Baker
05-02-2002, 04:47 PM
Today I called my urologist office(there are three doctors together). I have been afflicted with kidney stones and accompanying infections. The last few days I have been experiencing some discomfort again and this morning I felt really bad. So I called from work and asked to speak with Dr. ***'s nurse, and the receptionist told me this was their day out of the office. I was still feeling really down so I told her how poorly I felt. I had hope to be able to go there(the office is right across the street from where I work) pee in the little cup, and call back tomorrow to find out what the doctor might have learned, once he returned. All the receptionist would say was, "Im sorry, they won't be back until tomorrow." And I took it because I felt bad enough not to have any fight in me.
So I called my mother, told her how upset I was, and said I would change doctors if it was the office policy not to have a contingency plan for when a patioent became ill on their doctor's day off. She asked if I got the receptionist' name. I hadn't, so I decided to call the office back. When the phone was answered I asked her if she was the person I had talked to earlier. She said she was, so I asked for her name. Rather reluctantly she told me. I then asked for her surname , and when again she replied rather warily I asked her to spell it. Then I thanked her and hung up.
Fifteen minutes later I get a call at work and lo and behold, it's from the urologist office. A different woman spoke to me and explained again how Dr. *** and his nurse were away. But this person told me I could come in and give the sample. When I asked why the receptionist adn't told me that she said that they were supposed to ask first before committing to let me come in. And why hadn't the receptionist told me that? She said she didn't know, but she DID apologize, espcially after I said how upset I was. I've never made waves as a patient, showed up on time for appointments, paid my bill promptly.
So tomorrow, when I go to the doctor's office, I'm going to have this whole incident written out and present it to the nurse and/or doctor. I don't want anyone to lose their job, I don't want the receptionist's head on a silver platter. But I don't want to be treated like that again, when I am feeling sick. Am I doing the right thing?
So I called my mother, told her how upset I was, and said I would change doctors if it was the office policy not to have a contingency plan for when a patioent became ill on their doctor's day off. She asked if I got the receptionist' name. I hadn't, so I decided to call the office back. When the phone was answered I asked her if she was the person I had talked to earlier. She said she was, so I asked for her name. Rather reluctantly she told me. I then asked for her surname , and when again she replied rather warily I asked her to spell it. Then I thanked her and hung up.
Fifteen minutes later I get a call at work and lo and behold, it's from the urologist office. A different woman spoke to me and explained again how Dr. *** and his nurse were away. But this person told me I could come in and give the sample. When I asked why the receptionist adn't told me that she said that they were supposed to ask first before committing to let me come in. And why hadn't the receptionist told me that? She said she didn't know, but she DID apologize, espcially after I said how upset I was. I've never made waves as a patient, showed up on time for appointments, paid my bill promptly.
So tomorrow, when I go to the doctor's office, I'm going to have this whole incident written out and present it to the nurse and/or doctor. I don't want anyone to lose their job, I don't want the receptionist's head on a silver platter. But I don't want to be treated like that again, when I am feeling sick. Am I doing the right thing?