Thursday, January 14, 2010

Mary's Desk, January 14, 2010

A lot of patients have Mary's email. They use it to schedule and confirm appointments.

So my 8:30 was running a few minutes late today. Using her cell phone, she sent Mary an email that she was running late because she spilled soda on her pants. Whatever.

A few minutes later, while driving down the freeway, she took a picture of the stain and emailed it to Mary.

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

That would have made my day. hahaha. However, the first time someone texts me a photo when their water breaks... I'm quitting.

As "grumpy" as you proclaim to be... you certainly must be entertained enough to keep you sane. :)

terri c said...

Well, patient needs to get a video cam and film the stain happening, because otherwise who knows if it was there before? Oh, this is marvelous, it is, and one of the many reasons I will never work in management.

Helen said...

The only time I've had to phone in late to a doctor's appointment, it was because I was house-sitting for people with a 16 year old diabetic cat and it had started having siezures. I did not take a picture, though.

Really, it doesn't look like much of a stain. I think you should grill her about it.

ERP said...

At least it does not look like urine stains.

kate sweeten said...

I had a patient call this morning to say that she was going to be "5 or 10 minutes late"...her appointment was at 9am and she finally came strolling in the door around 11:15am. Close, but not quite!

Candice said...

Thank God it was only a soda stain!

donna said...

If she had her cell phone, why
didn't she just call? At least
it was ONLY soda! This blog makes
my day!

Donna

Amanda said...

I'm clearly not providing my doctors with enough entertainment. I think I'm going to kick the crazy up a few notches. What if they write blogs and need blog fodder? I've been giving them NOTHING. I feel like a failure as a patient.

Anonymous said...

Good God! The idea that ANYONE, much less your doc's receptionist, would have any interest in looking at this is a locus classicus for the self-absorption of modern culture.

Pink said...

Wayyy too much Provigil. ;-)

Anonymous said...

So she not only took a pix of her lap but added text to the pix while driving? And emailed it?
You really do get some winners.
Was she changing her feminine hygiene device just prior to the spill?

Anonymous said...

Wow. Your pt is way above my texting skill level! I can read e-mail maybe but send? Oh well-at least she was courteous enough to call! My word? Fammati. I love this for some reason!

Anonymous said...

Maybe she didn't want you guys to think she was lying :) Although, you would have seen it once she walked in the office. It's still very funny!

Julie said...

that heaven for modern technology ... even 5 years ago this wouldn't have been possible ... the fact that it is possible, however, DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO DO IT ....

Outrider said...

Helen:

>>I was house-sitting for people with a 16 year old diabetic cat and it had started having siezures. I did not take a picture, though.>>

Oh, dear. That's a problem.

When I evaluate a patient for seizures (uncommon in horses) I tell the owner the horse may never have another. Then I suggest filming any future episodes with a camera phone so I can see what's actually happening. It's a useful diagnostic tool, since the seizure is almost always over by the time I arrive, and may not actually be a seizure. Also, it keeps the owner at a safe distance from a potentially dangerous situation.

Lilorfnannie said...

I'd have been wondering why she was trying so hard to prove she wasn't lying. I'd assume from that that she probably habitually lied to people- and I'd watch for lies from her from then on!!

Helen said...

Dr Grumpy, that'll teach you not to believe your patients! Trouble is, it's quite worrying to think of how creative some patients can be and just now, you could be receiving all manner of graphic emails. Especially from lady's in lifts who think you look like a pimp...
Still chuckling at that one...

 
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