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Is it a bad idea to let your doctor’s staff know when they frustrate you? Should you just take it?
Three times in a row (not days, 2 issues, 3 different days), I have called my doctor’s office in the morning… before 10am. They don’t return the call until 4:15pm or so (for some reason I dream and think maybe they’ll call me earlier than that). Two of those times, I haven’t realized that they called me until after 4:30 and they close at 4:30! So when the admin who answered the phone this morning told me that the nurse practitioner who called me back yesterday is with patients and will call me back, I almost told her that I would wait on hold until she is available. But I didn’t. Instead, I expressed the situation about late returned phone calls every time and asked if she could please return my call earlier in the day. The admin was definitely put off, but didn’t know how to answer me… but then said “I’ll let her know.” Terds. I guess I should take brownies up there or something to smooth things over. But JEEZ return a phone call!
Posted by meonlybetter65 on May 19, 2011 at 6:05 am
Our office tries to have someone who can return phone calls through out the day but we’re dealing with kids and not every office has the nursing staff for that. The nurse at my endocrine office has to juggle phone calls between patients and I can tell that is very frustrating for her. I know some offices take an hour right after lunch to return morning phone calls and then an hour in the evening to return afternoon phone calls. Maybe it would help if you asked them what their policy was regarding returning phone calls and then ask them to leave a detailed response on your voice mail if their only option is to call late in the afternoon.
Posted by chezjulie on May 19, 2011 at 8:08 am
That’s pretty annoying. My doctor’s office returns calls sooner than that. I think it’s reasonable to say that you want to hear back from them before 15 minutes until they close.
Posted by radioactive tori on May 19, 2011 at 10:17 am
I think sometimes if you phrase things more like questions they are fine to address and usually get taken care of. For instance, when my doctors office took weeks to call me back once, when I talked to them I said “I was wondering if there was a better way for me to reach you. I know you are busy, and if it takes 3 weeks to get back to a call, maybe you have a better idea for me?” No one can get upset over a question that isn’t phrased like you are angry. The trick is to not sound angry when you really are.
I hate when I just miss the doctor and it is after closing time because then you know you have another long wait ahead of you the next day. Good luck with everything! I am thinking good thoughts and don’t at all think you are crazy for waiting. You have to also live your real life because unfortunately other things don’t just stop and wait for you to finish up treatment.