Although the staff was mostly wonderful, the environment in general was just so bad. Sad to say, I wouldn’t want to go there myself. I’ll tell you why.
The overall first impression I received was: shabby, cluttered, unkempt, dingy, and even though for the most part things were clean, I got the impression of dirty. There were old taped notes on the receptionist’s desk that were severely dog eared and dirty at the edges. At least one of the chairs in the waiting room was ripped in the seat with clear tape over it. Large windows that could have afforded refreshing natural light were mostly obstructed by near twenty half dead plants. Helter skelter on the walls were a menagerie of tacky artwork.
Maybe I’m wrong in my thought that clinics should smell sterile, clean, sanitized? This one smelled like dirt, a building that has been used too much and not been taken care of enough, and a sad attempt to make it smell better with a wax heat lamp.
I can even understand using a blood pressure monitor from the 90’s (I tell no lie, the nurse informed me of the fact) if it works better than the new ones. I try to be understanding. If you do choose that course, though, at least try to keep it CLEAN so it doesn’t LOOK like it’s from the 90’s! I do understand, there must be a lot to do at medical center, hundreds of patients, limited funds, I get it. If you were to simply budget fifteen minutes here and there, wonders could be done. If you choose to keep your plants, make them look healthy and strong. Do you know what impression droopy, dry, even dead plants will give to your patients? You can figure that out. Just think about it for a minute. Put yourself in the patient’s shoes. What about dirt, and dust, and pictures that aren’t straight and don’t match, and dog eared dirty messages on your check-in/ check-out desk?!
Look, I’m not trying to find fault. These things were screaming at me, coughing at me, begging for me to pay attention to their pain. I like the Doctor! He was nice, and helpful, and caring. I like the Doctor’s wife! She was sweet, thorough, and considerate. You have to understand, though, that patients will see the public areas of the center before they see these lovely people. The public areas are in such horrible, awful, sad of shape that it may dictate whether many will come back.
But, what do I know? I am just the granddaughter of the patient. I am inexperienced in the ways of life. I am just the next generation of patients.
emileahlou 