Maybe this should be titled Waiting Rooms. We had our last orthopedic appointment for M's broken leg Thursday. Everything is fine, all healed and Dr. said he could forward records after we move, but another doctor could take an X-ray now and not even tell it was broken. (Of course he is a perfectionist and said he could still tell because it had a little bump that is not a problem but wasn't perfect like he wanted it.) Now before we got to this point in the appt where good news was bestowed upon us and we were wished well in our future endeavors there was an hour and 15 minutes...of waiting.... with 3 children..... in a place that should be kept calm and quiet. Fun! The boys were above normal with good behavior but every child has his limits and every mom has her limits. At first they were required (and complied) to sit still in chairs and watch TV. That lasted 15 minutes. Then they moved to changing chairs like a quiet game of musical chairs. I put up with that while they were quiet and not in other people's space, but after 5 minutes that was over. Then came watching TV from sitting on the floor in the children's area--5 minutes. Playing with blocks and other boring toys meant for 2 year olds--10 minutes before the play became too loud for a dr.'s office. Then magazines and games on my phone for 20 minutes, with all 3 fighting over the gadget. E kept saying "What time was our appt? Why isn't it our turn?" Nearly an hour in it was our turn. We were taken to an exam room by our favorite nurse who was so happy to see M; she was so wonderful during the whole cast thing and M was tickled to see her too. Just a couple of minutes in the exam room and M and I were taken to the X-ray. He was great about laying still. He knows a good bribe when it is offered. Back in the exam room we waited another 10-15 minutes.....with 3 boys.... who are tired of waiting....and tired of my games to keep them pacified. So I read them a story from an app I downloaded on my phone. Then the dr. appears and 2 minutes later we are free of the orthopedist (hopefully) forever. Not knocking the orthopedist (love him and have recommended him over and over), but knocking many doctor's office.
Two best things I have seen at doctor's offices are:
1) an office complex here has a small YMCA in it and contracts with them to provide low cost child care to people with appts in the building. They give you a beeper in case there is a problem and you go to your appt with no children and no worries about keeping them occupied.
2) I went through having the last 2 boys with the same OB/GYN in VA. they had 2 great systems. One let you schedule all 9 months of appt at your first OB appt--- first choice at appts for 9 months! Also, they had a white board where they would write when a doctor was behind schedule or got called out for a delivery. Terrific! Honesty! It really is a fresh approach; much better than "She will be right back."
While medical advancements grow every day, customer service still puts patients off and makes some people avoid medical care altogether. We did survivie our morning in the waiting room.
love and hugs, B
1 comment:
Nothing aggravates me more than waiting for a doctor's appointment, especially since there are some practices where I never wait.
I waited at least 45 minutes for every appt with my older son and once hours for an annual exam at that same practice. They got an attitude about it too. I switched practices for my younger son and NEVER EVER EVER waited for an appt (and I had many more of them being older and having gestational diabetes). My peds practice is great - we sometimes end up waiting in the exam room but we are usually taken back early.
If those doctors can do it, why can't all of them? I used to work for an ortho and patients were always backed up because they doubled and triple booked.
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