The whole reason why people get jerked around like this is because they don't advocate for themselves. The way things are at present just reinforces the behaviors that have existed for years, so there's no incentive to change.
The wife and I share an internist. She's out of the practice now, but when she was there she did a great job and we really liked her. I went in for something minor once, maybe an annual physical. I had a 1:00 pm appointment so I took off work to go see her. I arrived about 10 minutes early, filled out the requisite paperwork and found a chair in the waiting area. By 2:00 with no indication that I was getting in soon, I went to the receptionist and advised her that I was leaving, and that I didn't expect to see a charge to my insurer. "But you can't leave! You haven't seen the doctor yet!" "Please tell the doctor that my time has value, too, and that when I make a commitment as a service provider I honor that commitment or I make other arrangements, I don't just show up an hour or two later without any warning or explanation up front." I left and went back to work. A week or so later, the wife goes in to see the doctor. "I was supposed to see your husband last week, but he was a no show." Oops. Wrong thing to tell wife. She promptly straightens out the doctor as to the circumstances of my alleged disappearance in no uncertain terms. The doctor was upset. I got a phone call from the doctor that evening, apologizing for what happened and assuring me that my time was indeed of value and that I wouldn't encounter the situation again. I made another appointment the next day and got in to see the doctor. My appointment was on the hour, and about five minutes till the hour, a patient care person came out to see me in the waiting room to let me know the doctor was running about five minutes late if that was OK. "Sure, that's fine with me." Ever since that I get seen within a matter of minutes at the appointed time. And that's the way it should be. Doctors are service providers, just like any other. There's no reason why they should get a "pass" when it comes to this. Dan Sent from my iPad > On Dec 7, 2016, at 9:49 PM, Floyd Thursby via Mercedes > <mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > I don't think so, those guys are in a whole different league. > > I did have it out at a doctor's office this morning though. After waiting 1.5 > hr to see a doc about my bum knee -- 10A for an 8:30A appointment -- it went > fairly well, he then asked me what I wanted to do, I said, "Let's do what you > think is best, and I want to speak to your practice manager." He got all > surprised, asked why, so I explained the complete disaster his operation was > toward his patients and customers, I had other stuff to do besides waste half > the morning waiting for an appointment that was set 1.5hr ago (see the card > you mailed me?). I told him it was not about him, he did a great job, but > his operation was really bad. He took responsibility as he was a partner, > said OK you can talk to [whatever her name was]. > > He leaves, she pops in about 30 sec later, asks what's going on. I explain > quite nicely and accurately the complete sh*tshow their operation was, and at > some point she gets all pissy with me and says. "What you need to understand > is..." WHOA WHOA WRONG THING TO SAY HONEY!!!! So I very patiently explain > that I fully understand, she does not need to patronize me with her > condescending attitude when I am exactly correct, and please thank Dr. xxx > for his time and that I will not be returning for the procedure we just > agreed to because of you." She got pretty angry and stomped out of the exam > room, I left and that was that. > > I later talked to Dr. Wifey who set up the appt based on a recommendation of > a friend who knows the doc, she fully agreed with my approach and said she > would talk to the friend to talk to the doc and let him know. The thing is I > sat there all that time, finally at 9:45 got up to ask the front desk woman > what the story was, what was the point of an appointment. She got all > energized and things got rolling. When I went back there were still people > sitting there who had been there when I arrived at 8:20. wheel<->grease I > guess most people have such low expectations, or have nothing better to do, > that wasting their time waiting like that is no big deal. (Granted some, no > most, of them looked like that, but still...) > > --FT (making the medical care system work for YOU!) > > >> On 12/7/16 6:54 PM, Curley McLain via Mercedes wrote: >> Hehe! Rabble rouser! >> >> I wish you were a bill collector. I'd love to send you to joisey to collect >> a rather large bill. > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
