By Rae Edwards
The purpose of my letter is to inform your readers of a situation concerning our local Walk-In Clinic located at Humboldt General Hospital. It is not my intention to criticize but rather to educate.
I recently took my teenage grandson to the clinic with an ear infection. It was Saturday morning and Monday was to be a holiday. He had been having ear aches for a couple of days so I thought it best he be seen by medical staff. He complained of pain in his ear and drainage, including some spots of dried blood on his pillow.
We got to the clinic about 10:30 in the morning and were elated to see an empty waiting room. The registrar took our information right away. I began explaining the symptoms. As soon as I said the word "blood," she picked up her pen and said "Oh, you'll have to go to emergency. We don't do blood here." The registration process ended then and there. She kindly walked us to the emergency room apologizing for the necessity of emergency room fees to take care of an ear infection. Approximately $100 turned into about $1,000 in a short walk down the hall for a simple ear infection. He was treated and healed quickly.
I filed a complaint and had two long conversations with administration. Long story short I was told that the Walk-In Clinic only takes care of ailments like colds and flu. The mention of blood and, as I later found out, dizziness, will get a patient directed to the emergency room.
The Walk-In Clinic is not an Urgent Care Clinic I was told because we do not have a physician on duty. So until Winnemucca gets a physician on board, we do not have a facility that will treat anything that is beyond cold or flu and yet is not quite an emergency. Fernley or Reno is our closest option that I am aware of. Had I known, I would have gladly made the drive.
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