Upmc Outpatient Center's Online Review Report Card

Wait time was quick, like less than 5 minutes and front staff were kind and efficient. I was having neck pain which was shooting down my arm into my fingers. My thumb and pinkie finger were numb as well so was fairly sure this was due to a nerve being pinched in my neck. The pain down my arm was causing excruciating pain where I was unable to sleep well for over 2 weeks. I had been seeing a chiropractor for these 2 weeks in which the final visit (4th visit) the Chiropractor referred me to my primary for further evaluation/pain management. Unfortunately my primary was booked up for "weeks". My chiro then referred me to the Walk-In here at UPMC Outpatient Center, in which he even hand wrote a note for the walk-in doctor on call with his diagnosis stating that he was suggesting some pain management meds to allow me some relief until I was able to schedule with my primary or a neurosurgeon (Chiro was not able to submit prescription due to his affiliation to the clinic he works with). Dr. Spencer Charles Castle happened to be that Doctor on call at the Walk-in. He was very short with my visit, didn't listen to my back story/history, barely wanted to read the note my chiro provided. Dr. Spencer Charles Castle came in with his own diagnosis of rotator cuff injury just because the pain I was experiencing was shooting down my arm. He didn't want to hear anything else nor did he even examine me. Instead he decided to badmouth my previous medical Doctor (the Chiropractor) as for his referral to come to the walk-in to basically "waste the clinics time and resources with this referral"! What?! A medical "professional" degrading another medical professional to a patient? Not great customer experience to listen to a doctor bad-mouthing a fellow medical professional. Dr. Spencer Charles Castle did provide me with Naproxen prescription for pain, x-rays (for my shoulder which came out showing no issues) and a referral to PT for my "rotator cuff injury". Main point of this review is that Dr. Spencer Charles Castle was horrible with his bed-side manners. Listen to the patient and allow them to provide some background information as we are not all these "google MD diploma" holders. Sometimes the patient really knows their own body. Also, NEVER badmouth your fellow medical professionals to a patient. Nearly a month later (after PT failed to help my pain) I have had Neck x-rays, EMG, and a referral for an MRI as all show I have a major issue with my...SURPRISE... NECK (not rotator cuff). Dr. Spencer Charles Castle needs to step back and do some self evaluations on how he treats patients and UPMC needs to send him back for some training on patient treatment/evaluation and on how to keep his mouth shut about fellow professionals.

Was checked in by the staff before I arrived. So upon arrival the kiosk would not allow me to check in and I preceded to sit in the waiting room for 40 minutes until one of the staff got the nerve up to ask my what I was here for. She preceded to tell me she checked patients in ahead of time because they are busy today. While i was sitting there they had 3 patients come in and get seen right away. I don't know how you're gonna know if someone arrives for their appointment if they can't check in using the kiosk and just figure oh they'll call me about the time my appointment is.

Staff were helpful and efficient.

Well taken care of.