My doctor referred me here for bloodwork related to a stomach issue (or possible ectopic…read morepregnancy). Upon arriving, they took my temperature, had me use hand sanitizer, and then asked me if I had had any Covid symptoms. I said no, but I mentioned that I had had a cold 2.5 - 3 weeks ago. BIG MISTAKE. The receptionist then said I could not have any lab work done there because she said it was **possible** I had Covid, and she wanted me to immediately leave the building. I reiterated that I had not had ANY related symptoms to Covid for nearly 3 weeks. She still refused me service. I asked her to call my doctor, and she also refused to do that. She said: You'll have to go to the hospital to have your bloodwork done, and she again insisted that I leave the building immediately. Yes, they literally turned a hurting person out into the cold with no evidence. I only gave two stars because at the end of all of this, she mentioned that she would go outside to speak further with me if I wanted. Okay... but what more was there to discuss? She was going to deny me healthcare regardless.
Now, any person who can count can tell you that 2.5 - 3 weeks is approximately 17 to 21 days. You'll notice that both numbers are larger than the number 14. Wow. Amazing. Even *if* my normal sniffles-and-no-fever cold was somehow Covid -- and that is a big if -- I am past the quarantine window identified by the Centers for Disease Control. So... what gives? And don't forget, those dates are actually based on when I showed regular cold symptoms, which means the cold set in earlier. So really, it was probably like 3.5 weeks ago.
Today taught me that one of the following is true. Either:
A. Healthcare companies are now using covid as an excuse to make extra money. Consider how much more money L&M will make by referring someone to their E.R. in the hospital. If they can get many patients to go there instead of here, that's a lot of extra money that they can charge insurance companies.
OR
B. The public has reached a point of hysteria around Covid, to the point that every patient is considered guilty until proven innocent by a Covid test (Hey, there's that money component again... and who makes that money... does this lab process them? I do genuinely wonder that now.) . So if you haven't already taken a test that said you're clear, then you are denied healthcare. (This is also funny, though, because even if you did test clear four days ago, you could have caught it between then and now... right? So, unless you have a test that immediately tells you on the spot whether you're covid-free, then what??)
Today I felt like I was treated like a leper. I literally stood in the parking lot and cried. I'm not kidding. I went outside and I cried because I was that stunned, and, you know, I have been in physical pain and needed answers, not fear mongering. At least I'm not elderly. Can you imagine someone treating your grandmother or grandfather in this same way? Can you imagine them stunned, standing out in the cold, while in pain? Good grief.
If you are looking for a place that will treat you humanely and that will use facts, this is not it. I would not recommend this lab. I will insist that my doctor never refer me to this lab again. Quite frankly, my doctor was beyond flabbergasted when I contacted him about it, so I don't think I will have to request too hard for a different lab. I like Quest Diagnostics. I have had positive experiences with them in Niantic in the past. (If you use them, use their online scheduling system for the best experience, otherwise it will not be a good waiting room experience.)
