Help me call the doctor's office!

[MaryAnnDVC]

DS was diagnoses with Lyme Disease last week while his Dr was on vacation, and I told the nurse I wanted to get in to see him as soon as he got back. (Before he went on vacation, DS had xrays and an MRI, and while he was gone, I asked for a Lyme test.) She told me he was booked for his first day back at work...this past Tuesday...but to call AT 8:30 AM Tuesday, tell the receptionist I had talked to "Debbie" and they'd get him in that day. I didn't think it was a problem. DS's Dr ended up calling us when he got back from vacation last Saturday, so I don't know if it would have been a simple thing to get in on a booked Tuesday or not.

I understand not liking certain Drs (trust me ), but if you're not going to go along with it, you've got to be willing to accept a "Plan B".

I've got 3 kids...oldest 21, youngest 16...(and an elderly mom I take to appts) and there have certainly been some frustrating dealings with Drs' offices, but you kind of have to just go with the flow.

 

[shortbun]

I switched docs for this reason. I told my doctor about it and she actually did not know that this was how HER office staff set up her appointments. She agreed with me that it was bizarre but never changed it. I sent her a nice note saying we'd love to stay with her as a doc but because I am in a school bus when they open-it is impossible for us to call in time for an appointment. Never heard back from them but they sent my son's file to the other peds office. Best thing I ever did. The office of docs we see now is wonderful without exception and they come in on Sat and Sun if you have a really sick child OR they will get you in even if you call late morning about a sick child. They ARE after all, in the business of helping sick children. Dump your doc if their back up AND their office procedures are both unacceptable.

 

[HM]

I'm so sorry about your troubles. One of the best things about my kid's practice is that they have walk-in clinic before and after hours each day. If my kid gets sick overnight, I can have him/her there at 7:30 to be seen. If they get sick during the day, we can see them after 5pm. There is even a Sat morning clinic available.

You might want to do some checking into other practices in your area to see if there is an office that will better suit your family's needs.

I hope your DD gets better soon!

 

[locolala]

I feel your pain there.. I had a UTI, tried to call to get an appointment at 8am. Well since it's a military doctor, the phone lines open at 6 and I wasn't able to get an appointment for that day. They offered me an appointment... 2 weeks later! I told them no, that wasn't going to work and that I needed to be seen that day. The receptionist told me that a UTI isn't an "urgent" matter. Needless to say, she doesn't work there anymore and I went to a walk in urgent care clinic. It's hard for me to get to one of those because I have to have a referal before I even go, and I had to get ahold of my PCM to get the referal. It's all a huge hassle. Bleh.