I had an 8 am appointment with a Urologist for a procedure this morning. I booked the first appointment of the day so I could get in and then go back to work. My Doctors' office is in the Doctors Building next to the hospital where I work, so it is very convenient. I arrive on time, check in and get called back to a room right away. I am told to partially disrobe waist down, put the drape on and sit down; the Doctor will be in shortly. I sit down, take deep breaths to relax. It's freezing in the room and I have this paper drape to cover myself. 45 minutes later, I am still sitting there, freezing! I know my appointment was the first one of the day....what is going on? I wrap myself and open the door....hello...the Medical assistant that barely speaks English..asks what's wrong? I said, where is the Doctor?....I have been sitting here half naked, freezing...do you have a blanket? She says, 'no,,,, no blanket, Doctor busy with other patient, she be there soon.' I say, how many patients did she have at 8 am, I was the first patient of the day? No answer, 'she be there soon.'
I went back in the room. I'll give it 10 more minutes. Ten minutes later, I am still there. I get dressed and go to the receptionist. I ask her what time my appointment was and she says 8 am. I ask her how many patients were scheduled for 8 am and she says 3. I ask her, 'for one doctor' and she says Yes. There are at least 8 people sitting in the waiting room. I say, give me my check back, do not bill my insurance. She asks, 'whats' wrong'? I say, I had an appointment at 8 am and have been sitting half naked in a room, freezing, with no blanket, for 45 minutes, waiting for the doctor. I said, that is absolutely poor service for any patient and I won't be back. OK, I'm out of there.
I'm back at work, at my desk, trying to calm down, analyzing my behavior. I feel good about it. It's ridiculous to subject a patient to this. But I'm all fired up and need to calm down. I very, very rarely get this way. I am usually very calm; but when I get this way, I am very direct.
Ten minutes later, my phone rings...it's the Doctor. She wants to know what happened. I explain the whole story to her....she interrupts and explains about patient emergencies, etc. I say, I understand, patient emergencies, I'm a nurse...she interrupts and says, I am a surgeon! OK, well, you one-upted me there! We argue back and forth about the situation; she tries to tell me my appointment was at 8:15. I tell her, that communication would have helped...blah, blah, blah. She asks me how she can make it right? She knows I work at the hospital and I think that may be why she is making an effort. That may sound negative, but that's where I'm at. I tell her, I would like an appointment at 8 am and would like to be told before I disrobe if there is a delay...I don't have a problem with taking care of more important patient needs..just don't leave me in a cold room for 45 minutes with a paper drape over my bum. She agreed and I will go back for round 2 next week.
Whew! What can I expect in the future when the government gets involved???
Anyway, I was not ashamed for standing up to a Doc; I was right, it felt good! Do the same.. I wasn't mean, just factual.
I went back in the room. I'll give it 10 more minutes. Ten minutes later, I am still there. I get dressed and go to the receptionist. I ask her what time my appointment was and she says 8 am. I ask her how many patients were scheduled for 8 am and she says 3. I ask her, 'for one doctor' and she says Yes. There are at least 8 people sitting in the waiting room. I say, give me my check back, do not bill my insurance. She asks, 'whats' wrong'? I say, I had an appointment at 8 am and have been sitting half naked in a room, freezing, with no blanket, for 45 minutes, waiting for the doctor. I said, that is absolutely poor service for any patient and I won't be back. OK, I'm out of there.
I'm back at work, at my desk, trying to calm down, analyzing my behavior. I feel good about it. It's ridiculous to subject a patient to this. But I'm all fired up and need to calm down. I very, very rarely get this way. I am usually very calm; but when I get this way, I am very direct.
Ten minutes later, my phone rings...it's the Doctor. She wants to know what happened. I explain the whole story to her....she interrupts and explains about patient emergencies, etc. I say, I understand, patient emergencies, I'm a nurse...she interrupts and says, I am a surgeon! OK, well, you one-upted me there! We argue back and forth about the situation; she tries to tell me my appointment was at 8:15. I tell her, that communication would have helped...blah, blah, blah. She asks me how she can make it right? She knows I work at the hospital and I think that may be why she is making an effort. That may sound negative, but that's where I'm at. I tell her, I would like an appointment at 8 am and would like to be told before I disrobe if there is a delay...I don't have a problem with taking care of more important patient needs..just don't leave me in a cold room for 45 minutes with a paper drape over my bum. She agreed and I will go back for round 2 next week.
Whew! What can I expect in the future when the government gets involved???
Anyway, I was not ashamed for standing up to a Doc; I was right, it felt good! Do the same.. I wasn't mean, just factual.
Oh my gosh!!! You go girl! I totally agree with your reaction ... shoot, one might wonder if the physician was a flight attendant in a previous life. Please let us know how your follow-up visit goes!!
ReplyDeleteHa! Good for you!
ReplyDelete