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| - It's no secret that our healthcare system is constantly in flux these days. In some ways for the better, in a lot of ways for the worse. Industry consolidation, rising drug prices, confusing insurance options, frustrating paperwork, and red tape are just some of the challenges that affect all of us in this endlessly complicated field. I'm no stranger to this myself as I'm oddly no longer as invincible as I was in my 20s. While the healthcare I've received from my primary care physician has been good, the most frustrating issue I've had over the years has been getting an appointment. My doctor will often be so booked that I sometimes have to wait up to two weeks for a checkup or for an unknown illness.
Awhile back I had a painful foot injury that didn't seem to be healing properly no matter what I tried. I wanted to get into the doctor for a look but he was booked for two weeks. I checked with several local podiatrists, but they too had long queues. Out of pure desperation, I walked into this Express Urgent Care on the south side of Thomas and 4th Avenue (across the street from Saint Joseph's Hospital) in the hopes of finding someone (anyone) who could take a look at my foot. I walked in the middle afternoon and was seen by a Physician Assistant within 30 minutes of my arrival. She quickly got me x-rayed and shortly thereafter delivered the good news. It was not a fracture. Instead she wrote me a pain med prescription and gave me a foot exercise regimen to work on for the next 7 days. It worked. Within 5 days my foot healed and I didn't need to follow up with my doctor.
I've since used this urgent care clinic for a number of other issues including a sinus infection, a gastrointestinal issue, and a couple of other unexplained health issues. In each case the Physician Assistant on staff has been friendly, helpful, and (importantly) efficient. Only once have they had to refer an issue to my doctor and even then they gave me some good tips to hold me over until I could get into the doctor's office. Any medications they've subscribed have been available promptly at the pharmacy close to my apartment and they always send me home with a wealth of helpful information.
Like any urgent care center, the wait times will vary depending on when you come by and there have been days where this urgent care has been crowded enough to leave me waiting in the waiting room for over an hour. But once in to see the Physician Assistant, the process moves pretty quickly. One other minor criticism I will throw out there pertains to their online bill payment system. It's pretty antiquated and doesn't always work so I've often had to call in my payment or run by the center to pay it in person.
Still, all things considered, I'm deeply grateful to have the staff and facilities here as an alternative option to long waits for my primary care physician. It seems like care centers like this one are where most of us will be going in the future as the number of primary care providers shrinks. So far, my experience with Physician Assistants (particularly here) has been largely a positive one. Here's hoping that whatever future form healthcare takes, it will be simpler, more affordable, and convenient. Hey a man can dream, right?
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