Last week, I contacted my (regular) neurologist to forward my records to the neuro-ophthamologist I am scheduled to see in June; and today I will type up a letter to my (soon-to-be-former) neuro-ophthamologist to forward his records, too, thereby consolidating two doctors into one specialist-- who can tend to my optic nerve drusen as well as my migraines (though, TBH, my migraines have abated CONSIDERABLY in the last year).
The hospital system where the majority of my doctors & specialists are is fantastic and has ruined me for medical care in "The 'Burbs." Everything about my experience there is top notch--save for the way the radiology department is run.
The radiologist is fine, that's not the problem. And he's highly recommended by my endo--and that's why I'm going to this guy. However, the person with whom I must coordinate my appointments OUTRIGHT is inept, and the receptionist in the waiting area just is lacking in every way imaginable--and between the two of these fools, I wait anywhere from 1-2 hours EVERY YEAR when I go for this sonogram/FNA.
Thursday of last week, I called to arrange the sonogram and FNA. I left a voicemail at 12:30 that clearly stated, "please call me at (work #, provided) AFTER 2 p.m." This idiot calls my endocrinologist's office back saying she couldn't call me when I wanted--she couldn't call me AT 2 p.m. WTF!
So I called AGAIN, stating "Please call me at (work #, provided) as I want to schedule my sono and FNA for either 3/22 or 3/29." The idiot calls my HOUSE PHONE and leaves a voicemail so incongruous I couldn't figure out wtf was going on. Clearly, this person cannot follow simple directions--and I don't care that she appends her outgoing voicemail message with "God Bless," the woman is inept.
So, Monday, I called YET AGAIN, and lo-and-behold, I got her on the phone. She informed me the doctor won't be back in the office until 3/8, and she won't know until that day, WHEN I'll be able to get my appointment with him. So I have set a reminder to call this shit-show of an administrative assistant ONE MORE TIME. It's like the idiot version of being water-boarded, where I'm drowning in the ineptitude of others.
AS IF I weren't already fatigued running hither-and-yon from one specialist to another, I have yet one more interaction with this idiot with which to look forward.
Additionally, It has gotten to the point where I cannot schedule another appointment afterwards, as I have no real guarantee I will be out of there on time to make a second appointment. I'm now to the point where I am insisting on getting the first appointment of the day--which could be a huge ass-pain to me, as I live 45 minutes north, and if the first appointment of the day is 8 a.m. (let's indulge in a pipe dream, shall we?), and would require me moving heaven and earth to get there at that time. But if need be, I will. Because waiting 1-2 hours is unacceptable. The entire experience sucks, and curiously enough, THIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT is the only department at this hospital which does not send out a survey after my appointment. So I don't even have the prospect of a survey to let off steam and tell people off--I feel very short-changed!
And if this weren't ENOUGH, last week I dropped a FULL bottle of Snapple on my foot, and thought I broke a bone as the last two toes on that foot have been somewhat numb. Today I went to the podiatrist (instead of languishing for HOURS or even a half a day at the ER), and he Xray'd my foot and luckily, no broken bones--but I could have done something else, perhaps more productive, with my lunch hour. Luckily, his office is walking distance from my job.
The hospital system where the majority of my doctors & specialists are is fantastic and has ruined me for medical care in "The 'Burbs." Everything about my experience there is top notch--save for the way the radiology department is run.
The radiologist is fine, that's not the problem. And he's highly recommended by my endo--and that's why I'm going to this guy. However, the person with whom I must coordinate my appointments OUTRIGHT is inept, and the receptionist in the waiting area just is lacking in every way imaginable--and between the two of these fools, I wait anywhere from 1-2 hours EVERY YEAR when I go for this sonogram/FNA.
Thursday of last week, I called to arrange the sonogram and FNA. I left a voicemail at 12:30 that clearly stated, "please call me at (work #, provided) AFTER 2 p.m." This idiot calls my endocrinologist's office back saying she couldn't call me when I wanted--she couldn't call me AT 2 p.m. WTF!
So I called AGAIN, stating "Please call me at (work #, provided) as I want to schedule my sono and FNA for either 3/22 or 3/29." The idiot calls my HOUSE PHONE and leaves a voicemail so incongruous I couldn't figure out wtf was going on. Clearly, this person cannot follow simple directions--and I don't care that she appends her outgoing voicemail message with "God Bless," the woman is inept.
So, Monday, I called YET AGAIN, and lo-and-behold, I got her on the phone. She informed me the doctor won't be back in the office until 3/8, and she won't know until that day, WHEN I'll be able to get my appointment with him. So I have set a reminder to call this shit-show of an administrative assistant ONE MORE TIME. It's like the idiot version of being water-boarded, where I'm drowning in the ineptitude of others.
AS IF I weren't already fatigued running hither-and-yon from one specialist to another, I have yet one more interaction with this idiot with which to look forward.
Additionally, It has gotten to the point where I cannot schedule another appointment afterwards, as I have no real guarantee I will be out of there on time to make a second appointment. I'm now to the point where I am insisting on getting the first appointment of the day--which could be a huge ass-pain to me, as I live 45 minutes north, and if the first appointment of the day is 8 a.m. (let's indulge in a pipe dream, shall we?), and would require me moving heaven and earth to get there at that time. But if need be, I will. Because waiting 1-2 hours is unacceptable. The entire experience sucks, and curiously enough, THIS PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT is the only department at this hospital which does not send out a survey after my appointment. So I don't even have the prospect of a survey to let off steam and tell people off--I feel very short-changed!
And if this weren't ENOUGH, last week I dropped a FULL bottle of Snapple on my foot, and thought I broke a bone as the last two toes on that foot have been somewhat numb. Today I went to the podiatrist (instead of languishing for HOURS or even a half a day at the ER), and he Xray'd my foot and luckily, no broken bones--but I could have done something else, perhaps more productive, with my lunch hour. Luckily, his office is walking distance from my job.
No comments:
Post a Comment