I took my five-year-old son to Riverside Urgent Care at 3403 Delsea Dr. in Vineland, hoping he…read morewould receive an X-ray after injuring his arm. Our initial visit with the nurse practitioner was professional and friendly, but things took a turn when the radiologist discouraged me from accompanying my son into the X-ray room. This was troubling, especially since I'd been allowed in for a different injury just a few weeks prior. When I politely insisted on being present, the radiologist reluctantly agreed, but it was clear they were not happy with my decision.
As a parent, let me be clear: it is never okay to suggest that a parent should not accompany their child in such a situation. Parents have every right to be with their child, and I will always trust my instinct over anyone else's recommendation. To even imply otherwise is unacceptable.
Once inside the X-ray room, it quickly became apparent that the radiologist was struggling to position my son's arm and causing him significant pain. My son was in tears, while seated in an adult-sized chair with a large gap between the table and his lap, which was forcing him to strain his broken arm far too high. When I calmly suggested adjusting the chair or table to reduce his discomfort, the radiologist refused and implied that pain was simply unavoidable if we wanted the X-rays to be taken. This lack of flexibility and compassion was appalling. I politely and professionally requested the nurse practitioner join us to assess whether it was appropriate to continue, given the pain my son was in. Instead of maintaining a spirit of cooperation, the radiologist left the room, leaving my son in a painful position, only to send the nurse practitioner in their stead to claim I was not cooperating. Ironic!
This was deeply unprofessional. The nurse practitioner left, and I assumed we would then continue with the X-rays. I spent the time trying to coach my son to be brave and endure the pain for a few moments. However, the nurse practitioner returned several minutes later, this time with a manager, treating me as though I was being difficult, when all I was doing was calmly advocating for my son's comfort and safety. Their collective attitude and refusal to collaborate made me feel like an inconvenience, rather than a concerned parent doing what was best for my child.
We left and went to Cooper ER in Camden, where the experience couldn't have been more different. Despite having the same equipment layout, the staff at Cooper immediately adjusted his seating for comfort, explained every step with respect, and handled the situation with compassion and professionalism. My son, who had been in tears at Riverside, was laughing at Cooper, even though he needed to return for multiple X-rays. It was truly a night-and-day difference, and it had nothing to do with the facilities but everything to do with the people.
The lack of basic bedside manner and empathy at Riverside Urgent Care is concerning and must be addressed. It is my sincere hope that this feedback is taken seriously, and that the staff reconsider their approach to patient care, especially when dealing with children. If I had not insisted on being present, I can't imagine how much more distress my son would have endured. This is not the way to treat families, and I encourage Riverside to reflect on this experience to prevent it from happening again.