Monday!

charlotte989875

Congrats @kimmiinthemitten!! I know you've mentioned a few times SGK restructured, so now I feel like I have to go and do my research again because I've been pretty anti since the whole Planned Parenthood thing. Amazing on finishing, and raising so much money why!

H started his now job today and we went out to eat to celebrate. Work was crazy; I feel like every other day is a chaotic cyclone of emergencies followed by a day of calm where no one actually needs to talk to me. Today was a cyclone day. 

holyguacamole79

@kimmiinthemitten , Congrats on your 3-day!  I've heard awesome things about it; I may just have to work up the nerve to do it!  The biggest deterrent for me, though, was that fact that it is for Komen.  So, I'm happy to hear that they've made some changes.  I'm curious to read more!

Today was our first day back for August in-service.  I haven't been disciplined about waking up early-ish over the summer, so this morning was a rude awakening.  It also didn't help that I got an email notification last night that my bloodwork came in ... I have high cholesterol .  So my ob-gyn wants me to work with an internist to work on that.  I know I need to get it under control; it's just harder logistically now that the school year has started.  I got a referral and called the office.  Here's how it went.
"thank you for calling blah-blah-blah, may I put you on hold?"
"sure"
... 6 minutes later .... I hang up & call back.
"thank you for calling blah-blah-blah, may I put you on hold?"
"The last time you did, I was on hold for 6 minutes."
"Yes, but I'm on another call with a new patient and those calls usually take 10 minutes"
"Okay, can I give you my number and have you call me back instead of placing me on hold again?"
" .... okay ..."
< calls back >
"Hi, I'm sorry that took so long, but it's just me and I had to focus on that new patient."
"Yes, I'm a potential new patient."
"okay."
"Well, if you knew you were on a call that was going to be a while, why put me on hold when you knew it would be 10 minutes?"
"Ma'am, I had 3 people on hold; I don't remember when you called."

So, yeah - I'm not too sure about this doc.

ILoveBeachMusic

@short+sassy, I made a mistake. Peri-menopause is when you are going through menopause. Pre-menopause is what I was talking about! I knew when I typed that, something was off! Anyway, the advice stays the same. Good luck.

mrsconn23

@holyguacamole79 - I hate that shit with doctor's offices.   We had a really great doctor in our old area, but her staff could be so damn rude.  Plus we sometimes waited a long-ass time (past our appt time) to see her.   The office we go to now is decent.  I don't think I've ever been in the waiting room longer than 10 min and I can get in and out of an appt in less than 30 most of the time.  

But anyway, rude/slow/annoying staff is not uncommon.  I hope it gets better or you find a different provider that is better managed. 

short+sassy

mrsconn23 said:

@holyguacamole79 - I hate that shit with doctor's offices.   We had a really great doctor in our old area, but her staff could be so damn rude.  Plus we sometimes waited a long-ass time (past our appt time) to see her.   The office we go to now is decent.  I don't think I've ever been in the waiting room longer than 10 min and I can get in and out of an appt in less than 30 most of the time.  

But anyway, rude/slow/annoying staff is not uncommon.  I hope it gets better or you find a different provider that is better managed. 

I'm in predicament like that with my endocrinologist.  I really like him (the doctor), but his office is so horribly run.  My appointments run 90 minutes-2 hours late.  Every single time.  I am not exaggerating.  In my first appointment, I went up to the counter to inquire about what was going on after I'd been there over an hour.

Long story short, I called them on their b.s. excuses and voiced why I was upset at how they apparently ran their office.  They had given me a NBD attitude and that this is what happens at a doctor's office.  I was obviously upset.  But was still speaking calmly and did not raise my voice at all.  However, they quickly ushered me into one of the exam rooms to wait there.  Apparently they didn't want their other patients to hear the truth that, "No, a 1+ hour wait is not business as usual.  Even for a doctor."

I also get my bloodwork done there, which they do before the appointments of the day start.  The last two times I got my bloodwork, there were no other patients in the office.  I still waited about 20 minutes before they called me in.

The obvious answer is to find a new doctor.  But I'm really picky and didn't like the last two doctors I had.  At least now I know to plan for a long wait and it is only 2-3x/year. 

CharmedPam

That reminds me of my last doctor.  LOVED the doctor.  Hated the staff.  the thing that put me over the edge was when I changed employment - thus insurance, and told them about it on my visit.  She then made a COPY Of my new insurance card.  Sat down.  Got in.  And then weeks later found out she billed my old insurance company.  Guys - that takes about a year to resolve. 

mrsconn23

CharmedPam said:

That reminds me of my last doctor.  LOVED the doctor.  Hated the staff.  the thing that put me over the edge was when I changed employment - thus insurance, and told them about it on my visit.  She then made a COPY Of my new insurance card.  Sat down.  Got in.  And then weeks later found out she billed my old insurance company.  Guys - that takes about a year to resolve. 

OMG, that's enraging.  And I bet the office didn't want to do jack for you about it, even though they fucked up.  

@6fsn, has had has some crazy billing issues too that have taken forever and a day to resolve. 

holyguacamole79

The thing with this new doc is that I don't know yet if he's "worth" putting up with the staff.  And I don't know if this is the norm or a fluke.

But (and I know this is super petty), part of me doesn't want to "reward" him with my business.   Sigh.  And, considering I just started the school year, I'm not sure when I would be able to get an appointment.  I don't want to request time off this early into the year.   I have a friend that does a lot of natural remedies, but he's pricey and doesn't do insurance.   

*sigh*

OliveOilsMom

My old PCP staff was horrible.  He actually started in his own practice and his staff there was amazing!  It was first come first serve, even with appointment times.  But if someone was sick, they were always allowed to come in.  So you may have a long wait, you may not.  But then he moved over to a local medical school to teach part time and still see patients.  Getting an appointment was impossible!  If you needed to see him the same day, you actually had to call his voicemail and he would call you back and tell you when to come in. 

Then they stopped having direct access to the doctor's voicemails and you had to talk to the front desk.  Except, they rarely answered the phones.  You could leave a message and they would call you back.  My H left messages twice and never received call backs.  Thankfully it was for a physical and he wasn't actually sick, but still.  The only reason we stayed was for my doctor, he really was great!  He is now retired.  I will be looking for a new PCP.  For some reason, my parents are staying there.  I honestly don't know why they are putting up with the nonsense that is the front desk.

NOLABridesmaid

This is my eye doctor. I have to wonky eyes and have to visit my retina specialist once a year. He is the best doctor, but his wait times are off the chain. I have gone in the morning, afternoon, and the last appointment of the day, and I still don't think the time matters on how long I wait.