Crummy experience at Emerald Coast Urgent Care Center

[30ABandMan]

I try to be fair when I write about the places we visit and I want to say good things about local businesses.

On Tuesday evening I had the misfortune of falling on the jetties at St. Andrews State Park. Oh, who am I kiddin'? I was being a DA (and I don't mean a district attorney) and I slipped. I got several little boo boos but the worst was a laceration to my right shin. Having been an EMT in a former career I felt that I needed to see a doctor for a couple of stitches. So, I got to my truck and we headed for Sacred Heart SoWal. I pulled up my GPS and it said that I wasn't far from Emerald Coast Urgent Care Center on US98.

I pulled in the parking lot at 7:51pm and they close 8pm. The front was locked so I called the phone number on the front door. The receptionist answered and told me that they were closed and advised me that there were two ER's in the area. Now get you, I'm still actively bleeding even though I had applied a bandage. I called her right back and said, can you at least get someone to look at my leg and confirm that I need stitches??? The receptionist came to the door after consulting with someone in the back and again advised me that they could not give me any medical advice unless I was signed in and then again pointed out that there were two ER's in the local area.

I said thanks even though I thought the whole situation was crappy.

I jumped back in my truck, drove to Sacred Heart SoWal and got great, courteous and quick care. I actually had to have 5 staples put in my shin.

I'm not suggesting that you avoid ECUC but I know that I won't go there again. I'll take their suggestion and try one of the two ER's in the area.

 

[scooterbug44]

Yes, always go to our Sacred Heart - they are very nice and I have heard negative comments about Emerald Coast Urgent Care before.

 

[30ABandMan]

Well, my thought was, what if I had hit an artery or something...

And you are right, the care last night at Sacred Heart SoWal was awesome.

 

[30A Skunkape]

I try to be fair when I write about the places we visit and I want to say good things about local businesses.

On Tuesday evening I had the misfortune of falling on the jetties at St. Andrews State Park. Oh, who am I kiddin'? I was being a DA (and I don't mean a district attorney) and I slipped. I got several little boo boos but the worst was a laceration to my right shin. Having been an EMT in a former career I felt that I needed to see a doctor for a couple of stitches. So, I got to my truck and we headed for Sacred Heart SoWal. I pulled up my GPS and it said that I wasn't far from Emerald Coast Urgent Care Center on US98.

I pulled in the parking lot at 7:51pm and they close 8pm. The front was locked so I called the phone number on the front door. The receptionist answered and told me that they were closed and advised me that there were two ER's in the area. Now get you, I'm still actively bleeding even though I had applied a bandage. I called her right back and said, can you at least get someone to look at my leg and confirm that I need stitches??? The receptionist came to the door after consulting with someone in the back and again advised me that they could not give me any medical advice unless I was signed in and then again pointed out that there were two ER's in the local area.

I said thanks even though I thought the whole situation was crappy.

I jumped back in my truck, drove to Sacred Heart SoWal and got great, courteous and quick care. I actually had to have 5 staples put in my shin.

I'm not suggesting that you avoid ECUC but I know that I won't go there again. I'll take their suggestion and try one of the two ER's in the area.

I can empathize with your situation, but you might want to consider that while the urgent care technically didn't close for 9 minutes, a guy coming in with a laceration severe enough to warrant sutures is probably a 45 minute minimum project on the urgent care's part. I know, I know, the sign says 8 PM, but really, you would have had to fill out new patient paperwork, have an exam, have a wound cleaning, have the suturing, maybe need a tetanus shot, then get discharge instructions...actually, 45 minutes would be crazy fast.
Maybe the urgent care might better serve people if their sign said 'last patient checked in at 7:30' or some such. Remember, the folks working there might have to pick up kids, or may themselves be depending on a ride or have other commitments.
Glad you got taken care of at Sacred Heart!

 

[GoodWitch58]

I am curious why you did not go to Sacred Heart or one of the Urgent Care facilities in Bay County first...didn't you have to drive past those to get to the place you went to?

I am not criticizing what you did; just wondering if there is some specific reason that you chose that facility when I can think of at least two between the park and where I think that is located, that might have helped you quicker....

 

[30A Skunkape]

I am curious why you did not go to Sacred Heart or one of the Urgent Care facilities in Bay County first...didn't you have to drive past those to get to the place you went to?

I am not criticizing what you did; just wondering if there is some specific reason that you chose that facility when I can think of at least two between the park and where I think that is located, that might have helped you quicker....

When they are an option, urgent cares are great. They are generally quicker and almost always less expensive than an ER visit.

 

[30ABandMan]

,

I am curious why you did not go to Sacred Heart or one of the Urgent Care facilities in Bay County first...didn't you have to drive past those to get to the place you went to?

I am not criticizing what you did; just wondering if there is some specific reason that you chose that facility when I can think of at least two between the park and where I think that is located, that might have helped you quicker....

Good question.
That is the first time that I had been to that park. When I got in my truck I turned on my GPS and punched in Medical, ECUC was the first on the list and only about 7 mins away.

And your right, they are a great option.

By the time I left ECUC I had the bleeding under control and just decided to come back over this way.