Mass General Brigham Urgent Care - Brookline…read more
I am leaving this review to document a deeply upsetting and unprofessional experience at Mass General Brigham Urgent Care in Brookline on February 7, 2026.
I arrived with a near-complete loss of voice and checked in promptly. I waited approximately two hours, during which time multiple patients who arrived well after me were called ahead. When I politely asked the front desk staff about the delay, I was told that "other patients' conditions were more important than mine," without any explanation or transparency. Online appointment scheduling was not available that day, and this is an Urgent Care facility--not an Emergency Room--so this handling was confusing and frustrating.
Eventually, a nurse brought me back, took my vitals, and listened attentively despite my difficulty speaking. This part of the visit was professional and appropriate.
Unfortunately, the encounter with Megan Phillips, CNP, was the complete opposite. She entered the room and immediately accused me of refusing COVID and flu testing, which was untrue. I was trying--despite being almost unable to speak--to explain that I had no symptoms consistent with either illness and to ask whether, if tests were negative, treatment options or referral for vocal cord inflammation could be discussed.
No physical exam was performed. Instead, Ms. Phillips responded in a dismissive and aggressive manner, stating that steroids are only given in "special" cases such as singers or media personalities, implying that I did not qualify. I am a preschool teacher, and my voice is my primary professional tool and my only source of income. There was no effort to accommodate my inability to speak or to truly listen.
My husband, who was present, expressed concern about the two-hour wait and lack of evaluation. At that point, Ms. Phillips abruptly said, "If you are refusing tests, I am done here," turned around, and slammed the door shut, effectively ending the visit.
Being treated this way while physically unable to speak was humiliating and distressing.
When I returned to the front desk to ask for a supervisor or guidance on filing a complaint, I was told no supervisor was available. I was handed an After Visit Summary that contained no documentation of my symptoms, history, assessment, or care, only a list of future appointments--despite the fact that no meaningful care had occurred.
After waiting two hours and receiving no treatment, I asked if I could be seen by another provider. I was later told that no provider in the department was willing to see me, that I was no longer welcome, and that I should seek care elsewhere. I was dismissed from the facility without care.
This experience was shocking and profoundly disappointing, especially within the Mass General Brigham / Brigham and Women's system, which presents itself as a leader in patient-centered care. I sought help in good faith and was met with hostility, dismissal, and exclusion at a moment of vulnerability.
I hope this review prompts serious reflection and corrective action. No patient--especially one who is physically unable to advocate for themselves--should ever be treated this way.
