August 13, 2009
Mr. Henry Taylor, C.E.O.
Mile Square Health Center
2045 West Washington Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Re: School enrollment physical
Mr. Taylor:
I, Fred Nance Jr., visited Mile Square Health Center (MSHC) on August 12, 2009 requesting a physical for my grandson so that he can enter his sophomore year in high school. My family’s primary physician is a UIC doctor. My grandson will be attended to by our primary physician as of Friday, August 14, 2009 when his paperwork is processed. In the meantime since I needed a physical for my grandson, the supervising person at UIC medical center located on Maxwell Street suggested I visit your clinic for this “emergency” service.
I called your clinic at approximately 1:30 pm on August 12, 2009 and was told that I could bring him over as long as I arrived before 2:00 pm. I was told that I would be treated as a “walk-in” patient, that is, I would have to wait until patients who had appointments, and were present now, were seen. When I arrived at your clinic, approximately 1:50 pm, there were approximately 6 people waiting to see a doctor. I was told to have a seat by your receptionist. I was on the 2nd floor of the building.
At approximately 2:10 pm I approached the receptionist requesting to fill out the “initial” paperwork to be seen by a doctor. The receptionist was on a “private” phone call before I approached her. I knew it was a private conversation because she was talking loud enough for any patient to know she was “not” talking about “clinic” business. When I asked her if I could fill out the initial paperwork, she told me to have a seat. I asked her to give me the name of the person who was the administrator of the clinic. I was directed to return to the 1st floor of the building. The receptionist refused to give me the person’s name.
When I entered the elevator it went up, instead of down. When the door opened Ms. Rhonda Mundhenk came into the elevator. I told her who I was looking for, and she graciously informed me she was the Associate Director/Administrator I believe. Ms. Mundhenk and I went back to the 2nd floor. She assisted me and facilitating my services. Ms. Mundhenk left the scene.
When she left, a R.N. (white) questioned whether I could bring my grandson to the clinic “for the first time” because I was not the guardian. This R.N. stated it was the nurse’s policy that I could not present my grandson for medical service for the “first time” if I was not the guardian. I informed the R.N. that not only did I have a letter from my daughter giving me permission to bring her son because she was at work, but that it was not UIC policy that she was dictating. I asked to speak to Ms. Mundhenk again. Ms. Mundhenk informed the R.N. that I could bring my grandson in for services because I had the written statement from the mother, and that, it was not UIC policy she was dictating.
While Ms. Mundhenk was informing me of policy and assisting me for services, R.N. Manager Linda Stevens intervened and hollered across the room telling Ms. Mundhenk that she needed to talk to her before she “pulled” that trigger. Ms. Mundhenk talked to Ms. Stevens. Ms. Mundhenk informed me that I needed to talk to Ms. Stevens when she finished with me.
Ms. Stevens called me to her desk. It was 2:45 pm. Ms. Stevens began telling me that I was a “walk-in” and that there were about 20 people ahead of me, and that I could be given services if I wanted to wait, and that, it could be 5:00 pm because of the patients they have to see before me. I informed Ms. Stevens that there were only about 6 people waiting to see the doctor when I came in the door. I informed Ms. Stevens that this was an unfair and retaliatory condition she was holding me too. Ms. Stevens went on to say that if additional people came into the clinic that had appointments, I would have to wait until they were seen by doctor also.
I informed Ms. Stevens that it was unfair that I had been there for nearly an hour and now she was telling me I would have to wait until 5:00 pm before my grandson would be seen. I informed Ms. Stevens that I would write this letter about the character and behavior of this clinic. Ms. Stevens seemed unconcerned that I said I would write the administrator.
As I was leaving I asked Sgt. Sain, security guard, for the administrator’s name. Sgt. Sain informed me that he could not tell me the name of the person who was in charge of the clinic. I informed Sgt. Sain that his refusal was unprofessional. I continued to ask for the person’s name and pressed upon Sgt. Sain that he was refusing “common, professional” information. Sgt. Sain called someone, and evidently was told to give me the information to contact Mr. Taylor.
Please respond to the retaliatory nature of your clinic.
Thank you.
Fred Nance Jr.
cc:
Ms. Rhonda Mudhenk (email)
Mr. Henry Taylor (mailed hard copy)
Dr. Paula Allen-Mears, UIC Chancellor
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