The "new" electronic system rolling into healthcare facilities across the nation led to a not-so-wonderful wonder of experiences today.
I had to see a cardiologist for a consult today. At the door was a sign to inform patients about the "new" feature, and to "please be patient and expect delays." My appointment was scheduled for 1 pm. I was asked to come in 15 min. early. I did. At 2 pm I was finally called into the examination room. At 3:15 I finally saw the doctor. At 3:45 I was leaving. I was very patient. But inside, my anxiety was for my poor mom, (who is hurting right now), and was down in the car babysitting my dog for 3 hours! (Thanks mom, for being such a trooper.)
Not only did I have a very long wait, I was given some papers to fill out and a list of my medications on file to review. I filled out the papers, and was checking the list of meds. "Hmmm. I don't recognize the name of that one....or that one....or that one....What's going on?" I peruse the two page long list of drugs...and wondered when in the world did I ever take any of them. I glance back at the top of the page and the label has someone else name on it.
oops. All the pages to fill out were stapled together so I glanced through all them. Half had my name on them, half had another patient's name on them.
I got in line behind the next patient who had arrived, in order to return the papers not mine, and hope mine were not given to someone else. I heard the name the newest arrival gave the receptionist and the name of the doctor she was there too see. Uh Oh. I have her papers, and I've written on them...What to do? What to do? And, did she just say she was there to see the same doctor I am seeing and at the same time??? This isn't going so well. "Just be patient Luna, and expect delays." Then I hear the receptionist say, "Ms______, we don't have you down for today. It looks like you canceled your appointment yesterday. So we called another patient in." She insisted she did not cancel let alone call the office yesterday. Uh Oh. This isn't going so well. "Be patient Luna, and expect delays."
At the end of my appointment, the doctor is giving instruction to the medical assistant about my future appointments and then asks: "Is my next patient ready?" "No. It's a no show." Hmmm. That must be the "cancelation" that called yesterday...Yah think?
Well, the paper switch was handled discreetly. But, those poor gals in the office. I know they've had better days. And I hope worse ones are far and few between.
I had to see a cardiologist for a consult today. At the door was a sign to inform patients about the "new" feature, and to "please be patient and expect delays." My appointment was scheduled for 1 pm. I was asked to come in 15 min. early. I did. At 2 pm I was finally called into the examination room. At 3:15 I finally saw the doctor. At 3:45 I was leaving. I was very patient. But inside, my anxiety was for my poor mom, (who is hurting right now), and was down in the car babysitting my dog for 3 hours! (Thanks mom, for being such a trooper.)
Not only did I have a very long wait, I was given some papers to fill out and a list of my medications on file to review. I filled out the papers, and was checking the list of meds. "Hmmm. I don't recognize the name of that one....or that one....or that one....What's going on?" I peruse the two page long list of drugs...and wondered when in the world did I ever take any of them. I glance back at the top of the page and the label has someone else name on it.
oops. All the pages to fill out were stapled together so I glanced through all them. Half had my name on them, half had another patient's name on them.I got in line behind the next patient who had arrived, in order to return the papers not mine, and hope mine were not given to someone else. I heard the name the newest arrival gave the receptionist and the name of the doctor she was there too see. Uh Oh. I have her papers, and I've written on them...What to do? What to do? And, did she just say she was there to see the same doctor I am seeing and at the same time??? This isn't going so well. "Just be patient Luna, and expect delays." Then I hear the receptionist say, "Ms______, we don't have you down for today. It looks like you canceled your appointment yesterday. So we called another patient in." She insisted she did not cancel let alone call the office yesterday. Uh Oh. This isn't going so well. "Be patient Luna, and expect delays."
At the end of my appointment, the doctor is giving instruction to the medical assistant about my future appointments and then asks: "Is my next patient ready?" "No. It's a no show." Hmmm. That must be the "cancelation" that called yesterday...Yah think?
Well, the paper switch was handled discreetly. But, those poor gals in the office. I know they've had better days. And I hope worse ones are far and few between.
