CVS MinuteClinic

‘Went here for a cholesterol test that was supposed to be covered by my insurance (the same people who own CVS), the nurse took my insurance information, verified it, but never submitted the claim to the company. I was billed, in the mail, for a hundred dollars.

Stay away from CVS Minute Clinic. I found it to be a complete waste of time and money. I went in with a routine ear infection — something I’m quite familiar with and confirmed at the doctor’s office the next day. The nurse practitioner claimed that nothing could be done since she could only see wax in my ear and tried to sell me ear wax removal products. Curiously, she also claimed to hear «crackles» in my lungs and told me to go to an emergency room that same evening, despite the fact that I had no prior or current issues with my lungs.
When I got in to see a doctor (not at CVS) about my ear infection some 18 hours later, he described my eardrum as looking like a red cherry about to pop, had no problem seeing past any earwax, and found no issues listening to my lungs. He wrote a prescription for an antibiotic which is the standard treatment for this condition and thankfully it took effect in time. I’ve had a prior experience of starting the antibiotics too late resulting in a burst eardrum. Based on the level of pain and pressure in my ear when I went to the CVS Minute Clinic, I feel that the 18 hour delay caused by their refusal to provide treatment put me at unnecessary risk of repeating that experience.
At first I wrote off the bad experience as an isolated incident related to the competence of one practitioner. But I’ve heard from others who also got some lame excuse instead of treatment for some condition that CVS Minute Clinic claims to handle in its advertising. Anecdotal evidence isn’t enough to establish a pattern, but it is enough to prompt me to write a review about my personal experience.
This may be a case where the advertising claims are true in the literal sense, yet misleading nonetheless. The marketing materials state that «Our nurse practitioners and physician assistants: Diagnose and treat common illnesses such as … infections of the ear …» as well as «Write prescriptions, when medically appropriate». Sounds just as good as going to the doctors office. But not quite. What they leave out is something like «unless our practitioner detects or even imagines some issue beyond their scope of practice (which is lots of stuff, including manual removal of earwax), in which case we still bill you $ 99 but refer you to the urgent care clinic down the street which you probably would have gone to anyway if you hadn’t read our advertising».

I went to the «MINUTE CLINIC» for a blood pressure test that my doc needed… I waited like 2 hours to see the NP. Once I got in the ‘office’ the NP had to take what seemed like a lifetime of information from me. Did I say I just needed my blood pressure checked and sent somewhere by a medical professional? Questions like — what other medicine am I on, she had to measure my waist, tons of questions as if she needed my medical history to take my damn blood pressure. OK — so fast forward 2.5 hours and my blood pressure is high? No kidding? Really? Now I’ve wasted a good part of a saturday and will have to likely go see my doc for real now. I’m not a fan of the 2.5 hour clinic… Whoever engineered the process and the click screen the NP had to fill in obviously thought they needed to build in the precision of space travel… Not a fan. Probably will spend my time and money elsewhere next time.

Decently affordable but takes waaaay too long just to get in to get some antibiotics. No joke waited about 3 hours to get in and out and if you’re in some serious pain and exhausted it’s got to be about the worst thing ever.
I guess it’s better than going untreated altogether, but if you’ve got insurance you’re better off just going that route.

Today was my first time using this service. My daughter had an infected cut on her finger seemed to need attention but not necessarily the ER. There were two people before us, and we waited maybe 20 min. Not bad. Easy to waste time reading magazines or looking at other stuff in the store.
The woman who helped us was super friendly and patient even though she had probably been dealing with problems all day at that point. My daughter ended up needing a script, which she sent to the pharmacy right away and was filled in less than 5 min. The people in the pharmacy were super nice and friendly as well.
All of this was on a Saturday afternoon, when I would expect it to be madness in a walk-​in clinic.
I would definitely go back here again if I had a similar need.

love the minute clinic! fast friendly professional service!

They were great — in and out in about an hour. This concept sure beats the rigor of doctor appointments for common ailments such as a sinus infection. Hope they expand the model further. Are you listening Walgreens?

Why do people think that because they pay for a service, they will automatically get an antibiotic that is not medically necessary? You are paying for the expertise of the provider, not a consolation prize for showing up. Most sinus infections are caused by a virus. Colds are all caused by a virus. People who have been overprescribed an antibiotic in the past think because there infection was gone in 5 – 7 days, that it was the antibiotic. No, it was the 5 – 7 days! There are serious consequences to taking antibiotics that are not needed. Providers that work in businesses that are more concerned with money rather than appropriate treatment are in a tough place. Do not pressure the person that spent years in school to give you an antibiotic… you are not the expert!

So here it is a week later, I get a call from CVS that I have a prescription waiting. This nurse called meds in for me! I spent $ 50 at another clinic because she told me that I was SOL and couldn’t do anything for a kidney infection, yet she called in a ‘script. Go figure.
BTW, the doctor at the clinic said I have a UTI — which she said she could treat. If it was a kidney infection then she couldn’t do anything.
I’m just shaking my head at this one…

With a sore throat, a slight fever, & a whole slew of body aches & pains, I walked into this Minute Clinic.
See, I have this annoying habit of pretending a sore throat will just go away. Then it becomes strep or bronchitis or whatever & the next thing I know, I’m miserable in bed for a week, unable to sing (no!), talk, or swallow.
So I thought this time I’d nip it in the bud like a responsible adult.
I signed into the system, which said I was the only one waiting. The wait was slight (an hour, maybe?) as there was a patient in there. There was an unkempt man who kept talking to himself (conspiracy theory stuff). I was uncomfortable, but didn’t shift my eyes to his or acknowledge him. It was difficult not to … he was loud & smelly.
After a while, though, he started talking directly to me. For about fifteen minutes. That was … hairy.
Anyways, the kind Nurse Practioner opened the door & let me in. After a few questions & basic doctor-​y tests (blood pressure, temperature, breathing, heartrate, etc.), she proclaimed me sinus infection sick.
She was able to electronically send the prescription to the CVS up by my apartment, which was awesome. Even more awesome was that they took my insurance. I have a PCP, but for something as little as this, I had thought, «Aw what the hell?»
The NP was wonderful. She was very kind & personable. She even gave me complimentary hand sanitizer & a small first aid kit for my trouble. Her co-​worker came in towards the end & informed us that there was a man talking to himself in the parking lot, so to be careful. We wondered if it was the same guy.
Anyways, 5 stars for the clinic, the NP, & convenience of it. –1 (reluctantly) due to the self-​proclaimed «insane» clientele (there were more than one nutty person — a daughter berating her mother, a woman with a crop top & — yes I could tell without searching for it — no bra, & other assorted oddities) making me feel very uncomfortable, indeed.
There was, however, a guy with a Billy — Melrose Place t-​shirt on. So that’s a bonus.

This is for the Cvs clinic on 103^rd and Pulaski, I don’t have health insurance right now and I needed a refill on a prescription for blood pressure meds, so I checked their website and called their 1800 number, I tried to call the number for the store itself but could not find it, the girl I spoke to on the 1800 number assured me that it would be no problem in filling my prescription, so I took the bus over in a pouring rain storm waited over an hour and guess what they don’t do that! I was pretty angry (tho I tried to stay calm) the NP, did not appear to believe me when I said I had spoken to someone and it was obvious she could have cared that my time and trouble was wasted I will go to a clinic there again!

I WAS the fifth person in line having showed up 5min after they open sunday morning. I waited over 2 hours, that was pretty miserable.
The nurse I saw was great, got me in and out in 20min and was a very friendly woman (from Jamaica maybe). all and all a nice service but just be prepared to wait and wait.

The only reason I’m not going 5 stars is the wait, but maybe it was just my timing.
I was sick. Had no idea what was going on. My ear hurt, I was dizzy, blah blah blah. I knew it would take me forever to get into my normal doctor.
So I went to CVS minute clinic. I went around 5pm, and it was definitely busy. I had to wait maybe 1 – 1.5 hours. I’m not sure if this is average or if it was because I (and everyone else) just got off work.
The nurse practitioner was awesome. She was friendly and knowledgeable. She knew right away what was wrong when she looked in my ear. I had no idea an inner ear infection could make you so sick. Regardless, prescription filled, and I felt better in 3 days.
$ 60.00 to see them, I believe, plus whatever they prescribe. In my opinion, worth it. I’ve spent far too much time in a doctors office waiting and I am happy to have this option. I was impressed and I think it’s far cheaper/​easier than going to a doctor for something as simple as an ear infection, or anything like that.

I woke up a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday with a burning throat, stuffed nose, and feeling like I had been run over by a Mack truck. When I didn’t feel any better the next day, I decided to head over to see a NP at the Minute Clinic since I didn’t think I should wait to try to get a drs appointment. After only about a minute’s wait, I was seen. I was asked a bazillion questions but I appreciate her trying to get a thorough history. She did two strep cultures (they insist on a backup) and the usual suspect of tests but diagnosed me with just a virus and suggested some treatments. What really made this 4 stars was several days later they called to follow up and see if I felt better. I thought that was great service.

What a joke. Myself and one other person showed up and there was no one there waiting in line. The nurse or whatever she was comes out and says she is taking the girl in and it takes about 15 minutes but she is going to lunch after so I can come back in an hour and a half. Seriously? It takes 15 minutes and I’m the only one here but you are going to lunch? Nice. That’s dedication. You get what you pay for I guess.

Top marks! I had no wait at all, and a friendly, professional, and well-​spoken practitioner. He swabbed my throat (might be strep; don’t know yet), explained what would happen, what to do if it is, what to do if it isn’t, and printed me out three pages of instructions. Took my insurance card, and credit card for the copay. Couldn’t have been easier.
Great idea, well executed. Perfect compromise between the huge deal of making a doctor’s appointment and invoking all sorts of trauma (I hate doctors and their offices), and just toughing it out on your own.

So um, I’m sort of… «in between jobs,» as many are in this wonderful day and age. Which means I don’t have any health insurance. Clearly my body knows I don’t have insurance and has decided to protest. My ear has been feeling all stabby for well over a week, so I finally decided to suck it up and get it checked out.
I arrived and put my info into the touch screen computer, and as soon as I was done they called me back. I literally didn’t even have a chance to decide which chair I wanted to sit in. So fast!
The nurse practitioner was SO nice and friendly!!! To be honest I was kind of expecting a cranky old woman working something like this, but that is not the case at all — nice, friendly, smiling, and we even joked about our names (we have the same first name).
The exam room is nice — it still looks new, and not at all run down. It is a closed off room, so it’s not like you’re out in plain view of CVS shoppers getting checked out. It is a nice set up!
We went over my symptoms, and then she did a quick exam. Turns out I don’t have an ear infection — just a lot of congestion built up, causing pressure, which causes pain. She gave me some over the counter drug recommendations, and even took me out to the aisle to show me exactly what she suggested.
I was in and out of there in less than 20 minutes, and my wallet was only $ 62 lighter. Score! And if my symptoms don’t improve or get worse in the next 48 – 72 hours I can come back for free.
Obviously it’s no one’s ideal situation to be sans health insurance, but if you are — this is a great solution for minor ailments. I know they do take health insurance too, so don’t go thinking this place is for the uninsured. They also do basic vaccinations and other things (check their website for more info) — which is great if you can’t get into your doctor.
CVS Minute Clinic FTW!

GREAT idea. But if you go there with a sinus infection, looking for antibiotics, you may be disappointed.
I appreciated the explanation, but the practitioner explained to me before the appointment, that they are very cautious about giving out antibiotics. Unless you have had symptoms for at least two weeks, they can’t guarantee that they’ll give out antibiotics. I opted not to risk the $ 59 and tough it out one more week.
I understand the apprehension, but I get sinus infections about twice a year, and as many things as I try, I never manage to kick them without antibiotics. After hearing this information, she was still not convinced that I would need them.
Like I say, I appreciated the disclaimer, but I hope this will keep someone else from wasting their time/​money.

Basic medical care with virtually no wait — hallelujah!
As luck would have it I came to Minute Clinic the day after this location had opened. My friend had gone to another location and spoke highly of the quick efficient diagnosis and treatment she received. I was popping Sudafed like they were M&M’s and had a horrible earache and didn’t have the time to spend another whole afternoon waiting at Michigan Avenue Immediate Care (they really should take the immediate out of their name because you really have to wait hours), I came here. The friendly nurse practitioner had me in and out in under 20 minutes, I actually went on the way to the ball game and made it before the first pitch, with plenty of time to spare.
Today I went to get a flu shot, I hate shots, but I hate the flu even more. Again I was able to breeze in and out in under 20 minutes. As an added bonus the shot didn’t even hurt, at all (swear to God).
This place is great for minor medical ailments (strep, sinus infections, vaccinations, etc.) and accepts many kinds of insurance. I’m not sure if it’s still a well guarded secret, but this place is awesome, that’s right A-​W-​E-​S-​O-​M-​E, awesome.

I came down with a miserable cough this past week — I knew there was the possibility that I needed more help than I was getting from my trusty standbys of Sudafed and Mucinix, but my schedule really didn’t allow for waiting days for a doctor’s appointment that seems to be the norm here in the big city, plus I really don’t have a doctor on which I can rely.
CVS Minute Clinic comes in for the rescue — it’s a little doctor’s office right in your local CVS staffed by a nurse practitioner. No appointment, no wait (well, I had to fumble around on the touch screen sign-​in) and I was out of there with a diagnosis and meds in less than 30 minutes. Can your doctor’s office do that for you? Plus they go with most major insurance carriers.
Ahhh… Minute Clinic, you’ve made my life so much simpler. Thank you!