CVS Minute Clinic

Minute clinic general review. After doing paperwork and my vitals taken etc. I was told they don’t take medicare/​aetna ppo. My husband went in for a tetanus shot and now we have received a bill. Our insurance covers pharmacy shots but evidently not shots in a pharmacy (medical). The lack of communication at these minute clinics is unprofessional at best. Best go to an established urgent care instead.

Five stars for NP Gail Bernstein! I had zero wait time and she was extremely knowledgeable and efficient! I stopped in on the way home to Long Beach from work in San Diego and was sick with a bad sore throat. She examined me and gave me the proper medications. The only downfall was a pharmacy technician who worked in the pharmacy… I give that very rude girl a big fat ZERO. I personally called and filed a complaint on that person, she doesn’t belong working in the public with customers. Go see Gail but go somewhere else to get your Rx’s filled!!!

I give this place a decent rating because people should know that a minute clinic can’t do a lot of things an average doctor’s office can do. Minus 2 stars because despite the name, it doesn’t take a minute and there’s actually a lot of waiting around that maybe you’re better off seeing your regular doctor if you can get an appointment soon or go to an urgent care clinic (but if it’s bad enough, go to the Emergency Room).
The check in machine will give you an estimate on how long your wait will be, which is awesome. It gave me an approximate wait time of 2 hours. I also got a text message 30 minutes before I’m supposed to be up. However, I get back there on time and I still waited around for 40 minutes to get called.
This CVS Minute Clinic is good for:
– Doctor’s Note to excuse you from work, class, athletic/​sports, family reunion, baby shower, wedding, or whatever activity you don’t want to go to. And oh, the note might not be from an actual physician, but it should work (as long as you have a somewhat valid excuse they can write about).
– Very non serious illness that it’s almost a joke.
– Physical/​general exam for work, class, athletic or sport events, etc.
– Some acute illnesses that are slightly worse than a cold.
– Maybe vaccinations, but I’m not sure on that one so go call them and ask.
– Some refills, but not all. If you need your usual meds refilled asap, they can probably do it as long as you bring your meds with you so they can see what it is and how it’s prescribed. But since it’s not a real doctor’s office, they can’t prescribe a lot of different medications because they don’t know how, can’t, or shouldn’t.
– Birth control pills or ring prescription/​refill.
What it’s NOT good for:
– Illnesses that aren’t just sniffles such as vertigo, vomiting, rashes, hallucinations, mental breakdowns, depression, broken face, chest pain, trouble breathing, stab wounds, etc.
– Pretty much anything that would need blood testing or an actual doctor with experience.
– Anything that resembles counseling or therapy. Or general caring about your mental or emotional health.
– Chronic illness management such as diabetes, heart disease, depression. Go find a doctor and establish a relationship with one.
– Complicated set of symptoms that has a variety of possible answers. Because you will get a lot of «maybe it’s this, maybe it’s that — but if it doesn’t go away in a week, you should make an appointment to see your regular doctor».
– Urgent emergency cases such as any type of severe bleeding, any type of protruding bones, animal bites, possible concussion, etc.
What this minute clinic claims to be good at:
– Weight management. My opinion is they’re probably not as good as they think they are, but I’ve never signed up for their program. I did ask about basic diet and exercise advice, and it took a lot for me not to spill everything I know that currently contradicts what was said to me. But I don’t know, maybe they have decent weight management/​weight loss programs.

They were excellent the first time I went in last year (for a quick shot) and after that, their kiosk has been so messed up, it is impossible to ascertain whether you successfully signed in or not. The screen which lets you know how long the wait will be is totally inaccurate so you may think it is short and wait, only to learn it is over 2 hours. It has been this way for weeks, wasting our time. Better to go to Costco.
It seems like a good idea if it functioned efficiently. The fact they are so remiss on fixing their critical computer equipment outside the facility so that patients cannot even sign in makes one wonder whether the rest of the operation is not up to par either.

What a joke. My Wife went there after cutting herself in the kitchen. They wanted $ 100 just to look at it and then couldn’t even stitch it up. What a waste of time and money.

Both my Daughter and I have been to the San Clemente Minute Clinic several times for various health needs.
The Staff at the San Clemente Clinic is awesome. The Nurse Practioner (Teresa Wilson), was knowlegable and very compasionate (really good with kids!!). She diagnosed our ailments and perscribed the appropriate medications. What really impressed me was the follow-​up phone call the next day to see how we were doing. Unless you want to wait 1 hour at your traditional Doctors office, go to the San Clemente Minute Clinic… you won’t be disappointed!

I got very sick on a Friday night — not sick enough that I needed to go to an ER, but definitely needed a doctor. I’ve known about the Minute Clinics in CVS, but have never gone to one before. But I didn’t know what else to do on a Saturday so I thought I’d try it out. The place opens at 9 a.m. and I got there a few minutes early. You sign in on a computer and they have a screen to let you know how much longer you have to wait. I was the only one there and so got seen as soon as the nurse practitioner arrived. She was super nice, very attentive and quickly prescribed me my much needed antibiotics for what turned out to be a sinus infection, an ear infection and pink eye! Once I started the antibiotics, I started feeling a lot better and I’m just so happy that I decided to try out the Minute Clinic because it was a real life saver.