Scripps HealthExpress Mission Valley — Local services in San Diego

After adding myself to the waitlist for the healthexpress walk in clinic (like the website told me to do even though there was "no wait"), I got a call from Scripps to go over my chart information since there were a few things that were missing. They let me know on the phone that I could just come into the clinic because it is a walk in, so regardless of having an appointment or checking in online if someone comes in before you they'll be seen before you. I go straight to the clinic but when I get there they tell me that isn't the case and I DO need an appointment and the earliest they'll be able to see me is in two hours, at 1pm. Fine, 1pm is fine to wait to see the doctor. Then at 12:50pm, I get a call from the clinic (as I'm sitting in the waiting room) telling me that the doctor is going to lunch and now they won't be able to see me until 1:30. Did they not know when the doctor was going to lunch? Why did they schedule me for 1pm when that wasn't actually the case? So now I've been waiting at the clinic for two and a half hours and I haven't even been seen yet. Here's to hoping the actual visit won't be as terrible as everything leading up to it....

Edit: it's now 1:50 and I finally decided to go back up to the front to see what was going on. They told me I hadn't been checked in. Which makes no sense since I had already been up at the front desk and paid my copay and done everything else that needed to be done. So seems I was directed to wait in the waiting room for no reason. Still no idea when I'll be seen.

Edit again: finally was seen and all the nurses were very kind however they only have one doctor working, which is why they are having so much trouble staying on top of seeing patients. Scripps, send this clinic another...

Full disclosure - I showed up five minutes after opening, also 5 minutes after my appointment time. I was met by staff who was immediately short and rude with me. I was there for a minor injury on my foot and had to stand the entire check in process. During that check in process I was told I had to pay out of pocket because I had inactive insurance. I’ve had issues in the past where med providers haven’t known how to use my insurance, so I offered to call my mother who works as an insurance biller to see if she could offer any advice to the person at reception. The person at reception said okay and went to help another guest. I (still standing on an injured foot) sat on the phone with my mom waiting for her to come back. After a brief conversation and the person at reception telling my mom their system was unable to recognize my insurance plan, my mom asked her why she can’t call my insurance and verify it herself. Her response was that she was the only one working, but if I was willing to wait she could try but I would likely still have to pay out of pocket. It made me feel like my healthcare was not important to her. She was unhelpful and reluctant to offer any solutions or so much as an apology or sympathy. It was like she was mad at me for being there before I even spoke to her. I am new to the area and seeking healthcare is already intimidating without unnecessary animosity and unhelpful providers. I got in the car, called my insurance (who confirmed I do have active insurance and they were listed on my panel) and found a new provider to go to. I am so sorry to the medical providers that have had to work the past 2 years, but I wish I was treated with kindness and helpfulness and that my health...

Spoke with a PA named Halsey who assumed the reason for my symptoms without a proper assessment and essentially was told I could not receive care and would need to visit my PCP (who is booked out for months) or go to urgent care (my symptoms weren’t severe enough to warrant that). To be fair, the doctors are great, if you are able to see one, but otherwise you’re better off seeking care elsewhere if you’re relying on the supporting staff.

When patients mention what we think symptoms could be I think it’s typically understood that we are taking educated guesses since we are not physicians. I’d expect a medical professional to properly assess before outright rejecting a patient. I’d been to other health express offices that would at least see me, assess my symptoms, and then direct me elsewhere if there was nothing they could do. There are better health clinics that I’d recommend over this one especially if you look like me and are often the subject of subconscious bias from medical...