Please excuse me while I vent again. I'm writing this while on hold on the phone, tilting my head to hold up the phone. I've been on hold for nearly 20 minutes now. I have two little girls at home (Rachel's still home sick, after missing field day yesterday and the end of the year Girl Scout picnic last night--I had to go by myself, which made me so, so sad.). Do you know how hard it is to be on hold on the phone for this long when you have two young children at home? Thankfully, Rebecca is still in her playpen (where I put her when I take a shower, and then I usually spend some time cleaning while she's in there, but today I'm on hold instead), and Rachel's laying on the couch watching a show, so I can afford a few minutes, but I have many, many other things I could/should be doing. And before long Rebecca will be protesting the playpen. She's only good in there for about an hour at the most, and it's been nearly that long.
So my vent is that EVERY SINGLE TIME I call the doctor, this happens. My husband asked me to make him a doctor's appointment for this afternoon, because he's in a meeting all day today, but needs to be seen (he's still sick, too).
This waiting forever and ever isn't my only problem with this doctor's office (it's my doctor's office too). Here are some other points of contention:
--If you're sick, you have to make a "same day illness" appointment--you can't make an appointment for the next day. This is a problem for me because sometimes I can get child care for the next day, but not for that day, so I'd have to take the kids with me, even though if I could get in the next day, I could get someone to watch them and wouldn't have to take them with me, which is a huge inconvenience.
--If you're not sick, but need to see the doctor, you have to see your own doctor (there are many in the practice). Sometimes they don't have appointments available for a week or more. Sometimes it's something pressing that can't wait, but you don't have a choice.
--Once you finally make it into the office (a big feat, considering how long you wait on the phone, and then the trouble you have actually making an appointment), you have to sit and wait forever to be seen. When I have to take the kids with me, it's complete torture. If I don't have to take them, it's kind of like a vacation for me (sitting still, reading a book, without a million questions/requests = A vacation!), but I still feel guilty that I'm making someone else watch them longer while I just sit there.
So I finally just got through and made him the appointment (nearly 30 minutes after first calling). But here's the thing. He's in a meeting today until 2, and said he couldn't get there until 2:30 or 3 at the earliest. His doctor is only there until noon today, so they wanted to make an appointment for tomorrow (what?? It's a "same day illness" appointment--since when are you allowed to make it for the next day!?). Except he can't go tomorrow because he works an hour away from home now and can't just leave in the middle of the day for a doctor's appointment like he used to be able to do. And the office is closed by the time he gets home. So I had to make him an appointment with someone else for later today, which is fine for his sickness issues, but he also had some other questions for the doctor, and now he won't be seeing his own doctor. Hopefully the other doctor will be able to address them, but knowing our luck there, they'll tell him to make another appointment.
It's just ridiculous. I put off going to the doctor because of all of this. Is this normal? Do your doctor's offices have these same policies, or am I just at the wrong doctor's office? I've been talking about getting another doctor for years. I just haven't done it--mostly because it's just so stinking hard to get someone to watch my girls to get there, and I'm afraid I'll just get another run around at a new place. This is a big office in a larger network of doctors/hospitals run by the very large university in town. Maybe it's just too busy. Maybe I need a smaller office. But then I'd be afraid of other issues. Anyone in town with doctor recommendations, I'll take them.
Ugh. Sorry for yet another complaining post. One of these days I'll have something fun to write about again.
1 comment:
What?!?! No, I don't think that's normal. I switched dr's when we moved here (my new one is right by your pediatrician, according to what you told me the other day), and I'm very happy with the office. I've never been on hold for more than a minute. You can definitely make sick appointments for the next day. If you need a sick appointment for the same day and they don't have one available, they have a "same day clinic" (it's basically an urgent care but they have your medical records). My dr. is very thorough and I trust his medical knowlege - his bedside manner is not the best I've ever had, but it's ok. I got referred to the practice because my pediatrician said they were "really good docs." So it seems they are trusted in the medical community. I've never had one of other dr's in the practice yet. Oh, and I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes in the waiting room. All of those things are just about as important to me as the medical advice, you know? Let me know if you want the contact info.
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