AFC Urgent Care Raleigh Midtown — Attraction in Raleigh

One of the worst experiences I have ever had in an urgent care. The lady up front was very kind, but when it came time to see the doctor, the entire experience turned for the worst and I was stunned by his attitude towards me. I currently have a pretty severe cold; I’ve been feverish for a couple days and my fever finally broke the night before I came in to get a work note for my job. However I was still experiencing body aches, a cough, congestion, etc and being that I work at a doctor’s office myself, I really wanted to have one more day of excusal to shake off any lingering illness I was experiencing— pretty normal stuff. I told him this in the initial briefing, likely a mistake, as he seemed a bit incredulous that I would outright state that I was here for a work note. Anyway, as I said, my fever had just broke not even 24 hours ago, so I was still highly symptomatic and just wanted to be free from the guilt of missing work. The doctor I saw was Juan Powe. He was immediately very uppity with his mannerisms— the “seemed like he didn’t wanna be there” type, but I shrugged it off because I was never going to see him again and figured I would just get my note and move on. He diagnoses me with a cough, acute pharingytis, and a viral infection— he additionally prescribes me 2 medicines for my cough and for flu, for 5 days. However, the note he gave me stated I was cleared to return to work tomorrow. His reasoning was that by the time I return to work tomorrow, my fever will have broken a full 24 hours ago, and that I was no longer contagious due to that. When I questioned him about this, he looked at me like I was stupid, and said that he was UNABLE to excuse me from work because I was not experiencing a fever anymore. I could see an almost taunting look in his eyes, daring me to say something else about it, and it was then I realized that this guy was not someone that wanted to help me. I continued to explain that I was still experiencing contagious symptoms, and that my fever would likely return due to my symptoms all being exactly the same, and once again that I work at a doctor’s office with sick patients— and he was just not having it. He would not give me an excusal and was increasingly rude about it the more I politely asked him to reconsider due to his diagnosis and the medication he prescribed. I was floored! His attitude combined with the fact that he just didn’t want to give me the day to recover despite clear symptoms and a diagnosis of a viral infection was absolutely insane to me, and honestly it seemed to me like he just straight up didn’t want to solely because I expressed a need for one and then refused to budge after I continued to request it. It was the strangest power struggle and I have no idea why he did that to me. Never in my life have I gone to an urgent care and been denied a work note when diagnosed with viral infection and prescribed medicine. Anyway I went to another urgent care this morning, with ALL the same symptoms (UNC Urgent Care at Midtown Raleigh) and had a wonderful experience- the man I saw gave me a work note for yesterday, today, as well as tomorrow. It wasn’t even a question— and it certainly had nothing to do with when my last fever was. When a patient comes in and is coughing and sneezing and visibly ill, you don’t withhold a work note just because you feel like it and find reasons to argue with them. If you come here, steer clear of Juan Powe because his personal feelings clearly get in the way of treating his patients correctly and...

From the Patient : The rationale that you were not the original prescriber misses the point that urgent care is often sought for immediate issues where the original prescriber may not be accessible. Your apology and explanation do not address the core issue we faced. Yes, it was a one-time use prescription, which is precisely why we requested it. It was not a routine medication, and the nurse asking about routine medications at the beginning and end of the visit does not justify the lack of assistance provided. The medication requested was a Lidocaine topical solution, intended for short-term relief of a sore throat. Despite its clear and simple benefits, Dr. Powe refused to fill the prescription, displaying a dismissive attitude and a lack of understanding of basic care needs. It is concerning that a healthcare professional would fail to recognize the immediate need for such a simple, non-chronic medication. The rationale provided—that it was not a chronic medication and not something typically prescribed—misses the point. We were not asking for a routine prescription but a specific solution for acute relief. Furthermore, the medication in question was not disclosed during triage because it was not a current routine medication but a specific request for the visit. Patient care should prioritize understanding and addressing the immediate needs of the patient, which was clearly not the case here. Your standard response does not solve our problem. Dr. Powe's lack of professionalism and unwillingness to listen to our needs made the visit frustrating and unproductive. I expect a higher standard of care and competence from medical professionals, and unfortunately, Dr. Juan Powe did not meet these expectations.

Replied to comments : We apologize that you feel your roommate's needs were not met at his visit. However as you know, a refill is not what he presented for. Your roommate came in for a sick visit. He was evaluated and tested negative for everything, and he did not mention anything about a refill until at the end of the visit. Also, he did not even inform the nurse that he was taking this medication during triage. The medication he was requesting is not something that we would normally prescribe and we were not the original prescriber of this medication. In addition, our provider expressed some concerns as this medication is not meant to be for chronic or daily use, but only short-term for acute issues. We did advise that he should reach out to his Primary Care provider or the provider that originally prescribed it to discuss need for further refills. We do know that what our providers findings may frequently be different than what a patient may be expecting, but patient care is and will always be our top priority! We wish...

I went in yesterday, with Mononucleosis and Tonsillitis. I stood in line for 20 minutes while one nurse checked people in, and two others just sat at the other computers doing god knows what. Once I was finally helped the nurse was very rude, acting as if she couldn’t be bothered to do her job.

Then, the waiting room.

My boyfriend and I sat there for Two. Hours. Waiting to be seen. I was in the most excruciating pain I’ve ever been in in my life, and not a single one of the staff ever bother to see if I was okay. My boyfriend stood up to speak to one of the nurses, because I was having trouble breathing. BREATHING. You want to know what his response was? “Oh. Well we can check her vitals.” What in gods name is that going to do to help my breathing?! The only reason they even checked my vitals then, was to be able to say: “Your vitals look fine, go sit back down for another hour in writhing pain.” I felt beyond disrespected by nearly every member of the staff that I interacted with, except for the very sweet triage nurse who I unfortunately don’t remember the name of.

I suppose I don’t have a point with this. But I do have an idea. Hospitals already have a low/high priority system installed into their ways of working, so why not create new, separate departments in these very large, (very well funded) hospitals, where people of “lower priority” like me, and “mid priority”, can actually feel like we matter. I completely understand the need to put certain people first in an ER situation. That’s not my problem. My problem is, is “low priority” there, means “no priority”.

Everyone there matters. All I want is for someone who’s smart enough to see what I see, and actually do something about it. There were way to many people in that waiting room. Patients being rolled in and out of the back. Large family’s that were told that only one guest could accompany the patient, yet stayed put and caused a ruckus. One of the restrooms was out of order. The seating was minimal, tightly squeezed, and overpacked. There was no privacy when going to see each nurse for vital checks, or triage.

Hospitals have been around for a while. I think it’s time somebody stood up and started making them more accessible for EVERYONE. Of any issue. Any sickness, any injury, any breakdown. Hospitals need better systems. Hospitals need more access. Hospitals need more. I had a horrible experience, and yet somehow I don’t blame a single one of the staff members. I won’t be going back however.

I’d would love a reply, is that’s something that’s...