When you call your doctor for an appointment............

[Kitty 34]

does a human answer or a machine???

Our doctor's office went to a machine. You know, Press 1 if you want to speak to the nurse; Press 2 if you have a question about your prescription; Press 3, if you're dying, etc etc.

It's driving me nuts!!! I feel like I'm calling the phone company or electric company!! And just like with those companies, I can't get thru!!!!

 

[wdwnutze]

Our dr. office switched to a machine about 6 months agao and I hate it. I think you spend more time on hold then when a human used to answer the phone.

 

[Kitty 34]

Amen to that Wdenutze!!!!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

My fathers doctor is like that, I press 0 to get the operator then I am back to pressing, 1 -2-3. I think they should give out traqualizers (sp) before you call the doctor, it's a pain in the neck

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Machine.

What I just LOVE is when you finally get to the human, who answers with "could you hold please?"

 

[Mishetta]

Have you noticed that hardly any OB/GYN's have a recording....I guess they figure if you're calling to schedule your "annual" exam, they're not going to risk you hanging up if you get a recording!

 

[cinmell]

My doctor has a machine answer and the receptionist always answers at my daughter's doctor's office .

 

[browneyes]

Machine. I get a machine at my kids' ped 99% of the time too.

 

[Chattyaholic]

Our doctor's office staff still answer the phones personally, unless you call before they open, or after they close, or during their lunch hour...then you get a recording.

 

[TheLionKing]

It's a matter of office work flow. Some calls are asking for prescription refills or billing questions that can be recorded and gotten too when there is a lull. This allows a person to get to those calls that should be dealt with more quickly. The voice messaging system starts the inital sorting process.

It is a lot cheaper than hiring another receptionist to answer the phone.

It is not like I can raise my fees to cover the cost of hiring another person. And this is true for most medical practices. We all have to make some sacrifices in the current enviroment of medicine.

 

[Boots]

Last time I called I got a human but who knows now!!!!

 

[Pembo]

My OB/GYN has a machine! It was very annoying when I thought I was having a miscarriage. I just kept calling back and punching ZERO. I knew eventually I'd get a human.

My kids Dr has a machine too and then you always get put on hold, FOREVER! I think there are 20 lines and only 2 people answering the phone.

I HATE MACHINES!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Talking Hands]

The Lion King and then what do your deaf and hard of hearing patients do? I can never understand recordings even with my amplified phone and hearing aids. Means I have to call relay or get a family member to call for me. Do you realize how demeaning that is when you cannot even control your own life by making appointments. At least with a person you can ask for multiple repeats. My doctor still uses people and I am glad he does.

 

[TheLionKing]

At this time when we see a patient in the office who might have this problem, we give them a written instruction. It is just a matter of waiting until the phone switches the caller to a person. If they have a billing question they have written instructions to press 4.

At this time, we do not have a problem with our hearing impaired patients.

 

[Denine]

My doctor went to a machine and I am actually glad. It used to take a minimum of 10 minutes, contiually hitting redial, just to have the phone answered and be put on hold.
Now, the machine answers, it directs my call to wherever and I get to speak to a human in just a couple of minutes.
I am not usually one to advocate machines, but it has worked out in this instance.