My experience at this urgent care was unlike anything I’ve encountered, either in similar settings or in general. Upon arriving, the front desk was completely unmanned, and there was little to no staff visible. I waited for ten minutes before someone finally arrived to assist...
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My experience at this urgent care was unlike anything I’ve encountered, either in similar settings or in general. Upon arriving, the front desk was completely unmanned, and there was little to no staff visible. I waited for ten minutes before someone finally arrived to assist me. Once I was helped, the situation only grew more confusing. The doctors seemed unsure of why I was there, despite my clarification that I needed a physical and for them to check off some paperwork. Their confusion persisted, and they ultimately charged me more than expected.
After being assigned a room, the doctor entered and, instead of asking how I was or addressing my concerns, immediately questioned whether I had ever been male due to my name. I’m no stranger to people commenting on my name—*Spencer* is multigendered, and it’s often assumed to belong to a man rather than a woman—but I don’t present as male, which should have made the situation clear. The doctor continued, remarking how surprised he was to see “the face to the name.” He then spent the next five minutes commenting on how unusual it was for a woman to have my name.
When he finally proceeded with the exam, he performed basic checks—listening to my breathing, inspecting my mouth, and looking at my eyes. This “physical,” which cost an additional $60, concluded with him noting, “Your pupils are amongst the largest I’ve ever seen. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, but it’s abnormal.” He left shortly afterward, dropping off the papers he needed to sign without even reviewing them.
The entire visit felt bizarre and unprofessional. Now, when I can’t sleep, I find myself thinking about my "abnormally large" pupils, the scrutiny my name received, and how I walked away $130 poorer without any real benefit from the experience.