Emergency Or Just Poor Office Staff?

Recently I kept an appointment with my cardiologist and by the end of the visit I was hoping to get by without having a stroke!  A two and a half hour wait to see any physician is enough to drive my blood pressure through the roof and let’s remember why I was there in the first place, high blood pressure and a history of heart problems.

On Tuesday I called and lucked out and got an appointment the next day.  The automated telephone system even called me Wednesday morning to remind me of the appointment.  I’ll admit I am getting a bit forgetful of late but I thought this was extreme.  Instead of a reminder I would have preferred coffee or snacks and free wifi while waiting for two and a half-hours.  I’ll admit the first hour of the wait I actually could use my iPad to keep up with world events.  Once I actually got into the Arctic holding cell where I spent another hour and a half I had no service so my iPad was useless!  Of course I could have read an out-of-date magazine but I just kept hoping against hope that I would see a physician before the new magazines were delivered.

I actually found out the physician’s Nurse Practitioner was called to the hospital to deal with an emergency so that upset their schedule.  Did it not occur to the office staff to inform me and the others waiting that our wait would be extended or even ask if we would like to reschedule?

Since they collect your co-pay the moment you check-in (I fully understand why they do) I bet they would not reimburse me for the bill I’d like to send for wasting two and a half hours of my life.  I’ve got heart problems for God’s sake!!!!!  I can’t afford to waste time!

When I call a restaurant for a reservation I usually can count on being seated when I arrive and the chef will have my meal delivered in a timely manner.  Yes, I understand it takes a lot more study to be a cardiologist but it’s the professionalism and basic courtesy to a fellow human being I’m talking about here.

Please understand doc, I am more than pleased with the care I receive from you, your nurse practitioner and nurses but get your office staff some training to refine their people skills and make better use of those high-tech scheduling devices at their disposal.

Maybe next time I'll show up two hours late instead of fifteen minutes early as they request.