Newark Emergency Center

I started having severe pain in my back and abdomen at night. Not having a 24 hour UC near me, we drive here from Claymont. It was a good choice. We were taken in right away, they did a urinalysis and discovered I have a kidney infection. They gave me a dose of bactrim and a script and I was on my way in less than an hour. They were friendly, asked appropriate questions and were professional. Would definitely recommend them to others needing late night care.

This place functions about as well as a set design of a small town clinic.

After being admitted for severe lower right quadrant abdominal pain, (painful enough to make me *almost* vomit several times), I was told by the admitting doctor that I had gasterenteritis (a stomach bug). I called him back into the room to explain that the pain was located in the right side of my abdomen and getting worse. I said it was painful enough to remind me of past kidney stones and make me think it could be appendicitis. I also said I am old enough to know what a stomach bug feels like, and this was no bug.

That day I found out that the Newark Emergency Room is unable to perform the most basic of diagnostic tests. Their claim to being called a clinic is an x-ray machine. They do not have the means to draw blood for lab work. They cannot do a urinalysis to check for possible kidney inflammation. They have no ultrasound equipment.

Probably because of their lack of equipment the nurse pricked my finger to test for low blood sugar, "just in case," even after I told her I am not diabetic. I'm sure this was charged to my insurance.

Don't come here unless you have an obvious skin laceration that needs cleaning and a bandage. Otherwise their doctor is going to "look" at you, palpate you and determine you have something he can treat you with the anti-nausea medication they just happen to have conveniently in the med closet.

I was later found to have a cartilage tear in my hip labrum which may require surgery.

I also learned that an acquaintance went to Newark ER with severe stomach problems and an inability to hold down food for many days. Their doctor diagnosed him with a stomach bug too; later he ended up being admitted to a real ER and diagnosed with Crohn's disease, and required an operation.

Summary: They made $100 between my copay and the insurance company, from pricking my finger and selling anti-nausea medication that did not work when I actually have a torn hip labrum which may require surgery.