Agree. Sounded like receptionist was handling it well. No need to make a scene. Namaste.

I am puzzled by all the dialogue in quotation marks. I wonder if the OP recorded the conversations, takes dictation like a champ, or just has a splendid memory.

I think that perhaps the receptionist was happy that the OP spoke up to reinforce that the late patient was out of line. I don't see any problem with what she did.

I think it is just as likely that the receptionist was not happy and was insulted that the OP thought she needed assistance doing her job.

I agree with Dillywho and I KNOW Dillywho. I know her very well. AND she is always fair, reasonable, responsible and thinks things out. I have never heard her speak out to a stranger in the ten years I have known her. She is a well mannered and intelligent lady, a retired nurse and comes from a long line of medical people. I know that if we had been there, we too would have felt terribly annoyed at this rude woman.

On one of our (Henry, Helene and I go together) doctors visits for a check up, someone came in and demanded to be seen and was told that wasn't possible, that she needed to make an appointment. She continued to be very angry and demanding and was causing us all to be uncomfortable. The rest of us in the waiting room were raising our eyebrows at each other and exchanging looks. I wish someone would have said to her that it is people like her who think their issues are the most important who cause great inconvenience and stress for the rest of us.

Sometimes people NEED to open their mouths. Most times they should keep them shut. Dillywho is someone whose mouth is shut most of the time.

She is well known and well liked for her gentleness and patience. She is one of the most decent people I have ever met.

Was the person in question someone you know ? Or just from NYC ? Or both ?

Dilly had told me about this earlier and this post left out some really rude remarks on the part of the late woman.

I think the title of the thread...is very apt. :thumbup:

Unless of course, the late patient stole a flower from a vase on the receptionist's counter...then I might have said something.



:D

OH no. I can just hear that....

You are confusing an HMO with a capitated plan. While some HMO's operate on a capitated basis, most do not. The major difference is that in an HMO you only have coverage in network and no benefits if you go out of network. In a PPO your benefits are better in network but you have some coverage if you stray. In an HMO non-capitated plan the doctor bills on a fee for service basis just as he would in a PPO

However even in a capitated plan, no doctor is paid to not see patients. Rather the doctor is paid the same whether you are seen or not as he receives a pre-determined amount per month for managing your non-specialist care. Only if he keeps you happy will he continue to receive this monthly amount so not seeing you certainly will cost him money.

While I really don't have a reason to question what you say, I am going strictly by previous experience an HMO. You are right. They are paid a set amount per patient. Therefore, the more patients they see, the more money they get. To me, that translates to less time per patient. They are also constrained by the number of referrals to specialists they make.

This happened to us in Texas when our plant coverage was with an HMO. Our doctor that we had had for years chose not to participate and we were forced to change doctors to have coverage. Long story short, we received a letter from this doctor one day saying that he had been ordered to cut his number of First Care patients because he was making too many referrals. By then, our original doctor had joined because so many of his patients were employed at the same plant we were. We went back to him. Fortunately, for us, he was able to basically beat them at their own game and get the care he needed for ALL his patients.

As a matter of fact, she was happy. I only spoke up when I saw that the lady was becoming more abusive to her. After she finally left, the receptionist thanked me, as did some of the others in the waiting room. I was not rude or hateful to that woman (lady is putting it loosely), but simply trying to back her off by pointing out why doctors are not always on schedule to the minute.

Apparently, it worked, because she simmered down, rescheduled, and left without another word. An apology from her to the receptionist would have been nice, though.

Hmmm. I had best tell my HMO that the 45 minutes my doc spends with me is not in alignment with your experience.
I also can go to any provider in the directory and I need not beg permission.
The role of a medical provider is to listen, assess, plan and follow through. If there are any bumps in the road along the way, it is generally the office staffs job to make repairs.
My doc does not have a viper at the reception desk either. If you are out of line as an employee, your job is in demand. Others will happily fill your clogs.
If the patient is a moron, the listening continues and the issue needs to be taken out of lobby. It is a HIPAA violation to discuss these things in earshot of others.
So, my healthcare is really NOT as good as I thought? My top notch neurosurgeon needs to reconsider his affiliation and be a push em' out the door kinda guy?
Nah. I have operated within the frame of insurance regulations for 26 years. I have had HMO coverage for 22 of those 26 years. When meds are rejected at the pharmacy, the former or current employer is responsible, NOT the pharmacy or MD prescribing. If it is Medicare, there are ways to get it covered but it may take work. The Dr cannot possibly know who covers what as it changes constantly.
So, I will keep my HMO as will my husband who was treated for melanoma of the eye. Chemo IN HIS EYE and the whole bit.
HMO.
Health Maintenance Organization.
It is often up to the covered person to manage this. It is not that difficult. In our case, it's a no-brainer.

Let me be clear my comments are not directly directed at the OP but the actions taken by the OP.

Once again "Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation" explain the error. The OP was not a party to this business discussion.

We are all different and in this specific situation reticence by the OP was required because all the OP did was add fuel to this fire.

One poster describes the OP as "always being...." I would like to believe that I am "always.... but that is an absolute and thus not humanly possible "generally"perhaps but not "always".

This poster also identified the OP as a retired RN and that explains the OP response the Op was in essence defending the medical community and hence defending his/herself. The type of facility was of no consequence because the issue was a missed appointment

In some medical offices a missed appointment means being charged the cost of the appointment.

Perhaps not" always". My affection and admiration for this woman made me emotionally defensive.

I notice that my age has caused me to be more outspoken than I used to be.

I am surprised Dilly spoke out, but she did and to me and how I was raised,she was right. Sometimes being silent isn't the right thing to do.

I have rarely shared my views on politics except with my family and close friends, nor even had passionate views on world affairs until this last decade of my life. It could be part of our human development that as we age we speak up on things that we had not previously.

I have defended you many times on the political forum Rubicon, because I have read your posts for many years. This one is true to you and doesn't surprise me. We are who we are and don't have a whole lot of time left to be here and to speak up.