Comments on All Ears: Anatomy of a Medical Visit

This reminds me of the day I got my cast (About a ...

2008-05-03T07:11:00.000-04:00

This reminds me of the day I got my cast (About a week ago). My appointment was at 11, as in the time the doctor saw me. They called my name at 11:45. Then, I had to wait in the room for ANOTHER HOUR. So, they saw me at 12:45. I left at 1:30.

It's not really the same, but I wanted to mention it. :)

I just want to say you HAve no IDea what its like ...

2008-02-03T16:08:00.000-05:00

I just want to say you HAve no IDea what its like to work at a doctors office huh? I'm talking about a family practice. Medical assistants in dr.offices do just as much as nurses, receptionist and physician assistant all in ONE. Yes the appointments are tripled booked because we want to fit in the patietns that are sick. The schedule is already full to begin with. ITS NOT THAT simple to just throw you in when you want. ALso because we are fitting patietns in that is why the M.D runs late. Sometimes the medical assistants act the way they do because they are being rushed by physicians or other employees. But that is great when they call at 8am. You shouldn't cal and expect to get put in when you want. Also you shouldn't expect to be squeezed in because you came in early. THere are other pt's in front of you. THat have been waiting a long time to. ANd the HMO;s don't make the decision as to who gets double booked. THe doctors tell the STaff to do that. As to strep tests the med assistant should of tested her. And remember we are being rushed by the M.d. to get in there take vitals and get out. Because the M.d reviews the symptoms after anyways.
Working at a doctors office isn't easy. Its like being rushed 40 hours a week. We try out hardest but if you don't understand what goes on behing the scenes then you can continue thinking its the staff fault.

This is unfortuately the norm for most people when...

2007-04-24T17:59:00.000-04:00

This is unfortuately the norm for most people when they need a same-day appointment. That's one reason that I have specialists lined up already - if I have a severe sore throat, I call my ENT. I have always had problems with my ears and throat, and also have hearing aids (first pair was at age 16), so when I have problems of this kind I get to see a specialist - yay! If I have sharp pains in certain parts of my back or legs, I call my physiatrist. If I feel like hiding under my bed for more than two days, I call my shrink. She's my favorite doc, even though she only does meds. She has a great bedside manner and is very funny.

I have had depression and panic disorder for 17 years now, but thanks to numerous visits to the ER when I thought I was "dying" (panic can make you feel that way if you don't know what it is!), I was FINALLY diagnosed with panic disorder and sent to a psychiatrist (sp?). It's been a long road, but I haven't had a panic attack in ages - thank you, to the docs who knew what I needed and provided the time and expertise to help me!!

I was also diagnosed with some back and neck problems, went through a few MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, etc., and found out I had fibromyaglia, degenerative disk disease, spondyliosis or whatever it's called, a few herniated disks that wouldn't heal, and sciatica. Yippee! Talk about a VERY long road - compared to beginning a pain management quest, the average same-day doctor's appointment is a nice spring picnic in the park! After seven years and more pain pills I can count, I'm finally okay enough to lead a normal life. Whew!

I may not have to wait like many others must, but my doctors know that there are times I can't wait. With all my darned medical problems, knowing I will be seen ASAP is one of the few things I can count on.

So here's my point: would anyone like to change places with me so you can be seen within five minutes of walking through the door?

Count your blessings and have a healthy, happy life!

Sometimes the doctor isn't aware that his/her staf...

2007-02-27T19:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes the doctor isn't aware that his/her staff is overbooking the schedule.

I told my doctor she wasn't being fair to herself or her patients by allowing her staff to schedule appointments for 9 a.m. when she doesn't get to the office before 10:30. It wasn't fair to her because she was running behind from the minute she walked in the door. And it wasn't fair to us patients because our time is as valuable as her's.

That's when I found out she was unaware that early appointment were be made. Since our little talk her patients might wait 15-20 minutes...a vast improvement for everyone.

WOW, this blog entry that I find at one of the sit...

2007-02-21T16:52:00.000-05:00

WOW, this blog entry that I find at one of the sites that I go to is really eye opening. So, thats why I would never do this again as the woman he was talking did.

Thank you.

Jessica

I love your comments, everyone. Thanks for posting...

2007-02-21T11:13:00.000-05:00

I love your comments, everyone. Thanks for posting.

While it's true that sometimes offices do run behi...

2007-02-21T01:27:00.000-05:00

While it's true that sometimes offices do run behind, I'll have to defend this post as a worker in such a profession.
First, I work in a specialty office, which means that when people call for same day appointments for sore throats, etc, we usually try to send them to their primary first. Primary physicians should have slots open for emergencies just as Lindsey's. However, if it's necessary to go to a specialist, be prepared to wait, as they probably had to work you into an already packed schedule. There is also such a thing as someone who is sicker than you; someone who may not have strep, but may need an emergency surgery. Yep, strep sucks, but having an emergency surgery probably sucks a lot worse.
Lastly, it's a rare occasion that you know more than your doctor. They did go to medical school, so if your doctor cannot recognize strep, it's probably just time to get a new doctor!

PS Rude office staff is a good reason to leave your doctor as well. I found this post irritating, as we look at patient care like customer service, and try our best to reasonably help our patinets. However, I have also been a patient at other offices and know how it should work. You may love your doctor, but you have to get through his or her staff to get to them, and sometimes they are impossible! :)

We have a wonderful family doctor, one we have see...

2007-02-21T00:11:00.000-05:00

We have a wonderful family doctor, one we have seen for close to 20 years, and his office manages to see schedule patient appointments in a timely fashion. It helps our doctor doesn't deliver babies, as babies can mess up office appointments, which helps with office scheduling. (I don't have anything against babies as I have two children, just a comment about how delivering babies makes scheduling trickier).

My doctor's office is amazing. I don't believe I'v...

2007-02-20T11:59:00.000-05:00

My doctor's office is amazing. I don't believe I've ever waited more than 20 minutes in the waiting room - even during flu season. Sometimes the wait in the exam room can drag on but never more than 20 minutes before the doctor comes in. Another thing I love - 7 am appointments. I just breeze right in - pick up my prescription at the pharmacy if needed - and am back home in bed by 8!
I consider myself very lucky to have found this office and wish more doctors were as organized and patient friendly!

I routinely wait 30 to 90 minutes for my doctor's ...

2007-02-15T18:17:00.000-05:00

I routinely wait 30 to 90 minutes for my doctor's appointments, but it is not always the doctor's fault. The HMO's who own/run the clinics schedule patients every 10 to 15 minutes, and double or triple book patients during "sick" aka "high volume" times. A good doctor can not see 4-6 patients per hour for 8 hours a day and do an appropriate, decent job, not to mention when they are scheduled to see twice that many. And it is true that doctors get so "booked up" that you must wait 1 to 3 months just to get an appointment, so people resort to "urgent care" or ER's just to be seen when they are sick because they can't get into their own clinics. These are systemic problems caused by the corporations that run big business--the business of medicine. So, don't always blame the doctors.

This kind of reminds me of when I was sick a coupl...

2007-02-14T09:52:00.000-05:00

This kind of reminds me of when I was sick a couple of months ago. I did not show up for my appointment early though. I got there 5 mins. before and waited in the waiting room for a half hour then waited in the exam room for 20 mins. then was told by the P.A. that I had the flu. I ended up back at the office two days later to be told I have pneumonia not the flu.