Ever had a receptionist at a doctor's refuse to believe you?

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Lily_cat
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20 Feb 2009, 7:17 pm

This is my first experience with the new receptionist because the old one just retired

My grandmother called because for the past week I've been having severe dizziness and nausea. How does this tie into the rude receptionist? She told my grandmother to get me to take a pregnancy test and if it's negative call back in three weeks to make an appointment if the sickness doesn't go away!

And even after I talked to her she still listed my reason for coming in as 'possible pregnancy' - we know that because my doctor called us because that didn't sound right to her (in reference to me as she has been my doctor since I was 10 and she knows me really well), which makes me annoyed because the symptoms I have could be anything from mono to just an inner ear problem.

Seriously who is she to call judgment on me? Even if I am an 18 year old why is it the only explanation that I MUST be pregnant? *grumbles* and now I'm sick and angry!

Anyone else ever had a receptionist do something like that?



LKL
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20 Feb 2009, 7:26 pm

I had something not dissimilar happen to me in, of all places, planned parenthood - I was in for a re-check a week after having my annual gyn-physical, which was clearly written out in my chart, but this idiotic medical assistant kept on telling me that I needed to take a pregnancy test first. I kept on telling him that I had been in the week before, that it was all in the chart, and that I refused to consent to a pregnancy test (that's a big one - no one can legally treat or test you without your consent, unless you're legally declared unfit to take care of yourself or a danger to others). I got madder and madder at him, and he kept on saying that it was just 'routine.' His hands were shaking and his voice was starting to get nervous after about five minutes of arguing with me.

I don't give a damn if it's routine. I know my own body; I know my own habits. I will not pay for a test that I do not need. I needed to pee anyway, so finally to shut him up and save us both further argument, I took the cup and went into the bathroom - and left it empty on the counter.

It helps that I'm in my early 30's; you probably face more people assuming that you don't know s**t about your own body because you're a teen and probably went to school with worthless abstinence-only non-education.



pakled
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20 Feb 2009, 7:26 pm

it's unprofessional, that's for sure. You don't do diagnoses as a receptionist; that's the doctor's area. Perhaps you should mention this to the doctor, if she's turning off people like you, that's money out of his pocket.



Lily_cat
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20 Feb 2009, 8:21 pm

I'll mention it when I go in on Monday and definitely see what can be done about her rude ways



trickie
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20 Feb 2009, 8:28 pm

pakled wrote:
it's unprofessional, that's for sure. You don't do diagnoses as a receptionist; that's the doctor's area. Perhaps you should mention this to the doctor, if she's turning off people like you, that's money out of his pocket.


Although I agree that it was really irresponsible I doubt the doc was shorted as she is from Canada Land of Free Medical Care doctors aren't paid by the patient they just have salaries.

This receptionist should be fired however as I have had similar experiences myself I simply have stopped telling receptionists the problem and simply ask for an appointment. If they press I just say its a personal matter I'd rather not discuss over the phone.



Lily_cat
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21 Feb 2009, 4:10 pm

trickie wrote:
pakled wrote:
it's unprofessional, that's for sure. You don't do diagnoses as a receptionist; that's the doctor's area. Perhaps you should mention this to the doctor, if she's turning off people like you, that's money out of his pocket.


Although I agree that it was really irresponsible I doubt the doc was shorted as she is from Canada Land of Free Medical Care doctors aren't paid by the patient they just have salaries.

This receptionist should be fired however as I have had similar experiences myself I simply have stopped telling receptionists the problem and simply ask for an appointment. If they press I just say its a personal matter I'd rather not discuss over the phone.


I'll probably do that from now on! I miss the old receptionist - this new one is rude!



Magliabechi
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23 Feb 2009, 12:59 pm

pakled wrote:
it's unprofessional, that's for sure. You don't do diagnoses as a receptionist; that's the doctor's area. Perhaps you should mention this to the doctor, if she's turning off people like you, that's money out of his pocket.

Seconded. No receptionist should be attempting to make a 'diagnosis'- that could cause serious harm to sick people, which is why her behaviour is a serious professional misdemeanour.

Magliabechi.



JWLuke787
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02 Mar 2009, 1:55 pm

Lily_cat wrote:
This is my first experience with the new receptionist because the old one just retired

My grandmother called because for the past week I've been having severe dizziness and nausea. How does this tie into the rude receptionist? She told my grandmother to get me to take a pregnancy test and if it's negative call back in three weeks to make an appointment if the sickness doesn't go away!

And even after I talked to her she still listed my reason for coming in as 'possible pregnancy' - we know that because my doctor called us because that didn't sound right to her (in reference to me as she has been my doctor since I was 10 and she knows me really well), which makes me annoyed because the symptoms I have could be anything from mono to just an inner ear problem.

Seriously who is she to call judgment on me? Even if I am an 18 year old why is it the only explanation that I MUST be pregnant? *grumbles* and now I'm sick and angry!

Anyone else ever had a receptionist do something like that?


Tell the receptionist to go f**k herself and get you the doctor.