Odd or normal doctor office procedure?

[wvjules]

I went to the Dr. one day last week and was ordered an MRI. Cool, MRI place is right next door so I will stop in and make the appointment. I went in to make the appointment and they told me that I have to call. They won't do it in person. Does that seem at all odd to you?

 

[Iott Family]

Yes. Did you ask why they wont let you make the appt. in person?

 

[Mommee]

If it's anything like it is around here, there's more than one location run by the same company. You need to call the scheduling office to make appointments and they have access to availability at all sites, as well as info such as who has the open MRI, who can do injections, which insurances are accepted, etc.

 

[laughinplace199]

That does seem odd. I probably would have pulled out my cell phone while standing right in front of their desk and called them to make the appt, but that's just me.

Perhaps they want the doctor's office to call to set up the appointment? I've never had an MRI, but for things like ultrasounds and mammograms, my doctor's office always sets up the appts. That's the only thing I can think of. I can't imagine why they would allow you to make an appt over the phone but not in person.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

Kind of yes.

 

[RUDisney]

I'd have popped my phone out and called them from their lobby.

I tried to get an appointment with a plastic surgeon, who is a friend of mine from HS. His staff would not give me an appointment. They would only give another dr's office an appointment for me.

I can't wait to run into him so I can ask him why.

I wanted to see him for something very minor that my dr had suggested that I have removed. I know my schedule better than my dr does, so I can't understand why I can't make the appointment.

I guess he's too busy already and doesn't want new patients.

 

[*BTMRR*]

Ours is like that, but it's because they have a specific appointment-setting person who works in a different office. The person sitting at the reception desk isn't the one who makes the appointments.

 

[allison443]

Ours is like that, but it's because they have a specific appointment-setting person who works in a different office. The person sitting at the reception desk isn't the one who makes the appointments.

That is how my doctor's group works. If you pulled out your cell phone and called while standing at the desk, the phone on the desk wouldn't ring.

 

[wvjules]

I think you all answered my question. It was part of a larger system and I think I did call an appointment number. She asked me where I wanted the appointment.

Thanks! I knew the DIS would help!

 

[LisaR]

I think you all answered my question. It was part of a larger system and I think I did call an appointment number. She asked me where I wanted the appointment.

Thanks! I knew the DIS would help!

The only thing that bugs me about this is that you had to come on the Dis to get your answer. Wouldn't it have been easier and made more sense for the person to say to you, "I'm sorry but you will need to call the main number for appointments. We only do the procedures here and don't make the appointments." It bugs the crap out of me when people just answer with "No, you can't do that." Eh, maybe I am just grumpy today!

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I went to the Dr. one day last week and was ordered an MRI. Cool, MRI place is right next door so I will stop in and make the appointment. I went in to make the appointment and they told me that I have to call. They won't do it in person. Does that seem at all odd to you?

that is weird.

 

[wvjules]

The only thing that bugs me about this is that you had to come on the Dis to get your answer. Wouldn't it have been easier and made more sense for the person to say to you, "I'm sorry but you will need to call the main number for appointments. We only do the procedures here and don't make the appointments." It bugs the crap out of me when people just answer with "No, you can't do that." Eh, maybe I am just grumpy today!

I agree. All she said was that they don't take apointments in person that I have to call.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No not odd, like a PP said they go thru a central scheduling place.

And yes, the person should have told you that. Just chalk it up to the rudeness in America. I don't get it.

 

[golfgal]

If I worked in that office and this happened I would have at LEAST called the central scheduling office for her. I can see where they can't make appointments due to central scheduling but I would think that this happens frequently with the dr's office right next door.

 

[nhpooh]

That does seem odd. I probably would have pulled out my cell phone while standing right in front of their desk and called them to make the appt, but that's just me.

Perhaps they want the doctor's office to call to set up the appointment? I've never had an MRI, but for things like ultrasounds and mammograms, my doctor's office always sets up the appts. That's the only thing I can think of. I can't imagine why they would allow you to make an appt over the phone but not in person.

Like you said, doctor's office around here need to call to make MRI appointments. I know because I work for a big hosp in the radiology dept and that's how it works here, patients can't even make these kinds of appointments.

 

[wvjules]

Like you said, doctor's office around here need to call to make MRI appointments. I know because I work for a big hosp in the radiology dept and that's how it works here, patients can't even make these kinds of appointments.

I've never had my Dr. office call to schedule an MRI, x-ray, ultrasound, etc. I've been given the referral paper and told to make the appointments on my own whereever I want.

 

[golfgal]

I've never had my Dr. office call to schedule an MRI, x-ray, ultrasound, etc. I've been given the referral paper and told to make the appointments on my own whereever I want.

Our dr's usually offer to do this-usually when we are sitting in the exam room so they can go back and forth with the times. It is more of a courtesy vs HAVING to do that. We don't need "referrals" for our insurance but some specialists want a referral from a primary dr before they take on a patient.

 

[crashbb]

The only thing that bugs me about this is that you had to come on the Dis to get your answer. Wouldn't it have been easier and made more sense for the person to say to you, "I'm sorry but you will need to call the main number for appointments. We only do the procedures here and don't make the appointments." It bugs the crap out of me when people just answer with "No, you can't do that." Eh, maybe I am just grumpy today!

The OP didn't have to come to the DIS to ask. The OP could have asked the person at the desk. Yes, it would have been nice if the information had been offered, but there was nothing stopping the OP from just asking.

I end up with both ways - sometimes the doctor's office makes the appointment and sometimes they give me the requisiton and I make my own. Depends what is being done (and where it is being done).

 

[wvjules]

The OP didn't have to come to the DIS to ask. The OP could have asked the person at the desk. Yes, it would have been nice if the information had been offered, but there was nothing stopping the OP from just asking.I end up with both ways - sometimes the doctor's office makes the appointment and sometimes they give me the requisiton and I make my own. Depends what is being done (and where it is being done).

You are correct. I didn't have to come to the DIS. She told me they couldn't do it, gave me a number and I left. Then I was like "huh, that's strange" Then I came here and posted it several days later.

My insurance doesn't require a referral but I don't know of any place that will do an x-ray, MRI, or ultrasound without a referral from the doctor.

 

[crashbb]

You are correct. I didn't have to come to the DIS. She told me they couldn't do it, gave me a number and I left. Then I was like "huh, that's strange" Then I came here and posted it several days later.

My insurance doesn't require a referral but I don't know of any place that will do an x-ray, MRI, or ultrasound without a referral from the doctor.

Sorry, I wasn't attacking you. It was just that the PP made it sound like ONLY way you could get the information was from the DIS, as if the person at the office had refused to share the information.

I totally get asking about it here (or another message board) - nice to see if the way things are done in your area are the same as the way they are done in other areas.