Rant about idiot office personnel

[rendean]

Why is it that the auxiliary personnel who work in a doctor's office are such idiots? Guess I should back up and apologize up front to anyone who works this position or has in the past. That being said, don't these bozos realize that people have lives????  Last Thursday, I called and talked to the "nurse" (and I use that term loosely).  I was supposed to call if the steroids by mouth helped at all. The answer is NO, nada zilch...didn't help at all. She said it would be a couple of days to get the order for IV solu-medrol set up. So, today I  call and and ask the "nurse" about it. She's pawned it off onto someone else who's gone for the day. She checked her desk and cannot tell me the status of the request with the infusion center. Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!!  Let them feel like a mac truck ran over them and their legs and let's see how fast they get their treatment set-up!!

Sorry, I am just so furious at their lackadaisical attitude I could spit nails right now. Just needed to vent!

Thanks for listening!
Mad as a hornet,
Ren

[ShadowsSister]

I fine that the "front desk" will tell you all you need to know about the Doctor in the back...I am serious, it took me a while to figure this out when hunting for a Compassionate & ( most important), Good Doctor. That was how I finally put my wonderful Team Together.  
This only took me from 1986 to 1999 to figure out. Dr. Dahi (pain management) was the first member of my team, this was in 1995, he was followed by Dr Patel 1999 &
Dr Yamada in 2000... I can't tell how many I have FIRED since 1986. It is so important to get "YOUR TEAM TOGETHER" I suggest you start with the Doctor that treats you the way you want & need. We are all different and a Doctor I think is awesome, you might think otherwise. Thank Goodness my team is in place, they know me and my whole body, I have moved into another level and most likely this is the best I am going to be. I would really be in a pile of crapola if I had to be looking for a Doctor, NOW   ...
Sorry I went on so long... but this issue touches my heart {{{~!~}}}... Love you all so much !!!...DJ

[Want to feel well!!!]

It always surprises me when the office staff puts such an importance on their "position" and seem to forget the doctor is the one calling the shots.  A little kindness or just empathy wouldn't hurt.  This doesn't apply to all, and many are very caring and helpful, but it only takes a few nasty ones to give them a bad reputation.  Perhaps a lesson in simple "customer service" would be nice.

And they seem to ignore that many patients they talk to are ill and confused.

What goes around comes around I always say.

Good luck!!!

Wanna :o)

[michelleric]

Doublevision:

Thank you for the encouragement letting us know there are GOOD medical professionals out there. That is hopeful, we could all use someone like that.

Ren:

You have 45 minutes left till the neuro opens. Get ready with the phone!  I hope you get steroids flowing by this afternoon!

Michelle

[rendean]

Thanks to each of you for your support, especially since my family is thinking I 'm off my rocker about fighting for an IV treatment. I know I need it to put in my best appearance next week. I appreciate that each of you understands the frustration and just plain laziness involved in this situation.

DB thanks for the extra tips re bloating. I especially agree with your thought about the fax being sent and the drug administered as ordered. It's not that complicated.

Thanks to for the well wishes. I'll update soon.

warmly,
Ren

[doublevision1]

What a runaround!  Thank goodness the staff at the infusion room were so much better to deal with.  You are smart for having taken Kathy's advice.  Patients *should* be able to have confidence in those employed in the medical field who are supposedly there to help, and whose job it is to do the proper follow up. Unfortunately this is all too often not the case.  Even though as patients it's not our job to have to make sure appts are made, it's in our own best interest to take this on and follow up on EVERYTHING.  I have found that this has expedited just about every aspect of my care, from MRI wait lists to appts for IV steroids at Outpatients to getting lab results and even back to my initial referral to my MS clinic.  

In fact, for IV steroids, I don't know why there should be any wait?  Can't they just fax a referral and you show up at the clinic?  The sooner they are administered the quicker the recovery, I know you know this and hence I understand your frustration.

Every once in a while I'll run across someone who actually seems to be taking pleasure in stonewalling me or informing me that such and such in not THEIR job.  I am always astonished by this behaviour.  Fortunately in my experience this is rare; I have been really lucky with most of the office staff I've encountered.  

Kathy, I love your suggestion of the Starbucks card.  I'm going to keep that one in mind.  I did once send the nurses at Outpatients a basket of chocolates and other goodies, for taking care of me for 3 consecutive days while I waited for blood work and LP results to come back to confirm my diagnosis, then to get started on IV steroids.  One nurse in particular was wonderful; when I arrived on the Saturday for my second steroid treatment, she told me I needed to register at Emerg as the Outpatient registration was closed on the weekend.  I actually started to cry!  and had a mini-meltdown because I was so exhausted and stiff and in pain and seeing double, and I didn't know how to find Emerg and I was totally overwhelmed with everything.  As soon as she realized how distressed I was, she sat me down, tucked me in under a blanket, told me not to worry about it, she would take care of all my paperwork, and she did.  I wrote the manager of the clinic to ensure he knew how fantastic this nurse was to me.

Hopefully your experience with the infusion room will go as well as mine [except for the part about the meltdown], once your darn neuro's office does their job.  Like many others here, I started feeling some relief within a couple of days on the steroids.  And don't worry too much about bloating; solumedrol is less likely to cause this compared to this side effect of oral prednisone.  However, if you can take diuretics you should do so if you feel yourself puffing up.  Also you might want to have something on hand to help you sleep as you may feel pretty wired for a few days.

Wishing that all goes well and that you are feeling well, very very soon.

[Becky559]

Spit them nails, girl! This is so stupid!!!!!!!!   Some people should not be allowed to work in the medical field. If you dont want to help the sick, then get OUT! This makes me mad for you!

I know you need the tmt, like now!!!!!! I would tell the doc about his staff because he needs to know that he has got a clown making life altering decisions. If you like the neuro, then tell him!!!!!!  You know it shouldnt take this long to sch. IV tmt.

Well, now I quess we need to calm down with you because you have more to think about than her not doing her job.

Let us know how it all turns out. Iam so sorry you are going through this.
Prayers about your job and health,
Becky

[Ncpattyt]

My bf has bad cirrhosis. He once told one of the "office girls" her hair looks pretty. Well that turned into him getting a no trespass notice for his  "bad behavior" at his GI and every dr. associated with our only hospital, including the hospital! I informed the campus POPO girl that he is SICK, didn't mean anything by the stupid comment. Now he is left without a Gi, the nearest one is 35 miles away. You are right- these idiots should not be near a sick person!

[rendean]

Touche' !
Hugs and shots,
Ren

[HVAC]

Call your vet lol.

Hugs and shots Alex

[rendean]

I took Kathy's excellent suggestion and called the Infusion Center myself. They hadn't even heard my name before. I inquired into the turn-around time in getting the orders and scheduling and the lovely lady told me, usually next day. She gave me the direct dial number for future reference. Now, that's service and I will make sure her efforts are acknowledged.

As for the neuro's office, they open at 7 am. Guess who's going to be the first one to call the office????????? I need this treatment done and I need to look good when I have to attend a mandatory meeting next Monday. I certainly do not want to look bloated and ill. I'm fighting for my job and I need to put my best foot forward.

Thanks for the advice , guys, I truly appreciate it!

Ren

[Sarahsmom46]

Hey, Kathy came up with a great idea.  Call the center and see what they need from your dcotor's office to get this started.  But, if things start getting worse, go to the ER. They'll give you a starter dose and arrange the follow up infusions if need be.

I am having a similar issue with the "staff" in my neuro's office with getting through to the nurse in this so-called MS center section.  If the problem continues you might need to look for another doctor unfortunately.  I hate to have to change, but having issues all the time with getting through especially when you really need to talk to someone, then its not worth the frustration to keep going back to the same practice.  Its too bad though when we like the doctor.

I hope they get you straightened out and on treatment by tomorrow.  

Julie

[rendean]

Thanks for the empathy and the great suggestion to call the infusion center myself. Great idea!!!!

Hugs,
Ren

[Fluffysmom]

I've had a lot of rantable (new word?) experiences much like you describe, so I totally understand.  I've had my prescriptions alll messed up because of  incompetence; I used to pick them all up at one time; now I have to go three different times a month because some MA called stuff in wrong, accused me of having had one filled and that I "forgot" that I had, when she had just not followed all the prompts to my pharmacist never got the prescription.  

I got such a run-around when I needed a blood patch after my LP that I found a way to get the radiologist's (the guy who performed the LP) private phone number, then he was spitting nails.  I did get my blood patch the next morning, though.

This kind of thing has happened so much that everything is nailed down pretty well at my house!  :o)

When I find a Medical Assistant or Advice Nurse that does a great job, quickly and efficiently, I am so happy that I'll give them a thank you note with a Starbucks card in it.  

I had a Clinical Audiologist that made some uncomfortable testing almost enjoyable, so I wrote up one of the hospital's Five Star comment cards about her.

So, can you call the infusion center, see if they've been contacted about you, and see if they have any suggestions on how to get things moving along?  I'll bet they've seen lots of people that feel like they've had run-ins with mac trucks, and will be more understanding.

Good luck, my buzzing, nail spitting friend!

kathy