So, I decided to opt for going to The Little Clinic on Monday (10/26/15) because my family doctor was booked solid and I couldn't get an appointment for at least 24 hours. I will never make this mistake again.
I visited this clinic for a sinus infection that had just started. Now, every year, I end up getting a sinus infection and if I don't get it treated right away, within a few days I end up with bronchitis, or if I wait a little longer - pneumonia. I have learned my lessons about this and this is why I chose to be proactive and visit The Little Clinic in an effort to avoid these complications.
I explained my history to the NP. While she was attentive and listened, it did not really matter. She kept checking her laptop and the performing another step in the examination. Of course, this behavior of constantly checking the laptop piqued my interest (I am a computer programmer), so I made a joke about having to follow flow charts for diagnosis and to make sure not to miss any steps. I didn't realize how accurate that joke was.
When I asked about being prescribed a Z-pack in an effort to prevent further complications, I was told by the NP that she couldn't do that. If she didn't follow the steps in order, then she would get, "dinged." She told me to use Flonase, Mucinex, and a saline nasal spray.
Needless to say, I tried these things, but gave up yesterday and went to see my family doctor. After listening to my lungs (which were clear on Monday), my doctor said they were filled with fluid almost to the bottom. So, I ended up getting a breathing treatment, a shot of Rocephin, a shot of steroids, and a Z-pack.
While I can't say for sure this would have all been avoided if I had just been prescribed what I asked for on Monday (a Z-pack), the one thing I am sure about is healthcare needs to involve humans making decisions without fear of corporate repercussions. If I really wanted to be diagnosed using an algorithm, I could have just as easily logged onto WebMD for free.
I have learned my lesson about visiting these types of places, and I will never trust my healthcare to them again. read more