Health Department

I went here for an annual TB test (I am in a program for a Masters degree in Public Health and this is required as part of my program. I’ve had this test done at the Haywood county health department in NC for the last 2 years where I always experienced good customer service and was treated with courtesy.) When I arrived at 8AM on a Friday morning, the signs were very misleading and I had trouble finding where I needed to go. Once I entered the intake area, I approached the first person I saw behind a check in window. As I approached, I heard her say in a very annoyed tone of voice, “I’m trying to get work done and people just keep coming up to my window!” Well, it IS a check in window… She then looked up, saw me and we made eye contact. She rudely asked, “What do you want?” I stepped to the side where I saw another person next to her in the adjacent check in window and I asked, “Are you available?” She glanced at the woman next to her then nodded at me. I told her what I was there for and she directed me to the immunization check in window. I was met with similar attitude here as well. The staff was rude, impatient, and down right cranky. I made a comment to one of the other patients waiting about this observation and she agreed she was having the same experience. I have chosen to use the county health department in the past because it was generally faster, easier, and less expensive than making an appointment with my doctor and I had experienced excellent customer service but I certainly can’t say that about my visit this time. After this experience, I am more than willing to go through the extra time, trouble and expense of doing this through a doctor just to avoid these unpleasant people. If you have any choice or option, I suggest you go somewhere other than the Alachua county health department.