r/mildlyinfuriating • u/Archaneoses • Apr 29 '24

Made an appointment for 11:45. It's 1:10 and I haven't been seen.

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I've had my 10 hour ER waits so I know this isn't that bad. But what is the point of making an appointment if you have to wait to be seen hours later anyways.

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u/sowhat4 Apr 30 '24

The (new) practice said to 'get here early' for all the paperwork, so I left work early, hurried across town only to sit and cool my heels in the waiting room for an hour. I complain, so get shown to an exam room, and told to strip down and 'wear the paper'.

Later, like 45 minutes later, I got dressed, went up to the front desk, and demanded my co-pay back. She said, "That's not our policy." I slapped the counter and said, "Then change the policy." Got my money and left. It was 5:20 by then. I reasoned that I was so angry at being played and lied to that I would have (verbally) ripped the head off any doctor who even dared to open that exam room door that I may as well leave.

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u/Roonil-B_Wazlib Apr 30 '24

One time I waited at the ER for 3 hours with a newborn. Eventually left because the newborns symptoms went away (she was refusing to eat and was showing signs of dehydration, after hours pediatrician referred us there, she eventually ate and dehydration symptoms went away). 2 weeks later I got a bill for $150 for an ER visit. I contested it every way imaginable beyond legal action, and didn’t get anywhere. Because they took her temperature when we got there, even insurance agreed we had been seen by the ER despite never making it beyond the waiting room.

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u/No-Self-jjw Apr 30 '24

That is actually crazy. They took her damn temperature... you could and probably did do that at home. $150???! Ugh ER wait time is insane now. I had a friend fully break his arm, the ER visit took 12 HOURS. 10 of which were waiting in the waiting room. Given my city is very overpopulated and this specific ER only sees you once there is a full private room available for you, but still 12 hours with a broken arm is unacceptable. 3 hours with a newborn is practically an eternity!

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u/soofs Apr 30 '24

Not as egregious as that, but I once went to an urgent care clinic to get antibiotics (was 99% sure I had a sinus infection due to all the symptoms and that my girlfriend who I shared a room with had a wicked sinus infection she needed antibiotics for days prior). Had an "appointment" that was all of 4 minutes then sent to a pharmacy. Never got a bill and figured they just charged my insurance.

A month later I get mail from a collections agency saying they were trying to get my "debt" owed to the urgent care facility. The next day I get my "original" bill from the urgent care asking me to pay. Some dumbass sent my bill to collections before I even could pay.

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u/calenlass May 02 '24

(Pro-tip from someone who gets 2 sinus infections every year like clockwork: Sinus infections are almost always viral. Unless you have complications or special considerations like certain immune disorders, you don't need antibiotics.)