Immediate MD

I saw Dr Tanya Richardson. She was a great listener and I received phenomenal care at this office. I was able to see a doctor in less than 15 minutes (I went in on a mid Friday afternoon). The follow up was great. I received follow up calls from the office after my appointment to see that I was feeling better, and emails.

(This review is based on my personal observations and experiences and is therefore a lay, not expert, opinion. I have visited approximately six doctors. In the interest of potential patients, I write this review to warn of an expensive and incompetent «practice.»)
Do not go to this facility if you have anything but a fractured bone, and can’t afford the ER. That is apparently the most serious condition they are are able to treat. I cannot comment on the ability of these physicians to competently treat this or any other physical injury.
Do not depend on the list of conditions listed on their website they allegedly treat. Expect inadequate treatment and a referral to an ER. You will pay for both the visit and the ER fees.
Do not expect an accurate diagnosis unless an x-​ray can conclusively provide it. Example: pneumonia.
Do not expect tests for symptoms that, accordingly to the physician, can be diagnosed by an oral description. You will receive a broad spectrum antibiotic. Examples include: whooping cough, strep throat. As is commonly understood, treating viral diseases with antibiotics will not only fail to cure the virus, but overuse of broad spectrum antibiotics risks bacterial mutation or drug resistant bacteria.
Do not expect to have any input as to your preferred treatment. If you have had prior experience with your condition and know what won’t work, you will be ignored or mocked.
Do not expect truthful information from your physician. Especially do not correct them. You will be berated and belittled. That will discontinue your session when they storm out of the room.
Do not expect the physician to explain side effects, potential interactions, or other critical information regarding the medicine you are prescribed. Do not expect the physician to change their prescription recommendation despite disclosing that that you have had a prior reaction to this medicine or have had no success with this medicine. Do not bother inquiring if another medicine might work better. Your doctor will not listen, and if you press the issue, they will tell you to go to the hospital.
Do not expect competent treatment. The probability of receiving treatment bordering on malpractice is far more likely (this is an opinion I base on my personal experiences, and my extensive knowledge of medical malpractice law — as a law student).
In my opinion, the ER is your best option for treatment if you cannot see your ordinary physician. There are many in Chicago, and you can call ahead to see how long the wait is.
Do not go to any of the ImmediateMD facilities. The incompetence, rudeness, and complete refusal to consider patients’ offers of information or input on their treatment, makes it, in my lay opinion, a dangerous option.

I went to this place and I met dr Ghazzi because I was having a painful digestion since few weeks ago. When I described my symptoms she said that I have stomach acid and told me that I need acid relievers. I told her immediately that I have intolerance to this class of medicines and two years ago I have been two times at the ER after consuming Protonix and Famotodine, and few days ago my boss had to call an ambulance at work because I was going to pass out after taking Mylanta. They cause a diarrhea, skin rash, very high blood pressure, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. She insisted that I have to take acid reliever and sent me to the pharmacy to buy Prilosec and Tums. I did it and I got back to her office. I took just one pill Prilosec and it made me feel sick. She immediately checked my blood pressure that raised significantly and my pulse jumped from 75 to 105. When she saw the reaction she told me to stop taking any medicines and to make a diet of eating oatmeal and non acidic fruits. So I paid $ 130 to be sent home with a diet of oatmeal because I don’t have insurance! Few days later I called to ask for a GI referral and for some reason they refused to give it to me. So how come you are unable to help a patient but at the same time you don’t want to refer it to a specialist? I have only one word for the «doctors» working in this office: MORONS!
P. S. And no, dr. Ghazzi, I don’t have panic attacks. I got my referral along with a full blood test from a different clinic. And you better throw your doctor’s degree in the garbage.

I went here because I had a cough, tightness in my chest and that «sick feeling». I wanted to get antibiotics early so I didn’t miss work. The doctor (I think Dr Shah) refused, saying it was probably viral, that I should just drink fluids and that I could come back if it worsened. Right — another $ 175.00 for nothing after getting sicker and missing work? No thank you. I called my doctor (what I should have done in the first place) and got the prescription I needed. Don’t go here unless you feel like wasting your time and money, or unless you are so sick you’re nearly dying because that’s what it takes to get treated.

Absolutely fantastic experience. We were greeted nicely, The MA and Doctor were knowledgeable, efficient and friendly. I have never been to an urgent care before but the concept is great and Immediate MD was great.

I visited on a Saturday morning and was brought back within a few minutes after completing my paperwork. The staff was courteous, attentive and professional. The waiting area and rooms were also very well-​kept and clean. Parking out front on the street was free and easy, even though there is also a parking lot. If you receive a prescription, there’s a CVS down the block. They called a couple days afterward to see how I was doing. I would go again.

I was very impressed with the staff here at Immediate Care in North Center. The doctor on duty was great and the other staff were friendly and helpful too. I only waited for about 10 minutes and parking was easy (they have a parking lot with a few reserved spots for patients).
If you are in need of immediate care, this is the place to go.

Quick and convenient, as one would expect Immediate Care to be. All the staff (receptionist, nurses, doctor) super friendly and caring. I have a huge fear of needles and most likely needed blood drawn. The doctor and nurses were very understanding of this and truly put my mind at ease.
Also, ample and free parking available.

I left my apartment at 2 pm, drove to Immediate MD, saw a competent doctor, and I was at Walgreens dropping off my prescription by 2:35 pm.
Very helpful staff and clean facility. They have a screen in the waiting room letting you know your estimated wait time. Luckily, there was 1 person in front of me and I was called back in no time.
I will be back next time I’m sick.

Efficient, clean, courteous and professional. What more could you want from an urgent care provider. Will be my go to clinic from now on for urgent needs.

Great experience here. The office is quiet, clean, and professional. The three care providers I interacted with were kind, good listeners, knowledgeable, and professional. The whole process was quick and easy. Thanks!

Definitely fit the bill in a pinch. I came down with strep throat and went to this Immediate MD. I got lucky because when I arrived there was only one person ahead of me; however they saw me quickly and did the job well. They called two days after I visited to check on how the medication was working and how I was feeling, which was great because they were able to answer some lingering questions that I had. Even though I was sick as a dog, my visit at Immediate MD was a pleasant one.

Quick and efficient! I got an infection while vacationing in Chicago and needed to get antibiotics so I came to this Urgent Care facility and they helped to cure me fast. Waited for about 15 minutes and actually appointment only took about 30 minutes. Then went across the street to CVS to pick up my prescription. If you are from out of state and need to be looked at by a doctor this is the place to go :)

I had a great experience here. The woman at the front desk was very helpful with figuring out my insurance. The care I received was fast and just what I needed. I appreciated the call a couple days later to check how I was doing. Hopefully I don’t need to go back, but this is place I’d choose. Oh and there’s free coffee! I love free coffee.

I walked in at 1:30 in Memorial Day. I walked out at 2:30 with prescriptions in hand. Office is clean, staff are polite, wait time is minimal, and they offer chilled bottled water while you wait. All in all, a relatively painless experience.

Very helpful and patient. From the Front Desk staff to the nurses and doctors, everyone was extremely professional and made me feel very comfortable during a worrisome visit. They even followed up with me a few days after to see how I was doing. Highly recommended.

This place is awesome in and out within 1 hour. Staff is very professional. Dr Mark Macumber is very professional ! Thank you for your great care !

I was seen within 10 minutes, very helpful and professional doctor and team.
Free parking in lot just north of the clinic.

Immediate MD gets two thumbs up, one each for a different reason.
1. Customer service. Having never been to one of these types of facilities, I was expecting the worst (mitigated somewhat by the outstanding Unilocal rating). However, all of the staff were pleasant, efficient, and competent. They also called two days later to follow up.
2. Diagnosis and treatment. I had a mysterious, highly localized pain that did not seem to be a symptom of any obvious illness or injury. The doctor wasn’t 100% sure but he gave me a primary diagnosis and a backup diagnosis, with a prescription for each. And after two days with the first drug my pain began to subside, and after six days it was gone completely. Hurrah!
The only con is that you may have to simmer a while in a room full of sick people (with awful children’s cartoons playing). On a Sunday mid-​morning, I waited one hour with four other people ahead of me and two (I think) in the exam rooms. So that’s about ten minutes per customer – not bad I suppose. Then I was inside the exam room for about thirty minutes. I never got the impression that there was anything slack or slow about their operation; that’s just how long it happens to take.

While I hope you, Dear Reader, never need to use Immediate MD, it’s nice to know it’s around, in case you ever (hypothetically, of course) face-​plant on some concrete while running down a ramp to catch a train and end up breaking your nose.
This may or may not have actually happened to me recently. (Spoiler alert 1: it did! Spoiler alert 2: I missed the train.)
I wish I could blame this unfortunate incident on wearing heels, black ice, or drunkenness, in fact none of this was the case. I was wearing flats (and shoelaces were tied); it was a covered area in which I fell, and I was dead sober. So apparently I only have my own clumsiness to blame for this mishap.
By the time I got home and was able to look at my mug in the mirror (I looked like I was on the losing end of a bar brawl), I knew it was pretty serious. I didn’t think it necessarily warranted a trip to the ER, but my own PCP’s office was closed, so what to do?
First we ended up at a CVS Minute Clinic, but they weren’t able to accept any more walk-​ins due to closing before they could see me. After a quick Google search, we found Immediate MD.
After being greeted warmly and compassionately, I was given paperwork to fill out. I waited only about ten minutes for them to see me. Ana, the nurse/​technician, assessed my injuries and took my vitals, and then the doctor came in. I wish I could remember his name (I was a little out of it) because he was wonderful. He said that they can’t really X-​ray the nose area because there are too many other facial bones that get in the way for them to properly diagnose a nasal fracture. After looking me over, and determining there were no orbital bones broken and I was not leaking brain fluid (yay!), he suggested that I visit an ER for a CAT scan as that would be the only way to confirm that my nose was broken. (Immediate MD does not do CAT scans in case you’re wondering.)
My visit was short, but it did calm me down enough to know I wasn’t going to die anytime soon. I received a follow-​up call the next day to make sure I was still alive (or maybe it was really just to check and see how I was doing).
Immediate MD is not the place to go for, say, a gunshot wound or a near-​fatal stabbing, but it’s ideal for non life-​threatening issues that still may require immediate medical attention, and it’s way faster and more personable than going to an ER. And perhaps most importantly, it’s staffed by real MDs, and not only nurse practitioners.
While I hope I never need to visit Immediate MD ever again, it’s comforting to know it’s there.