Polk County Health Department

Jimmy

We've been calling for a week trying to get an appointment. We're always sent to voicemail and no one ever returns our calls. Why do government agencies have to be so inefficient?

Judy Christmas

The health dept called me a little before 4 pm and left a message for me to call them back. At 4 pm I called back and literally sat on hold for over an hour, finally hung up and called back and then got the answering service telling me they were closed. So they literally let me sit on hold and then left with me still on hold. Get more professional people in there!!!!

Cole Holder

DENTAL CLINIC- I've no experience with any other department, other than the dental clinic. We called to schedule appointments for our 3 children, but they only allowed us to schedule 2. Now, I've encountered this before because, with multiple siblings, they are concerned about that if you don't show, that's a waste of multiple appointments. However, we weren't allowed to SCHEDULE more than 2 in a day. I don't mean 2 for the same day and 1 for another day. No, after scheduling 2 appointments, we were directed to call back the next day to schedule our 3rd child. Having policies in place is a great thing. Hiring people who can actually comprehend those policies- priceless. We arrived for the first 2 appointments and were allowed in the back but only to sign a form, then asked to return to the lobby to wait on our children. Yes, leave our underage children at a new place where we knew none of the adults present and allow them to simply do whatever they'd like. Um, no! I have never in my life encountered a doctor or dentist office that REQUIRES parents to not be present and give only general, not specific informed, consent to treat their children. Needless to say, we took our kids and left. Why do they have this policy? Because they are misunderstanding HIPAA. Again, having policies is a wonderful. Being able to understand those policies is priceless. I can't speak to the character, ability, or bedside manner of the dentist as we didn't get far enough in the process to even meet him. If you're an adult, this may be a great place for you. If you are a parent who doesn't mind their child receiving treatment without you, this may be a great place for you. However, it wasn't for us. I could have saved myself a 2-hour wait (yes, the first child was finally taken back 2 hours after his scheduled appointment time) if I'd seen the sign on the door, shaped like a stop sign, that says 'No Parents Allowed'. For me, BIG red flag. And creepy.

l. a.

I called Tuesday around 1 pm on the 4th of October and it matched me with the operator. The line then began to ring and a lady picked up and said "Administration" I started smiling because I was slow enough to not be able to hit the extension. I started to tell her "Im sorry! I missed the----" She hung up on me. I heard her struggle to put the phone down and then hung up. It's ridiculous......