Really Frustrated with Lab VENT!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I am insanely frustrated with the lab in my doctor's building. My doctor is not affiliated with the lab. it just happens to be in the same building and is one lab in a larger conglomeration if that makes sense. I don't want it to seem like they are affiliated with my doctor in any way.

Anyway, on to what happened. My doctor ordered a Glucose Tolerance Test which is a 2 hour test that must be done after fasting. I am a teacher and was not willing to miss school to do the test, so I called and asked them if I came in after school, would they be able to do the test. I specifically asked if I was there at 3:00 would that be okay. And they repeated to me that as long as I was fasting it would be fine.

So I had not had anything to eat since 7:00pm last night when I ate dinner. As soon as teachers were dismissed I was out of there and signed in at the lab at 3:00pm. Nobody was there at the desk when I signed in. When they called me up at 3:10, they started giving me hassle about the test. I told the lady I had talked to somebody on the phone and they specifically told me it was okay.

She said she was not the closer and called the closer over and told her they had a 2 hour test. She flat out said, "I'm not staying late, she needs to go." I told them that I had been told over the phone that it would be okay and they still refused to honor what they told me. They said I would have to go to a different lab from the same company tomorrow. They said that person should not have told me that, and they even know who it was but it didn't matter.

I did get a number for the corporate office, and the manager I spoke to there was extremely apologetic and said he would talk to them about the incident. I was very grateful. Yeah, he may have just been placating me, but he sounded sincere and I felt like my voice was heard. I will say that I will never go to that particular lab again. I will use a different lab from the company since they have them all over the place.

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you google fasting glucose testing in afternoon, you will get many results that look like this:

Fasting blood glucose tests done in the morning, rather than the afternoon, appear to be more accurate in diagnosing diabetes. So be sure to schedule your test for first thing in the morning.

The FPB tests carried out in the morning are far more reliable in diagnosing diabetes than those carried out in the afternoon. For this reason, do your best to schedule your FPB test in the morning or amend your daily routine accordingly.

My guess would be that the person you spoke to on the phone (probably a secretary or scheduling coordinator) was trying to be accomodating for your request

I am a teacher and was not willing to miss school to do the test, so I called and asked them if I came in after school, would they be able to do the test

but the information she gave you was inaccurate, unfortunately. Next time there's any question, you might want to ask to speak to a supervisor.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I never knew that about the test. It never occurred to me to ask a supervisor, because I figured that person would know what they were talking about. More than anything, it was the rudeness of the employee and the fact that they would not honor what they said that upset me. Especially when you're talking about a fasting test, you need to make sure that you are giving people accurate information. It may be a blessing in disguise though. After seeing the employees there, I'm not sure I trust it. This kind of thing would never happen in my mom's lab.

The company has redeemed themselves though. I had spoken with a manager in the corporate office. About half an hour later, the supervisor for that lab called me. She wanted to make sure that I knew about the labs that had Saturday hours (the branch I went to did not, but I would not have gone anyway.) She asked me which one I was planning to go to, and she said she would call them so they knew to expect and I wouldn't have to wait as long. I thought that was a nice touch. I really didn't expect anything from them. I mean, it's a medical lab. It's not like I can return a product or get money back or something. I mostly just wanted to be heard and to make sure nobody else has this problem.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I had a problem myself last week with a lab, so I can empathize.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

How is your daughter doing? And your mother (in law?)? Are they feeling any better?

 

[minkydog]

Wow, it seems like they really want to make this right. Good for you! I hope you can go and get this think over with tomorrow.