I went to one of those Redi-Clinics for the first time today

I went to one of those Redi-Clinics for the first time today.

I do have health insurance, but I had a sinus infection so I figured it would be a quick stop with no appointment needed.

While I was in the waiting area a young person came in. I would say about 25. She sat across from me and I could tell something was wrong by her facial expression, but she seemed ok otherwise.

They called me to fill out a form at the desk. While I was filling it out I could hear her start to cry very loudly. The person at the desk rushed over to her and took her in to one of the rooms.

After a few mins they asked me to go in to a room. The nurse was talking to me about my problem when someone else came in the room and told her "Can you come help me? There is something seriously wrong inside her ear and she can't stop crying".

Basically from what I overhead from what they were saying in the room next to me there was something seriously wrong and she came to the clinic for help because she did not have health insurance. Apparently they were not equipped to do anything for that kind of problem and couldn't do anything for her.

The staff at that clinic seemed to care much more than many of the staff I have seen at my regular care doctor over the past many years, and I am sure they would have done something if they could have.

It was tragic to think this is the USA.

I only over heard some of it. But from what I gathered it wasn't life threatening, only a severe pain. I don't know if the ER would have handled it?

The two that we will go to are very clean and the Docs are good. Some clinics are horrible though.

I don't know if they have them all over the country or not. But these are clinics that are designed to provide affordable care (usually $75 for no insurnace) for simple things. They can give you prescriptions for certain things and generally do NOT have a doctor only nurse(s).

They are usually located in lower income areas. Usually they are in/next to wal-marts, grocery stores, and places like CVS pharmacy.

I trust their opinions almost more than the doctor's. The nurses actually listen and ask questions.

An NP is licensed to provide that level of clinical care, an RN is not.