(no subject)
I've been considering changing doctors. If it were Timothy it would be only a minor inconvenience, but it's a somewhat life disrupting event.
I have been seeing my current primary care physician since the Summer of 2007, three years now. She is very good and I am extremely pleased with her capabilities and how she works with my specialist. However, the office has gone through some changes and in the past year the staff has really gone downhill. They are brusque and rude and by the time you are left in the exam room to await your visit with the doctor it's like you've been worked over by one of those stereotypical german massage therapists named Helga that are so prevalent in early James Bond films.
I could deal with that, if I needed to. However, we have been using the urgent care clinic more and more frequently because I can't get in to see my doctor. Even if I call first thing in the morning I can't get a slot. They usually try to assign me to another medical care provider, which is normally a fine and acceptable thing and I have allowed this several times. However, one of these times the other medical care provider prescribed something that was not recommended to be used for a person with my medical condition. As this provider was new to my case I checked with my specialist to see if the medication was okay to use, was told no, and was then prescribed a different med by my specialist.
Last time I made it into the office, and managed to see my own doctor, I discussed my concerns with her. She was very understanding and asked if we could give them another chance. She also discussed the matter with their office manager. The office manager and I have traded voicemails a couple of times but, thanks to my really brutal work schedule (where I have only minimal access to a phone) it hasn't been easy to schedule time for a call.
Naturally, today I get sick. I woke up with a sore throat, a swollen tonsil, and pain that radiates into the ear and jaw along that side. So I decide to give them one more try.
Is my doctor available? No.
Do they try to get a message through to her medical assistant to see if she could fit me in? No.
Do they try to shift me off onto another medical care provider? Yes.
I've decided to go ahead and take the appointment with the alternate doc and leave another voicemail for the office manager and ask if we could have a face-to-face with her when I come in. This was 2.5 hours ago and I haven't had a return call yet.
I have been seeing my current primary care physician since the Summer of 2007, three years now. She is very good and I am extremely pleased with her capabilities and how she works with my specialist. However, the office has gone through some changes and in the past year the staff has really gone downhill. They are brusque and rude and by the time you are left in the exam room to await your visit with the doctor it's like you've been worked over by one of those stereotypical german massage therapists named Helga that are so prevalent in early James Bond films.
I could deal with that, if I needed to. However, we have been using the urgent care clinic more and more frequently because I can't get in to see my doctor. Even if I call first thing in the morning I can't get a slot. They usually try to assign me to another medical care provider, which is normally a fine and acceptable thing and I have allowed this several times. However, one of these times the other medical care provider prescribed something that was not recommended to be used for a person with my medical condition. As this provider was new to my case I checked with my specialist to see if the medication was okay to use, was told no, and was then prescribed a different med by my specialist.
Last time I made it into the office, and managed to see my own doctor, I discussed my concerns with her. She was very understanding and asked if we could give them another chance. She also discussed the matter with their office manager. The office manager and I have traded voicemails a couple of times but, thanks to my really brutal work schedule (where I have only minimal access to a phone) it hasn't been easy to schedule time for a call.
Naturally, today I get sick. I woke up with a sore throat, a swollen tonsil, and pain that radiates into the ear and jaw along that side. So I decide to give them one more try.
Is my doctor available? No.
Do they try to get a message through to her medical assistant to see if she could fit me in? No.
Do they try to shift me off onto another medical care provider? Yes.
I've decided to go ahead and take the appointment with the alternate doc and leave another voicemail for the office manager and ask if we could have a face-to-face with her when I come in. This was 2.5 hours ago and I haven't had a return call yet.