WHEN IT’S URGENT, IT’S URGENT

We Preview Urgent Care Facilities Near the Park

By Dale Dauten

“You treat a disease: You win, you lose.

You treat a person, I guarantee you win—no matter the outcome.”

Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams

Photo by Patty Brito

You may remember last year’s experiment with “Doctors We Love,” where we encouraged residents to share recommendations of the best medical service they’ve come across in the East Valley. It occurred to us that we might offer up some pre-research on URGENT CARE facilities. After all, if you’re facing an urgent medical need, you don’t want to just head to any old facility, and you don’t have hours to spend reading hundreds of reviews about all the options. So we spent those hours and came up with five urgent care centers in the vicinity and ranked them in the order in which we would check with them if we needed such a place. Most have online appointments and/or wait times, so it might take some checking.

(And if you have other options you’d recommend, please pass them along.)

BEST BET (TIE), IF IT’S REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS….

#1 SOUTHWEST FAMILY URGENT CARE – 2919 S. Ellsworth Rd. (near Guadalupe)

480-660-4012 or www.swfamilyurgentcare.com

8AM-5PM, M-F

Yelp – just two reviews, so not reported

Google (60 reviews): Average score = 4.6 (out of 5)

Review of the reviews: We aren’t able to report on the Yelp reviews, given that there were just two – one good, one bad. Further, there are just 60 reviews on Google; BUT, in reading reviews across all the facilities we looked at, these were the most heartening. While listing one good and one bad review makes it sounds 50/50, there were many, many more glowing reviews than negative ones.

So, if you’re lucky enough to need care during regular business hours (M-F, 8-5), then this struck us as a tie for the best bet.

SAMPLE GOOD REVIEW: Best Urgent Care experience I’ve had, and I’ve had a lot of them. Got me in the same day, showed up early and was taken right back. The PA was so pleasant and kind. He listened as well as he explained. I will make this my Go To Urgent Care for good. Thumbs up to entire staff!

SAMPLE BAD REVIEW: This place doesn’t even deserve a one star. I took my son there last week. He was very sick. They told us he was sick from chronic dehydration. They didn’t test him for anything! What a waste of time and money. Took my son to his Dr the next day and he tested positive for the flu. Thanks for nothing!

BEST BET (TIE), WITH A COUPLE MORE HOURS IN THEIR WORKDAY

#2 VILLAGE MEDICAL AT WALGREENS

9230 E. Main St (near Ellsworth)

480-716-3958

www.villagemedical.com/locations/arizona/9230-e-main-st-mesa-az-85207?

7AM-7PM, M-F

Yelp: None

Google (397): 4.6 out of 5

Review of the reviews: The compliments overwhelmed the complaints with this facility. When there were problems, they seemed to be with the overall operation (like the call center or billing) more than with the staff. Plenty of people love this place including a few winter visitors who compare it favorably to “back home.”

SAMPLE GOOD REVIEW Absolutely love this Doctor’s office … They really care and about you and listen to you … and best of all they great your problems solved.. by that I mean they don’t just say ‘hey, take two of these and call me in the morning’… No they get you the referrals you need to take care of you … Highly recommend this office and my Doctor Abigail Cramer… I will never change Doctors.

SAMPLE BAD REVIEW: This is a review that applies to Village Medical in general and not only this site. The doctors and staff at this location are good. The customer experience with the larger organization is lousy. You cannot call the location directly. Instead, your call is directed to a call center. My call was answered by a rep with a limited grasp on the English language who was nearly drowned out by the background noise of simultaneous conversations of other call center reps. After explaining what I needed from my Dr.’s office, I was told that someone would get back to me within 3 days!

NEXT BEST BET, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S A WEEKEND

#3 HONORHEALTH/ FASTMED URGENT CARE – Baseline & Signal Butte 480-214-4466

8AM-8PM (Sundays 8-4)

https://www.honorhealth.com/locations/urgent-care/honorhealth-urgent-care-mesa-signal-butte

Yelp (110): 2.2 (out of 5)

Goggle (3800) 4.5

Review of the reviews: It was startling to see how many reviews reported rude behavior by the staff, and that’s in addition to all the gripes about wait times. On the other hand, relatively few complaints were about misdiagnoses or other medical issues.

SAMPLE GOOD REVIEW: I have no idea why there are so many complaints and terrible reviews for this location. I came here last minute and the service was great. I was in and out with a prescription in 45 minutes. In the evening, I looked up this place and found their website – this was around 5:45 PM. The next available appointment time was 6:30 PM. Selected the appointment time and booked the appointment. Showed up, was checked in, paid, and waited. The waiting room was extremely clean and spacious. The staff at the front desk was helpful and not rude. Once called, they had me do a diagnostic test and I was able to get some results right away. Had a prescription in my hand by 8:00 PM the same night. Wonderful service. I’d definitely recommend this urgent care.

SAMPLE BAD REVIEW: Do not waste your time at this place. My husband came in with UTI symptoms along with fever, chills, cough, stuffy nose, low energy we wanted to get him tested for UTI and flu/Covid. After waiting an hour and a half and paying our $75 co-pay we were told he could only be seen for one thing and to pick which symptom he wanted to be seen for. The front desk receptionist didn’t have a caring bone in her body. We asked if we could wait outside since he was sick with 102 fever she said ” sure but I’m not going out there to get you, so if you’re not in the building when I call your name you miss your time” very rude and un empathetic.

OTHERS TO CONSIDER IF THE ONES ABOVE AREN’T AN OPTION

#4 HONORHEALTH/ FASTMED URGENT CARE – 1810 S. Power Rd (just south of the 60)

480-214-0045 8AM-8PM (Sundays 8-4)

https://www.honorhealth.com/locations/urgent-care/honorhealth-urgent-care-mesa-power-road

Yelp (106): 2.6

Goggle (3800): 4.5

Review of the reviews: Comments on this facility were varied, but most were the usual complaints about wait times, including a few about staffing problems that resulted in long waits or being sent away. But the most troublesome comments were several about the discourteous medical personnel (as opposed to office staff).

SAMPLE GOOD REVIEW: I had a great experience here! I got pulled back and assessed immediately. Everyone was really nice and super informative about my options. I had to get an X-ray and that was fast and easy as well. I was in and out in under an hour. I would definitely come here again if I needed to!

SAMPLE BAD REVIEW: My husband fell and hurt his ankle. The gal that took us back was wonderful, but the PA was a total arrogant jerk. He dismissed me and my small amount of input as his wife and treated my husband as if he was a pill seeker, when he didn’t even ask for pain medication. Told him he had a sprained ankle and sent him on his way with a wrap. They did not follow up as they said they would either. Come to find out he has a heel fracture. At least I was smart enough to keep him in bed with his foot up until we could see a specialist as we knew something else was wrong.

#5 BANNER URGENT CARE – 1157 S. Crimson Rd (just north of Southern)

480- 827-5730

https://www.bannerhealth.com/locations/mesa/banner-urgent-care-crismon?y_source=1_MTE5MDc2NDItNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D

8AM-Midnight

Yelp (65): 2.8

Goggle (3800): 4.5

Review of the reviews: Most of the complaints were around wait times (some saying three or four hours or more), a couple complained about costs, but the most worrisome were about many misdiagnoses.

SAMPLE GOOD REVIEW: We came on Thursday to get my son’s forehead stitched up. After the ER had a 4-hour wait we decided to see if they could get him sooner. There definitely was a wait, but that’s just normal for any medical facility with or without an appointment. We lucked out and had Dr. Miranda. She was super fun, and engaging with my son from start to finish. This is our second visit this month there and we have never had bad service. Not sure what’s with all the haters out there, but this place has been our go-to over the years.

SAMPLE BAD REVIEW: Avoid this place like the plague. I went in for leg pain. The PA had me pee in a cup. she came in with two prescriptions without examining me. Said I had a UTI. And sent me home never looking at the leg that was my chief complaint. The leg got worse so I went back. After making me wait a couple of hours., the lady at the desk said because I’d been seen the previous night they could not help me. Next day the leg is now twice the size it was. I went to an ER who took one look at my leg and admitted me immediately. I have a blood clot that runs from my ankle to my groin. The Doc says a few more hours without treatment I’d be dead.

FROM THE ACTIVITY OFFICE

I want to welcome Silvia Osborne to the Activity Office. Silvia was part of the maintenance team last season. She will continue to assist the maintenance team with the park flowers. She is looking forward to helping you at the activity office too. There are so many activities to choose from at Silveridge RV Resort. You can be as busy and active as you choose. We are kicking off the new season with a Dive-In Movie Night on Wednesday, October 16th. We will be showing My Big Fat Greek Wedding (weather permitting). The movie will start at dusk which is about 5:45 PM.

We will officially kick off our new season at the Welcome Back Street dance on Tuesday, November 5th from 4:00-7:00. Suzie Kiraly will be here to provide music for our fun evening. We will have 3 food trucks once again for your dinner selections. The food trucks are available until 6:15. We will be setting up under the overhang in front of the clubhouse. We hope this will provide more shade and better lighting. Then, keep your dancing shoes on because we will be dancing on Halloween, October 31st. Harry Mathews will bring his high energy performance to our stage and have you dancing the night away. A meal will be served this year, like all other dinner dances. Tickets are $17.

Mixed in with all the great entertainment are all of the clubs and classes! You are never too old to learn something new. Maybe you have always wanted to learn how to make a quilt, create an oil painting, craft something out of wood, or how to do ceramics. Don’t forget about your favorite sports or recreation activities too. We have photography, billiards, softball, tennis, hiking, pickleball and golf to name a few. The computer club is being resurrected. They have been planning activities and presentations for this coming season. More details to come. Our Amateur Radio club is on the air. Peek your head into the Computer room and ask how you can become a licensed ham too. Last year, a Pet Club was started too. Stop by the big dog park and introduce yourself and your furry friend.

If you have an idea for a new club or activity, come see me. It is because of our talented and giving volunteer leaders that Silveridge can offer all these fabulous opportunities. Most of our classes are either free or charge a minimal fee for supplies. Some of the clubs charge a nominal yearly membership fee. If you have a talent you would like to share, consider volunteering. Don’t forget to thank our wonderful volunteers for all they do. Kudos to our incredible kitchen team of volunteers as well. Thanks to those licensed volunteers we can offer food at our dinner dances, dinner shows, bingo, and Saturday breakfasts. We know many activities revolve around food!

We think we’re off to a great new season! Please be sure to look at your monthly newsletters for information and calendars on our events. Newsletters are put in your mailbox by the 1st of each month, October through March. We also have our own Facebook activities page. You can join our group at Silveridge RV Resort Activities. Please be sure to answer the questions when you ask to join.

-LU & SYLVIA