On June 28th Saturday we took our 8 yr old golden retriever to be seen for a dew claw nail that had come off. I suspected it was getting infected. We were given a 2 pm appt. I had already given all our pertinent info when we called. As we were driving I received a text msg saying the appt was now 2:06 pm and to sign in to a kiosk iPad in the waiting room. 25 mins later a woman came out to us and asked what was wrong with my dog. She did not disclose her name or her title. Then asked to weigh him. She did not turn on the scale but has asked us to put him on the scale . After getting him positioned she says, "I forgot to turn it on." So we repeated everything again. She then sends us back to the seats we were waiting and says , mom, dad..."sit": jokingly. Meanwhile the dog is still panting with anxiety and she leaves us to wait. Another 20 mins goes by and another person calls on us , then she wants a weight on him.
I told her he has been weighed already. She then brings us down the corridor, where two people were sitting ..in the corridor with their dog, barely leaving room for us to pass them by and the dogs were having an encounter which should not have happened. At least there wasn't a fight, but very well could have been. We are brought into a room where we spent the next 15 mins with her asking all the same questions I have already answered to the person that took my call and additionally when I filled out information from a text message to secure the appt. This is now 3 times with the same info.
After 15 mins, dog still panting , I asked, "when are we going to see the doctor" ? She told me they haven't had lunch yet and her job is to take all the info.
I explained , "I have already given you all this info". She said she would ask the doctor how much longer before we can be seen. She comes back and tells us there are 4 other dogs to be seen and only one doctor. At this point we had had it with waiting now almost an hour. Dog still panting. 4 dogs later would have been clearly 2 more hours. Best decision was to leave the facility ! This is an urgent care facility where URGENT is not really what you will receive.! Don't waste your time here folks! They are unorganized and clearly need additional doctors and staff. In addition,
I might suggest the following:
1) that they have a person that comes out as a greeter so that any questions can be answered and hear any concerns.
Introducing themselves would lend itself to a more personal approach and to greet the animals / dog in a more friendly and engaging manner. Clue us in to the fact that there may be a longer anticipated wait and provide a better time for us.
Both staff failed miserably at this.
2) The person taking the call should have all the info needed to save two others from duplication of efforts.
3)Provide water for dogs or at least assess the animal who has been panting for almost an hour inside the waiting room.
4) They need an overhaul of their practice to ensure a more efficient and pleasant environment.
It truly felt that we were stranded in a waiting room and nobody really cared!
Nobody should wait in an urgent care facility for two hours or possibly more, with a pet , to be seen by a doctor!
Urgent vet...my message is...DO BETTER!! Today's experience is unacceptable on many levels! read more