[Talk Host]

I had a 9 a.m. doctors appointment today. I arrived at 8:50 to a waiting room full of people. At 9:10, the receptionist stuck her head into the waiting room and said, "I just got a call from the doctor and he's in surgery and will be a half hour late."

I said, so, when he gets here, I will have to wait til all these other people see him first. She said, "your appointment is 9 a.m. and that's the first appointment time."

I could see that the others in the room were suddenly attentive. Three others spoke up and said, "We also have 9 a.m."

So, I sat back and tried to figure if I was going to wait or not. About 10 minutes later, the receptionist came back in and said, "we just got a call from the nurse and she says she doesn't know when the doctor will be here."

I asked if Monday was his surgery day, she said "yes." I asked why he would schedule appointments, let alone three at a time, on his surgery morning. She said that I'd have to ask the doctor and did I want to reschedule.

I said, "If I reschedule, It could be the same this as today." She said, "All doctors offices are like this."

I couldn't buy that answer, so I opted out. So now, I'm without treatment.

BTW, there was another lady in the room who said she had a 9 .m. appointment, but the receptionist said, "No, you're 11:30 tomorrow." The lady had papers in her hand and showed it to the receptionist, saying, "here look, it's my appointment information." The receptionist insisted that was wrong, but that she would squeeze her in "first thing" when the doctor get there.


BWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[Tom Hannon]

When I took my sister to the doctor as I waited there was a patient who I could see was upset. I went over and asked her if everything was alright. She siad the doctor told her her appendix had burst and drive to the hospital as fast as she could. I approached the desk and questioned why an ambulance wasn't called. The receptionist had no answer. I offered the woman a ride to the hospital and she refused and drove herself. If I had to do it again I would not have let her drive herself.

[getdul981]

Originally Posted by Tom Hannon

When I took my sister to the doctor as I waited there was a patient who I could see was upset. I went over and asked her if everything was alright. She siad the doctor told her her appendix had burst and drive to the hospital as fast as she could. I approached the desk and questioned why an ambulance wasn't called. The receptionist had no answer. I offered the woman a ride to the hospital and she refused and drove herself. If I had to do it again I would not have let her drive herself.

If that is a Dr.s office here in TV, I would like to know who it is so I can avoid that one. You can PM me if you don't want to post in the open. The reason I ask is that my wife and I are in the process of finding Dr.s here now. Would be good to know who we don't want.

[Jane52]

Office nurses who act like that drive me crazy and it seems there are many who love to wield the little bit of power allowed them. I've experienced this many times. What's even worse is when a receptionist decides she is qualified to give medical advice.

Having physician relatives, I know it is possible that the dr. isn't fully aware of what Nurse Ratchet is doing in his name, being mean to patients. I would put in a call to the dr. and say I need the dr. to call me "at his convenience".

Surgeons do get called in to do emergency surgeries, but it doesn't seem unreasonable to me in your case for Nurse Ratchet to have called you and the other patients on the schedule, to tell you the situation. I think some like to see a person squirm.

[duffysmom]

I had wonderful experiences at the Sumter Landing Urgent Care. They are staffed only by physicians and do not employ PA's so you will always see a doctor. Not true at other Urgent Cares in TV. I had a nightmare experience at the Urgent Care in Southern Trace so beware. Of course when I needed to see a specialist they recommended one.

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Jane52

Office nurses who act like that drive me crazy and it seems there are many who love to wield the little bit of power allowed them. I've experienced this many times. What's even worse is when a receptionist decides she is qualified to give medical advice.

Having physician relatives, I know it is possible that the dr. isn't fully aware of what Nurse Ratchet is doing in his name, being mean to patients. I would put in a call to the dr. and say I need the dr. to call me "at his convenience".

Surgeons do get called in to do emergency surgeries, but it doesn't seem unreasonable to me in your case for Nurse Ratchet to have called you and the other patients on the schedule, to tell you the situation. I think some like to see a person squirm.

They also told me that I need to learn to be more courteous. BTW, the exact same thing happened the last time I had an appointment with this DR. Over 1 hour before he even came into the office. And, he didn't apologize for being so late either. This was, again, 9 a.m. So there is no reason for a backup at that hour.

[2BNTV]

I've had a couple of experiences with doctor's office staff and they are as follows:

1. When I complained to the doctor, he immediately starightened out his office staff so they would be more receptive to his patients.
2. Another doctor defended his staff as he stated he controlled what they did and he changed the schedule.

I would go into the details but this post would read like a novel. I have found most doctors are sensitive to their patients as they do not want to lose business. They also don't want a patient to go around town badmouthing them.
The others kind of doctors feel their time is the only concern they should have. They run their office with an iron fist ad possibly intimidate their office staff to follow rigid guidelines. Today's doctor seems to only have ten minutes to give each patient so it behooves one to be an advocate for their own health and have your questions ready. Once you leave their office, it might a long time to get an answer to your question.

IMHO - If a doctor does not want to give a reasonable response to my needs, then it is time for me to look for a doctor that will.

[2newyorkers]

I have changed doctors because I did not like the office staff. In both incidents, the doctor stated that they had the staff a long time. This was an unsatisfactory answer to me.

[jblum8156]

I once waited more than an hour for the doctor to show up. I had to leave to pick up my kids. When I told the receptionist I was leaving she (very snottily) said I would be charged for the visit. When I got home I called and left a message for the doctor to call me. He did, I told him what happened and he apologized profusely. But I never went back. I found another doctor. Once is too often for that kind of thing to happen.

[barb1191]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

I had a 9 a.m. doctors appointment today. I arrived at 8:50 to a waiting room full of people. At 9:10, the receptionist stuck her head into the waiting room and said, "I just got a call from the doctor and he's in surgery and will be a half hour late."

I said, so, when he gets here, I will have to wait til all these other people see him first. She said, "your appointment is 9 a.m. and that's the first appointment time."

I could see that the others in the room were suddenly attentive. Three others spoke up and said, "We also have 9 a.m."

So, I sat back and tried to figure if I was going to wait or not. About 10 minutes later, the receptionist came back in and said, "we just got a call from the nurse and she says she doesn't know when the doctor will be here."

I asked if Monday was his surgery day, she said "yes." I asked why he would schedule appointments, let alone three at a time, on his surgery morning. She said that I'd have to ask the doctor and did I want to reschedule.

I said, "If I reschedule, It could be the same this as today." She said, "All doctors offices are like this."

I couldn't buy that answer, so I opted out. So now, I'm without treatment.

BTW, there was another lady in the room who said she had a 9 .m. appointment, but the receptionist said, "No, you're 11:30 tomorrow." The lady had papers in her hand and showed it to the receptionist, saying, "here look, it's my appointment information." The receptionist insisted that was wrong, but that she would squeeze her in "first thing" when the doctor get there.


BWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

WOW...I feel your pain and that's exactly why I stopped going to Moffitt in Tampa. All these sick, weak patients waiting and waiting and especiallly after that long drive just made me so very angry. I also found out that they double up on appointments which was the last straw in learning that five others had the same appt time as me, and I walked out of there with my medical records, never to return. Plus, the oncologist was never available and my appts were always with the NP. This hospital may be highly rated, however, their services to me were far from highly rated. GRRRRR

I then found Ocala Oncology with their satellite office close by TV and am very pleased with their services. Dr Maury Berger and his associates are just wonderful.

[Shimpy]

I try to schedule the first apt. in the morning so there is less of a chance of him getting backed up. If he is late it could be an emergency, but if it happens all the time, fire him and find another doctor.

[Pturner]

TH, That's the pits I think I recall that you had a similar experience with long wait and rude staff when you took your wife to her last appointment. If this is the same doctor's office, I would say adios to him/her. It's a hassle to change doctors. I've heard some even now charge to you transfer your medical records. But I don't think I could stomach a doctor who schedules multiple appointments at the same time, routinely keeps patients waiting for long periods and employs rude, uncaring staff.

[Jane52]

Originally Posted by 2newyorkers

I have changed doctors because I did not like the office staff. In both incidents, the doctor stated that they had the staff a long time. This was an unsatisfactory answer to me.

That translates to "they had cold, uncaring staff a long time".

Longevity is not an indicator of quality - it could actually mean they drove OUT any staffers who were accommodating and communicative with the patients!

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by Pturner

It's a hassle to change doctors. I've heard some even now charge to you transfer your medical records.

Just lost my company medical plan thru Kaiser when I was laid off in October. They charge $5 to send you a computer memory stick with your medical records on it.


.

[golfnut]

as getdul981 asked, is this Dr in TV?????