Vent About Doctor’s Offices
I first want to admit that I am an ex-medical professional. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s I worked in a local hospital for several years in the OR.
Over the past 20+ years I have seen medicine change and evolve into areas that I am NOT pleased with. Today I feel like I need to “VENT” about some of those changes as I know others are disgusted with it too.
1. I hate that many doctor’s offices are going to automated answering systems where you need to listen to recorded messages, press such and such button & leave a voice mail message on why you are calling. Heck, some of these offices you don’t even reach a LIVE human being until they return your call. What is that about? I want to speak to a LIVE human when I call a doctor’s office!
2. Wait times are getting outrageous! For years, I could go into my doctor’s office and wait 15 to 20 minutes in the waiting room before I was being seen by her. Now I am lucky that I am seen within an hour every time I show up at her office or at any of my doctor’s offices when I go in. These 1+ hour waiting room times are out of control. If you are that booked up, hire more help! The patient’s time is just as damn important as yours.
3. I know prescription drug abuse is out of control but that doesn’t mean that doctors should get stingy on prescribing narcotics to people who genuinely need them. I am lucky, I don’t have that problem and my doctors give me what I need to help control my chronic pain. However, my cousin has the same painful disease as me and her doctor will give her nothing but Tylenol so she suffers in great pain. It breaks my heart!!!
4. Emergency Call Backs on weekends. We get it…it is the weekend and you are busy relaxing & spending time with the family. However, a patient who is calling you after hours DESERVES a call back within an hour…not 6 hours later so you can attend the local ballet or music concert in peace. Get with it docs…you are on-call for a reason and sometimes speed is of the essence!
That is just 4 of my “gripes” for today but trust me, I could write a book on this! Got any gripes or vents regarding doctors you want to share? If so, leave your comments below!