Should I apologize,ignore or switch drs? (Long,sorry)

[yoopermom]

Backstory:we are lucky enough to have, in our tiny town, a clinic with one dr(owner), one p.a., two nurses, and receptionists. It's one of those places where you can get "squeezed in" last minute, and everyone's very nice. Otherwise, it's 30 miles+ to drs, hospital, etc.

So, today I call at 8am right when they open and say, "DS is leaving for MT tomorrow and has a bad wet cough. Could you get him in or should we take him to the same day clinic (in X town)?" They tell me to bring him in at 9:30, at which time there are NO cars in the lot, no patients in the waiting room. DS and I are put in a room and are discussing the math quiz he just took before that, when, after 5-10 min, the p.a. comes in. I said, to her, "Sorry to bother you but with with his leaving I thought I should bring him in", she sits at the little desk and starts to read/write, so I finish my interrupted sentence quickly with DS. (I swear it was like 8-10 words only, and we whispered, thinking she was busy.) She suddenly says, "I'll be back" and rushes out the door!

I told DS, "Either she heard an emergency, or she's mad, we better apologize when she comes back in." She let us sit about another 5 minutes, then POUNDED on our door, came in and said, gruffly, "Well, now let's try this AGAIN". I said, "I'm sorry if we offended you, we thought you were busy reviewing something". She just shook her head, gave DS his exam, and at the end said something to the effect that she was "sorry". I apologized again, because by now I could tell that she was pretty upset.

So now I'm thoroughly confused! I know the dr. has had some medical issues of her own, so the p.a. has a lot of responsibilty right now. When a p.a. enters the room, were we supposed to be absolutely silent until spoken to? And, if she was upset, shouldn't she have talked to us about it instead of storming out and then pounding in? DS doesn't want to go back there, now, but I'm just hoping she was having a bad day (we've all had those). I just wish she wouldn't have done it in front of a child.

I'm torn between sending her a note, blowing it off as a "bad day" for her, or switching clinics. What do you think?

Terri

 

[DawnCt1]

Maybe she remembered something that she was supposed to do and rushed out to do it. Her attitude could have been from being overwhelmed and could have had nothing to do with you. If you were concerned, you should have clarified that before you left, with a simple, "Did you rush out of the door because of something I said?". You didn't so assume it was about something that had nothing to do with you. If it happens again. Address it at the moment. You have a right to speak whenever you want. After all, that is why you went; to describe what was happening with your DS. If she doesn't like it, she can tell you. In my mind, a history of an illness is as important as an exam.

 

[yoopermom]

You're right, Dawn, and, in hindsight, if DS wouldn't have been there, I know I would have said, "Hey, what's wrong? Is it something I said?" I should have asked her out into the hallway, or asked DS to leave for a few minutes, even. I'm just a "people pleaser" and felt bad because she seemed so on edge. (The door SHOOK when she pounded on it, kind of unnerved me.)

So now, do I just let it go or do I bring it up when I go in for my own apt next week?

Terri

 

[minkydog]

I would go with the its-not-you-its-her idea. She may indeed have been mad that you were talking*which is totally stupid--it's not like you were holding forth on your cellphone*. Or perhaps she was just feeing swamped and chose you for the unloading. At any rate, she acted very unprofessionally. I've been a nurse 32+ years and one thing I have learned--leave MY problems at the door and don't ever take them out on patients. If anyone needs to be apologizing here, it's her.

 

[AKLBeauty]

It doesn't sound like the PA was upset with you at all, just busy.

 

[C.Ann]

I wouldn't worry too much about it.. It may have been a number of things.. Last spring my doctor cut me off and got very short with me - almost like a sudden outburst.. Soooooo out of character.. Doctor quickly left the room, returned, and apologized.. It had nothing to do with me - there were problems with the staff and an incident just before entering the room..

People have bad days, but if you're still concerned about it when you go in next week you could very nicely say, "I've been wondering if I said or did something when I was in here last week with my son that upset you?" Listen to the answer ("really" listen) and then take it from there..

I'll bet it had nothing to do with you..

 

[Micca]

You (and your DS) are the patient,i.e. customer. Some doctors are on way too big of an ego trip. Find another doc, if you can't just go on biz as usual.
You don't need to feed their ego trip.

 

[npmommie]

Backstory:we are lucky enough to have, in our tiny town, a clinic with one dr(owner), one p.a., two nurses, and receptionists. It's one of those places where you can get "squeezed in" last minute, and everyone's very nice. Otherwise, it's 30 miles+ to drs, hospital, etc.

So, today I call at 8am right when they open and say, "DS is leaving for MT tomorrow and has a bad wet cough. Could you get him in or should we take him to the same day clinic (in X town)?" They tell me to bring him in at 9:30, at which time there are NO cars in the lot, no patients in the waiting room. DS and I are put in a room and are discussing the math quiz he just took before that, when, after 5-10 min, the p.a. comes in. I said, to her, "Sorry to bother you but with with his leaving I thought I should bring him in", she sits at the little desk and starts to read/write, so I finish my interrupted sentence quickly with DS. (I swear it was like 8-10 words only, and we whispered, thinking she was busy.) She suddenly says, "I'll be back" and rushes out the door!

I told DS, "Either she heard an emergency, or she's mad, we better apologize when she comes back in." She let us sit about another 5 minutes, then POUNDED on our door, came in and said, gruffly, "Well, now let's try this AGAIN". I said, "I'm sorry if we offended you, we thought you were busy reviewing something". She just shook her head, gave DS his exam, and at the end said something to the effect that she was "sorry". I apologized again, because by now I could tell that she was pretty upset.

So now I'm thoroughly confused! I know the dr. has had some medical issues of her own, so the p.a. has a lot of responsibilty right now. When a p.a. enters the room, were we supposed to be absolutely silent until spoken to? And, if she was upset, shouldn't she have talked to us about it instead of storming out and then pounding in? DS doesn't want to go back there, now, but I'm just hoping she was having a bad day (we've all had those). I just wish she wouldn't have done it in front of a child.

I'm torn between sending her a note, blowing it off as a "bad day" for her, or switching clinics. What do you think?

Terri

a couple things jump out at me.
first of all, you never have to apologize for bringing a loved one in for medical care. that is what your health care providers are there for.
if they couldn't fit you in, they would not have told you to come.
next.........did the pa acknowledge you in any way when she came in or did she just sit and start writing and reading?
you have nothing to apologize for!!!

 

[ontariomonkey]

I would suck it up only because it seems like a small issue in a clinic that you are otherwise happy with. Also, it would be very inconvenient for you to have to change doctors. If this type of thing comes up again, have a word with the physician who owns the practice. It is in his best interest to keep his paying customers happy.

 

[golfgal]

I usually give things like this a second try. If it has never happened before and doesn't happen again I would write it off to a bad day on her part. If it happens again, I would bring it up with the doctor so he knows how she is treating patients.

 

[yoopermom]

OP back, and I appreciate your honesty everyone! I'm a teacher, so I know it's hard to remain professional "all" the time, even though you should. After a good night's sleep, I'm going to go in next week for my p/p and hope for the best. If she acts normal, I'll let it go, but if she seems standoffish, I'll bring it up again. It's just so different when it's a small town and "everyone knows everyone" literally!

Terri

 

[jen0610]

So, today I call at 8am right when they open and say, "DS is leaving for MT tomorrow and has a bad wet cough. Could you get him in or should we take him to the same day clinic (in X town)?" They tell me to bring him in at 9:30, at which time there are NO cars in the lot, no patients in the waiting room. DS and I are put in a room and are discussing the math quiz he just took before that, when, after 5-10 min, the p.a. comes in. I said, to her, "Sorry to bother you but with with his leaving I thought I should bring him in", she sits at the little desk and starts to read/write, so I finish my interrupted sentence quickly with DS. (I swear it was like 8-10 words only, and we whispered, thinking she was busy.) She suddenly says, "I'll be back" and rushes out the door!
I told DS, "Either she heard an emergency, or she's mad, we better apologize when she comes back in." She let us sit about another 5 minutes, then POUNDED on our door, came in and said, gruffly, "Well, now let's try this AGAIN". I said, "I'm sorry if we offended you, we thought you were busy reviewing something". She just shook her head, gave DS his exam, and at the end said something to the effect that she was "sorry". I apologized again, because by now I could tell that she was pretty upset.

So now I'm thoroughly confused! I know the dr. has had some medical issues of her own, so the p.a. has a lot of responsibilty right now. When a p.a. enters the room, were we supposed to be absolutely silent until spoken to? And, if she was upset, shouldn't she have talked to us about it instead of storming out and then pounding in? DS doesn't want to go back there, now, but I'm just hoping she was having a bad day (we've all had those). I just wish she wouldn't have done it in front of a child.

I'm torn between sending her a note, blowing it off as a "bad day" for her, or switching clinics. What do you think?

Terri

Here is my take on the bolded part. She's reading and/or writing in the chart. You are free to talk to your son. Both our Dr and PA's will scan the chart while talking to us, but any time they vocused on read it or are writing on it and not speaking directly to me or the kids, we will converse between us, in a low tone.

IF she was buzzed, she should have said Excuess me, I'll be right back.

From what you say, it sounds like she was in a foul mood and took it out on you. I say this because, IF she was called out of your room for anything important, SHE should have appoligized to you for interupting your time when she reentered the room. By the fact that she pounded on the door when she returned, then said lets try this again, tells me she was trying to put you in your place.

You can either, let it slide, make mention of it to the office manager or dr directly, or say nothing and go else where.

 

[yoopermom]

I hadn't even thought about her getting buzzed (it's such a tiny place, the nurse usually just knocks, so I don't even know if they have pagers).

It's not totally relevant, but my DSIL is a g.p., and I truly have nothing but the greatest respect for the profession!

Terri

 

[RadioNate]

I'm hearing something else different. She was on task getting to you. She reviewed the notes and then remember something that she should have done or needed to do before. Maybe she had the wrong chart? So she left.

I think she was frustrated with HERSELF for having to start again. You know, when things get all wonky and you just throw your hands up and say "ok, let's try this again" and start over.

I don't think it was you at all.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I would let it go. You apologized (but it wasn't needed IMO). No more needs to be said (unless the p.a. would like to apologize to you). I would act like nothing happened. This probably won't be a blip on your radar after a little time has passed. Now if she has a pounding problem again, I'd probably ask her about that instance.

 

[yoopermom]

Here's a related question, do you know who calls in scrips in a dr's office? Can the nurse or receptionist do it, or does it have to be a dr or pa? Just wondering because I did have a mixup with this office earlier in the week, and it took three calls to them to get it straightened out. (They were supposed to call it in to Walgreen Tues p.m., I stopped at WG three hours later but no record of the call. I called the office Weds am, they promised to call and straighten it out. Three hours later I'm again at WG with no record of either call, so I call the office from WG, and it finally gets straightened out. I get home to find a message on my answering machine from KMart that my scrip is in...hmm...) So maybe the pa had to straighten that out and was upset?

I know, let it go, I will

Terri

 

[DawnCt1]

Here's a related question, do you know who calls in scrips in a dr's office? Can the nurse or receptionist do it, or does it have to be a dr or pa? Just wondering because I did have a mixup with this office earlier in the week, and it took three calls to them to get it straightened out. (They were supposed to call it in to Walgreen Tues p.m., I stopped at WG three hours later but no record of the call. I called the office Weds am, they promised to call and straighten it out. Three hours later I'm again at WG with no record of either call, so I call the office from WG, and it finally gets straightened out. I get home to find a message on my answering machine from KMart that my scrip is in...hmm...) So maybe the pa had to straighten that out and was upset?

I know, let it go, I will

Terri

Its usually someone other than the doctor. They write it down and someone they have designated calls it in.

 

[yoopermom]

Thanks, Dawn, that makes me feel better. I LOVE the picture of you and your family by the way, it always makes me smile!

Terri