Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Is it bedtime yet?

I'm thinking that I'll be rolling into bed soon after Zach's bed time tonight. I'm just way tired but it's not because I did anything physical or anything today. I just didn't sleep well last night and I believe it was nigh on to 1:30 a.m. before the sandman finally did his sprinkling around my tossing form. After that, morning arrived much too early.

I reckon I was still a mite peeved at the service we received at the doctor's office yesterday. Has anyone in other parts of the country noticed how automated and inconsiderate the medical professionals, and their staff, seem to be of late?

When I called to make the appointment for Tuesday, I was given several choices of appointment times, so call me bitchy if you will, but having to wait for 1 hr and 15 minutes past the appointment time didn't do much for my having a charming attitude about the situation. Add to that the new office clerk who called me to inquire, in a voice loud enough to be heard in both waiting rooms, if she could collect for my office visit now since she noticed I was self-pay. In a voice loud enough, back to her, I replied that I surely would be paying for the visit, with a check, IF and when I had seen the doctor. Golly, gee, I don't even pay a repairman before he's actually done the repairs.

After taking my seat again I began to wonder what would have happened if I hadn't had the funds to pay for an office visit? Would they have told me to leave? Refused to let me see the doctor? Then I wondered if I owed them for something from a previous visit, although I've always stopped at the desk and paid them on the way out, maybe they'd forgotten to add something.

So, after Zach and I saw the doctor for our alloted 5.5 minutes, I stopped at the desk to pay for the visit and I asked the lady if I owed anything from another visit. When she told me no, I told her I didn't appreciate being asked for payment for services that I hadn't even received yet and wasn't sure I would be receiving after the wait we'd had.

Ok, so maybe I was a tad bitchy, but dang.

8 comments:

Phyllis said...

I refuse to pay first anymore! I only pay a $15.00 co-pay, but I went 60 miles to a doctor and when I got there I paid the co-pay then the doctor left on an emergency and I never got my money back. I rescheduled and then she cancelled again. I rescheduled then they asked for my co-pay.
Well they heard my opinion, and I never had to pay a co-pay with her again!

Brent said...

Give 'em Hell, Brenda. You're right!!

Carole Burant said...

First of all, I just love your new look...quite the little artists you had helping you:-) It really does look great! As for the doctor visit...yup, it's like that everywhere, all they want is make sure they get your money but yet think nothing of making you wait for hours past the appointment and once you're in with the doctor, it's in and out in a matter of minutes. I was at the walk in clinic the other evening...waited 4 hours to see the doctor for a prescription refill...he never even looked at me, just wrote it out and went on to the next patient!! Sigh.

Anonymous said...

Ooooo,it makes me mad to think about this! I recently dropped my OB-GYN of 19 years because her office staff is so da-- rude. I let her know exactly why, too! And her staff!

I LOVE being a menopausal you-know-what. I finally have the guts to say exactly what I think.

Andie Pandie said...

The colors aren't hard on my eyes, so no worries here. :)

I remember the first time I went to a Sonic, I thought it was pretty nifty!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you were quite reasonable to me especially as you waited so long before you were seen.

Sally said...

Your new look is great - love the pictures!

Prior to losing my insurance, the dr's office accepted my $15.00 co-pay, and what the ins. paid which was $38.00=$53.00, right? Okay, now without insurance I have to pay $75.00. Just don't seem right!
Oh, and yeah that was up front money before the dr. I have to say, though, my dr. is wonderful in calling in my med. refills, etc. So, I'm not complaining too much!

Mary Lou said...

SO the next person who will get any vote of mine is someone who will fight for good medical care for EVERYONE...Number one priority! even above the war! Equal medical, Free education through grade 16, and The environment!

love the picture of the girls!!