This is for the Target Clinic. I've had a terrible cold/sinusitis for 15 days and went in for a sinus infection (which no doctor will treat unless it has been going on for 12+ days - I know this from experience), as I have had them in the past and have been treated for allergies all my life. Sinus infections are not new to me and I know when I have one.
I saw someone named Reana, who called my name while I sat in the waiting room, after 15 minutes of waiting - and no one was before me. It was empty, and it was not a lunch break for staff. I was already annoyed with this.
She drilled me on a ton of questions and plugged my answers into her computer. Her response and diagnosis, while I blew my nose continuously and spoke to her in my raspy, worn-down voice from this cold: "This is not a sinus infection, you do not need antibiotics. What I have entered into my computer does not mean it is bacterial, it is viral." I was speechless. She said that if I was feeling this terrible, why didn't I go to my allergist or the ER? My response: Because I could not get in to see him, and this is why I am at a Minute-Clinic - a last-minute resort. She continued to lecture me on how I should be seeing an ENT, as people should not have sinus infections this "regularly" and only 2% of all people get bacterial infections from the common cold (I told her I maybe get one per year during allergy season - and 2%?!), and that she can not prescribe me medication. She advised me to continue taking all OTC drugs - which is the worst medical recommendation I have ever heard. Cough syrup, decongestants, antihistamines- to be continued until I am better, around-the-clock, which she said could take weeks. THIS is a sinus infection, I am sure of and OTC drugs were clearly not working, which is why I went to the Minute-Clinic.
I read her write-up on me, after I paid and she printed everything out. In her notes, apparently, I experience "moderate sinus pressure" after telling her I was a 9 on a scale from 1-10 of pain/pressure. Since when is a 9, "moderate"? Also, after telling her that I have a sore throat and extremely painful sinus headaches, I read "does not have sore throat" and "mild headaches". Another good one: After blowing my nose repeatedly and telling her how often I drain, she writes, "no drainage".
I nodded and agreed with what she said to me, only because I needed an antibiotic and knew she was the only one I could get it from today. After explaining how horrible I felt, and that this is not new to me, she finally gave in and said "I will give you an antibiotic, but only because you say you really need it. I shouldn't be doing this because my computer system says, and I don't believe, that you really have one." I was furious, but took the prescription and left.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND going to this location. I needed to go somewhere quickly on my lunch break, and have been to a different Target location on the north side, on Peterson, and had a wonderful experience with a very nice nurse. So, I figured Target would be safe. I felt uncomfortable, frustrated, and crappy seeing Reana and she should not be practicing medicine anywhere. I don't need a smiley, over-friendly nurse or doctor - just someone who will HELP me, not make me feel worse about how sick I feel AND tell me, basically, that I'm lying about how I feel. I will be calling her manager this weekend. read more