Author Topic: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results  (Read 2486 times)

purple monkey

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So, can't even get a person on the phone to make a procedure appt.

Left several messages and they DO not call back.

Not trying to figure out why, just want to get a person.

If I complain to them, since there is a shortage of doctors, there will be retaliation.

Can't change doctors due to having to wait another 3-4 months.

I am specifically requesting ways to get an appt. and still remain a pt.

TIA


kamille

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2017, 06:38:24 AM »
Maybe try visiting in person to make an appointment?

kamille

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2017, 07:09:55 AM »
Send them flowers with a note saying you would like them to call you back to request an appointment. It’s not very mustachian but it’s a creative way to get their attention and good side while not personally making a trip over there. :-)

I'm a red panda

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2017, 08:19:22 AM »
I'd change doctors. You say it will be a 3-4 month wait; but that sounds better than never being responded to.

charis

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2017, 08:53:48 AM »
Maybe try visiting in person to make an appointment?

Thank you.
Trying to avoid.
Was thinking about phone call options or correspondence.
Can't email.

If you can't email and you can't get someone on the phone but you want to remain a patient, how can you avoid going in person?

big_owl

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2017, 09:10:21 AM »
My customer experience with healthcare personnel has been steadily falling for the past ten years.  Now I'd rather go to the DMV than deal with the generally rude, inconsiderate admin staff at most places.  The doctors are sometimes no better either, always rushed and only half paying attention.  Unfortunately it appears to be a seller's market right now when it comes to healthcare.  Maybe when the boomers die off it'll turn around to more of a buyer's market and service will improve.

I've started just firing my more useless doctors and getting new ones.  This isn't the most convenient, and sometimes it means longer waits and drives for appointments, but having good healthcare professionals at my call makes life much more enjoyable when you need them.

At the most extreme - I live about 1.5 hours south of Washington DC.  I'm now on my sixth urologist who is literally up at Temple in Philadelphia.  Yep I drive that far for an appointment.  I do have my secondary urologist in Wash DC for the more mundane stuff as he and his staff are very good but not the experts that I need for a specific condition I have - I use him for regular checkups and the like.  But for when it really counts I drive a few hours each way.  My local urologists were completely useless and I canned them all, even though they were quite convenient. 

I find big city institutions better to deal with than the small-town local ones, which is the opposite of what you might expect, but has universally been the case for me.  I have my GP locally, but all my specialists are either in Washington DC or Baltimore (or Philly in that one case).  I'd just keep getting new ones until you find one that you like - no different than a car mechanic.

Another tactic I've used is to go and schedule an appointment at 2-3 doctors at once and go to all of them...and see which one you like best and stick with that one.  That way you only have to suffer through one 2-3mo period instead of doing it one at a time and having it drag out 6mo.

CNM

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2017, 09:19:28 AM »
I don't know that there's anything else you can do, other than keep calling every day in the hope of getting someone on the phone.  I'd recommend that in addition to daily calling at your current doctor's office, you start looking for and making appointments with other providers- even if the appointments are months out - because it could very well take that long to get in with your current doc anyway.

Dicey

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Re: Way to deal with horrible doctor's office staff that might get results
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2017, 12:02:33 PM »
I love the flower idea, but perishable edibles might get even more attention. Think one of those ridiculous cut fruit baskets or cookies.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!