Piedmont Urgent Care — Attraction in Atlanta

I have one word for this clinic MALPRACTICE ! Melanie Lacy NP was the nurse practitioner that addressed my thumb Injury on 01/18/2024. They took x-rays of my thumb and after I came back to the exam room later. Melanie lacy NP came in and let me know that she doesn’t see a fractured. After that, she gave me my discharge papers and sent me on my way with a recommendation to a hand specialist. Melanie Lacy NP NEVER waited for the radiologist to look over my X-ray before discharging me. I was on my way driving to pick up my medicine and I got a phone call from Melanie Lacy NP. She said that the radiologist saw a fracture on my x-ray. At no point did she tell me to come back to the clinic to get a splint for my thumb. she never tried to relieve the blood and pressure that was in my thumb just to see if anything will come out and she said that my nail probably wouldn’t fall off because she said it looked good to her. Melanie Lacy NP NEVER advise me to stay away from work, or to change my course of action for whatever activities I had planned the following day or for the rest of the weekend. When l went back to work my thumb immediately started to feel worse than what he did the day before and noticed more blood filling under my nail. I then left work early to come back to the facility. when I got to the facility an And was put in the exam room the nurse asked “me what happened to my thumb” and then she asked me “who told you that you had a fracture? , And they told you that you were OK for to go to work?” The nurse looked confused and asked me who did I see yesterday. I gave the nurse a description of the nurse (Melanie, Lacy NP) who I saw and she made a very disappointed face and shook her head. Soon after I had my blood pressure taken I was introduced to a doctor named Teresa Beck MD, looked at my x-rays and said that she does NOT see a fracture. She nervously and quickly started to tending to my needs that were neglected by Melanie Lacy NP left me with. (I guess because Teresa knew that I didn’t receive that best treatment) when I tried to ask Teresa beck MD key questions like “why did I leave the facility yesterday without the radiologist looking at my x-ray? Why didn’t I get a splint for my thumb when I was here on Thursday? Why didn’t the Nurse Practitioner (Melanie lacy) try relieve the pressure/blood from my thumb? Why was I told it was okay for me to go back to work?” she dodged my questions and just gave me some curveball answers and ignored the actual problem of not taking any accountability or acknowledging the lack of Ethical treatment that I should have received from Piedmont urgent care. When the visit was complete and I looked at my new discharge papers and it said I had a fracture. How does a doctor say you don’t have a fracture but puts fracture on you discharge papers. when I went to see the hand specialist they let me look at my x-rays and we both clearly saw that there was no fracture in my thumb. I am very highly disappointed with the Improper handling of my medical attention and I do not like how Melanie Lacy NP discharge me without letting the radiologist see my x-rays before I left the facility just to be given a false diagnosis. As well as my doctor (Teresa Beck) seems to be incompetent and could not tell whether I had a fracture or not, and she did not address any of the miss handling of the treatment I received from Melanie Lacey NP AT ALL ! I should have received much better care like a splint and Melanie Lacy NP still should have tried to remove blood from my nail. I say that because even 6 days after my accident there was still fresh blood pooling and filling up under my nail. I’m convinced that Melanie Lacy NP is incompetent and she needs to stay in her place as a nurse practitioner and stop trying to do everybody else’s job at the clinic. SHE’S NOT A DOCTOR NOR A RADIOLOGIST, so she should know her place and stay in it if y’all continue to have her in...

I don’t even know where to begin.

I don’t know what has been more frustrating: the gentleman at the front desk who is very dismissive when you call to speak to someone and makes no effort to ensure you actually do, instead just transferring you back to a line where you go straight to voicemail (this has happened three times), or the nurse I spoke to yesterday, who wouldn’t even let me speak and express my concerns.

She put me on hold mid-sentence, her tone showed very little concern, and she had absolutely no empathy. She was rude, and even when I apologized to her and made it clear my frustration wasn’t with her, how she handled me only aggravated the situation more. If you lack empathy and professionalism you are not equipped to be in this field at all.

From that experience to the doctor who put me on a medication that not only made me sick but also did not treat what I originally went to urgent care for even after test confirmed what I had my medication should have been changed — for two weeks, I’ve felt horrible. When I questioned why I was put on that medication I was challenged on the information I provided and after reminding the nurse this isn’t about what I’ve researched, It’s about what what my body is telling me I got nothing but attitude in return.

The doctor did reach out to me, but by that point, I was already fed up. I was advised to go to the hospital by another urgent care, where even the DR in at the ER questioned why I was given that medication in the first place. Test confirmed that I had been left untreated.

I was at the hospital for five hours, put on a IV for dehydration, pain management and retested for something that should have been properly addressed from the beginning. Missing work because I’m in pain, sick and have to go through another round of antibiotics. I wouldn’t be writing this review if it wasn’t for how poorly I was handled during my time of need because I understand mistakes can happen and the doctor was good to me when I was there but the lack of professionalism, lack of empathy and overall poor attitude has left me no choice. I called in despite how I felt and spoke with kindness despite until I was met with that poor energy…I will not...

If I could give 10 stars I would! The nurse and doc were super kind, lovely, and funny. They made me feel heard and all my questions were addressed.

Edit: I returned for a 2nd time a week later due to developing symptoms. I went around 9am on Sun and my wait was much shorter. I saw a new nurse who was kind and quite hilarious! This place is great.

FYI - In reading some of the negative reviews, I'd like to address the wait time and co-pays:

#1 It's urgent care people. Which means walk-ins are welcome and you're going to wait during peak times. Making an appt just ensures that you're seen before the walk-in who arrives after you, but they have to accommodate the walk-ins too. We've all been there! If they only saw the people with appts on time, the walk-ins would never get help. I had an appt but waited 2 hrs myself on a very busy Sunday, understandable! If you're going to sit at home, feeling ill with no answers, then might as well sit in the lobby knowing you'll get treated or diagnosed.

#2 Payments totally depend on if you have insurance and the type. Sorry to say but there are levels. However, you signed the credit card authorization form in advance so you knew before being seen (or before the appt if you pre-fill forms) which clearly states the policy. Also many people have deductibles ranging from $3-6k, so if you haven't met it yet - you'd have to pay the full visit amount anyway. If you have met your deductible, give them your FSA/HSA card and wait for the reimbursement that way.

#3 These negative reviews are due to folks feeling too entitled without any empathy for our medical workers and walk-in patients. If you're going to Urgent Care - you're obviously wanting to be seen in person without going to ER so be flexible, patient, and financially prepared. If that doesn't work for you, Teledoc is a great option. Cheaper too. If you don't have insurance or just can't afford the visit, see if they can work out a payment plan with you and if not, find a place who will. Regardless, we are all financially responsible for our own care...