CareNow

Updated on May 19, 2011
N.G. asks from Arlington, TX
6 answers

Here's the situation- a few weeks back, I had pain in the right side of my face, my gums were swollen on the right side, I had an excrutiating headache on the right side of my head, and some nausea. I went to CareNow because I figured I probably had a sinus infection (it was on Good Friday so my regular doc was not in that day). The doctor asked what I had taken for it and I told her that the night before, I had taken a hydrocodone that I had left over from a surgery several months ago. She proceeds to do some strange neurological assessment (like pushing on my shoulders and asking me to resist, pushing on my face and asking me to resist, etc.... it was weird, I've never had a doc do that in all my life). Then she tells me she's going to x-ray my bowels (?!). I told her I wasn't comfortable with that because I was there for a HEADACHE. She said that she wanted to rule out a bowel obstruction (again...?!). But, she's the doctor, so I thought, what the hell. They did the x-ray then drew some blood to check my white blood cell count.

She tells me the x-ray is clear and the blood draw is clear. She says she's going to give me a shot of torodol (pain killer, anti-inflammatory) and give me a prescription for tramadol (narcotic pain killer) and send me home, that I just have a migraine and some sort of virus. I tell her I do not have a history of migraines and I think it's a sinus thing. She says there's no evidence of that.

She never even looked in my sinuses or ears!

Fast forward to the next week- my head never improves, and finally I just can't take it any more. I go see my regular doctor. She looks in my sinuses, looks at my ears, and right away can tell that I have a pretty bad ear infection and a bad sinus infection. She gives me antibiotics, and a prescription nose spray to shrink the tissue in my face! Of course I'm much better now after taking my antibiotics (thank goodness!).

My question is this- should I complain about the CareNow situation? I feel really slighted by that doctor that she misdiagnosed me. I really think that I shouldn't be liable for that bill. (I have insurance but my copay was $40). I got no relief and had to incur even more expenses for me and for my insurance company because of that doctor's negligence. What would be a reasonable course of action to take?

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More Answers

J.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

Sometimes these docs are weirdos. My husband went to an urgent care clinic with a fever and sore throat. The Doc there told my husband it wasn't strep because, "He was too old to get strep." Really? Because my 50 year old father had just had strep. Bah! I think you can file a complaint, but you might actually contact your insurance company. They may have more information for you. Honestly though, it will be a huge hassle and you will probably never get any results. I say write a letter of complaint to the CareNow offices, if this Dr. has enough of them they will boot her.

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E.K.

answers from Dallas on

I have also had a bad experience at CareNow, actually 2 bad experiences, but the last one was worse. I went in because I thought I had a UTI. When I went in, I told the doc that I thought I had a UTI and that there was a possibility that I was pregnant, since I was trying to conceive at the time. I told him that it would be too early for the urine test to pick up the hormone, but he said, "let's try it anyway". UTI test came back pos and Preg test came back neg (of course - because it was too early!). He said, "congrats, your not pregnant and can take the antibiotic and this pain killer"). I asked him, "well, couldn't I be pregnant and the urine test not show it yet?". He said no and that yes I could take the drugs because I WAS NOT PREGNANT. He acted like I was an idiot. So, I got frustrated and asked if he could please just give me an antibiotic that is considered safe for pregnancy, just in case. He got all pissed off at me, but wrote the "pregnancy safe" antibiotic anyway. He also wrote a prescription for the pain killer.

Two days later, I found out I was pregnant (per a home test). The pain killer he prescribed for me is known to cause birth defects. Thank God I was smart enough to be cautious and hadn't taken it!

I will never go to CareNow EVER AGAIN.

I wish I had reported the incident to someone. I regret that I didn't because another pregnant lady may not be as cautious as I was.

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R.

answers from Dallas on

I will not go to CareNow anymore. I have used 2 different locations and both times they misdiagnosed and in my opinion ran unnecessary tests.

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H.G.

answers from Dallas on

Uugghh! Care now! My husband had what looked like a spider bite on his leg so we go there. They charged us emergency after hour care (not the copay) and that stupid so called doc said well, I don't know what it is but ill lance it. He did and my poor husband! He didn't give him any creams, antibiotics nuthin! A week later it was still killing him so we went to a different doc that said it was a ingrown hair and due to the lancing he now had mrsa. Even better! Like the other mama said, just because they are there doesn't mean they should be! I tried to fight the charges and it didn't work. Lesson learned!

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

wow, it's almost like it was someone pretending to be a doctor! it's almost like a funny story, only not since it's for real. i can't believe she didn't look at your sinuses even! I would complain for sure. Have you looked up symptoms of bowel obstruction to see if there was any reason she should have checked you for it? I would do that and include your findings in whatever you say/write to them. So ridiculous!

I just looked it up on webmd (did a google search of "bowel obstruction symptoms") and what you shared had NOTHING to do with it. there was NO reason she should have thought that except to try to get money from you or something. it was seriously like she wasn't even a doctor...how crazy!

T.N.

answers from Albany on

I'm glad your feeling better now! Remember 50% of doctors graduate in the lower half of their class, same as any other profession.

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