark contrast to the quality of care I've come to expect from Kaiser. I hope that future interactions will be more attentive and empathetic.