I feel like venting this afternoon over an experience at the medical clinic today, and I’m certain many of you can relate to this.
My daughter Joanna had an appointment to see her doctor at 10:30 this morning, so I was in no hurry to arrive on time, as the wait is generally about twenty to thirty minutes. So we arrived at 10:40, signed in and grabbed a seat, with Joanna watching television and myself reading the Los Angeles Times.
After forty-five minutes Joanna started to get antsy and asked me if we could reschedule for another day, I told her we would give them fifteen more minutes before doing so. At 11:40 I asked for another appointment, which we made for next Friday at 10am, and requested a phone call ten minutes prior to when the doctor would be available. The receptionist said she could only call one day ahead to remind us of our appointment, so much for saving another wait.
If we miss an appointment with the doctor we are charged $10.00, I wonder if this works in reverse, will I be compensated for the doctor missing my daughter’s appointment?
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6 comments:
Yeah, that drives me crazy, it's as if the doctor feels our time is not as valuable as their time.
Unfortunately, there are any number of things that can take place that will bump your appointment back and hour.
It might be that there was someone who had an emergency and the doctor either had to fit that person in or the doctor had to go to the hospital.
It might be that someone ahead of you took much longer than anticipated. Perhaps what they came in for wasn't it at all. Maybe it was much more serious and the doctor had to spend a lot more time explaining things to the patient than what had been expected.
In either case, had the patient been you who had needed an emergency appointment or came in with something much more serious, then you wouldn't have minded the time spent with you.
Medicine isn't like a fast food drive thru. People aren't burgers and seeing that each patient's needs are taken care of, that they get the correct medicines, diagnosis, test or referrals takes unseen hours that you'd never know about unless you were behind the scenes. One rushed moment can result in an utter catastrophe.
However, knowing the ineptitude of many receptionists accounts for their inflexibility. You should have been told when you sat down that there was an emergency, or the doctor was running behind. At that point, you could have been given the option of rescheduling or coming back or waiting.
If you asked to be rescheduled, then the receptionist should have given your co-pay back. After all, they'll see it again some other time.
Often, if we know the doctor has been called back for an emergency, we'll try to reach the patients before they come in. Sometimes we can't reach them. Wrong phone number, they don't pick up, the phone is busy. And then we have to break it to them when they come in. We understand their frustration, but ask them to consider that it could be them strapped on that table awaiting an emergency operation.
....and... scheduling correctly makes a huge difference too.
You have to remember that the medical industry has changed drastically.
The persons behind the desk are much less educated than ever before. Truly, it's shocking. I've had hiring calls and have received applications from people who can't spell, who couldn't solve a problem to save their life. Yet.... in other offices those girls get hired. But not mine. Hell no. I kick them out.
And it doesn't matter if it's Beverly Hills or East L.A. You can find quality or utter crap anywhere!
Kanani said, "You should have been told when you sat down that there was an emergency, or the doctor was running behind. At that point, you could have been given the option of rescheduling or coming back or waiting."
That makes all the difference in the world. I think we all understand life doesn't always stay on schedule. But it certainly is nice when the doctor's staff makes an effort to keep us informed of any unexpected delays; unfortunately, that's rarely the case.
I always assume there will be a wait...On the flip side I appreciate when a Dr. spends quality time with you...He or she is personable, and takes a real interest in you during your visit..Taking a little extra time to talk to the patient is a plus in my book...Even though it's a pain in the arse while in the waiting room ..lol..
Welcome to the world of "Managed" Health Care.....it's business baby!!
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