Children’s Hospital Colorado Urgent & Outpatient Specialty Care

I really just should have called the nurse line. I panicked and went to urgent care because my son’s nail beds turned blue with rapid breathing only to be told that kids can turn all sorts of colors when they have a rapidly climbing fever. I give them credit for checking his breathing immediately upon us getting there, but I could have left then when they said he was breathing fine and his oxygen was fine. We were there an hour and a half in a room with no one else in the waiting room. I was pretty sure they forgot about us, especially when it took a half hour to bring ibuprofen to bring down a 103 degree fever. What makes it especially hard to swallow is that when they send two bills (one for the doctor and one for the facility) I got billed $ 300 for approximately 5 minutes of the doctor’s time to tell me «just a virus». Since I haven’t gotten the bill for the facility yet (it was miscoded for insurance) it’s going to be much higher. It’s more like a children’s emergency room including the time spent there… this was supposed to be an urgent care visit, not an emergency room. I do feel like another reviewer said, that the charges are extreme for what is provided. And, yes, the room was incredibly freezing. Rather than giving my son a bottle of water because «kids waste so much of it,» he was given a paper cup out of the cabinet. It would have been nice if it would have been a wrapped cup so you knew it was clean.

We had just moved to Wheat Ridge, CO, and had not had the opportunity to discover a PCP in the area, when my four month old developed a consistent low degree temperature. Usually a happy and contented baby, she was cranky, a bit dazed and sometimes seemed to be crying in pain. At this point, I called a doctor who had been referred to me (Dr. Robyn Dickinson in Englewood). She listened to the symptoms and suggested it sounded like a UTI. We set up an appointment– the only one she had available– for the following evening, but made me promise that if the baby got worse before the appointment, I would take her to the Urgent Care in Wheat Ridge. She spoke well of them, explaining she had taken her own children there in the past. Then she proceeded to walk me through the process of collecting a urine sample for testing, so that the process could be shortened for our sake and for the baby’s.
The following day, the baby’s condition worsened. She was vo miting and in severe pain. In desperation, my husband and I took the baby in to the Urgent Care. First, we were turned away as they explained (that in spite of an empty waiting room) their emergency services did not begin until later. Dutifully, we brought the baby back at the time specified. They signed us in. Financial matters (like the cost of the visit) were not discussed at all. Instead, we began the process of reciting symptoms at each checkpoint along the way. (Seriously, people? Is it necessary to have to do thisthree times? I mean, each person writes it down so assumedly, there are notes in a computer somewhere– can’t you just read them?)
We also explained that we already had a urine sample (refrigerated overnight and ready for testing), but we were looked at like we were oddballs and faintly smiled at. We also felt the air freeze up when we mentioned we were parents who chose the non-​vax approach. Our urine sample, the doctor explained, was not acceptable– they would have to collect one from the baby via catheter. «From the symptoms I’ve shared do you have any idea what this is?» The doctor said no. Again, I asked, «But don’t infants have pain when they pee with a UTI? » I was told «No, they don’t”-something to do with it being such a tiny area that the babies didn’t hurt when they peed. They also wished to take a sample of blood, however then they finally explained that even if she came up positive, they would do nothing until receiving permission from our PCP. Even though we didn’t yet have a PCP. So… why were we even here? Apparently, just to multiply the coffers. We felt extorted. We arrive with a miserable baby, are desperately concerned and are told nothing but that we must do these tests, even though it will be useless since we have no PCP. (!!!)
We decided we were through with the fiasco. We would go to our evening appointment with the other doctor. At least she wasn’t making us jump through ridiculous red tape while our infant cried in pain.
We walked out. Went to the other doctor who took our urine sample cheerfully and in 5 minutes gave us a positive diagnosis for a UTI. That night we got her antibiotics. I asked her, just to be sure since I had thought it was common knowledge), «Do infants with a uti have pain when they pee?» «Absolutely», was the answer.
So. Erroneous info from the doctor. Treated us like ignorant imbeciles upon hearing we were non-​vax. Did not tell us what to expect financially (we received a bill for over $ 277.00, discounted $ 95.00 for… what? Not getting any service whatsoever?) The nurses were friendly and kind, I’ll give them that. But what good is that? If you can’t cut the red tape for an emergency (use our friggin pee sample), when can you cut it?
I have formally and politely complained about our experience to the parties who make the decisions. If I hear anything positive I will report back here.

2 ½ hour wait to see a Dr. Do not go here. Seriously who makes a kid wait that long late at night with no explanation of when the doctor will be in.

I do not even know where to begin. Its a shame my kids always get sick on the weekends. I took my son in for a rash that very closely resembled cocksakie virus. He had it on his butt cheeks and inner thighs. Our doctor basically pinned him down to examine his anal area and used a dry papertowel to rub off what she insuniated were anal warts. I explained that he had diarrhea and it was very raw in that area. He is 4 and was extremely traumatized by this experience as was I. Then, she said she was concerned because of his anxiety of being examined in that way! Is she serious? Im pretty positive that his anxiety might have stemmed from the fact that a stranger just pinned him down and spread his legs open! I get that this stuff happens and that theres some sort of protocall, but perhaps when the symptoms lead there? Yes! Were talking rash. She didnt bother to check ANY OTHER part of his body, no legs, arms, chest etc… which happened to have the same rash. How this equates to sexual abuse i have no idea! She was so caught up with that, that she failed miserably at noticing any other symptoms. I felt so uncomfortable and angry and defensive and then she actually suggested i give him a bleach bath. When she returned with the prescriptions (for antibiotics) which were useless since it turns out it was cocksakie virus, just as i suspected, she told my son right to his face that the medicine was going to taste just horrible. This woman cannot possibly have any children right?
What an incredible waste of time and emotion. I’d steer clear of ANgelique Ferayorni! I got better advice from google. And of course my regular pedritrican.

The wait was long, but the staff were all very welcoming and friendly.
I truly felt comfortable because all the staff had were enviting.
The office is set up especially for children and they provide movies, toys and games to make the wait a bit more manageable.
The exam room was very cold and more of a storage room and that is the only thing that I would improve on.
I am very likely to return if my child is sick afterhours.

Super staff when we went with my 3 month old. They were so fast and kind. Plus it was super clean and kid friendly (as it should be). I will take my daughter here anytime I would need too. (Even though I hope I won’t have to.) 5 stars for sure.