Dr. Grumpy: "This is Dr. Grumpy, returning a page."
Mrs. Confused: "Yes, I have an appointment for this morning, but that must be wrong."
Dr. Grumpy: "No, I remember from the schedule. It's at 9:00."
Mrs. Confused: "But it's a national holiday. The post-office is closed."
Dr. Grumpy: "Yes, but I'm open."
Mrs. Confused: "You must be wrong. So if you're office is closed, I'd like to reschedule."
Dr. Grumpy: "We're open! Most doctors are."
Mrs. Confused: "But the post office is closed!"
Dr. Grumpy: "Ma'am, I'm not the post office."
Mrs. Confused: "Okay. I'll be in then."
Five minutes passed. Then the phone rang. It was Mrs. Confused again, so I answered it.
Dr. Grumpy: "This is Dr. Grumpy."
Mrs. Confused: "Doctor, I'm just not comfortable with this. I'd like to reschedule, just in case your office is closed today."
Dr. Grumpy: (heavy sigh) "Okay, I'll have Mary call you later."
Mrs. Confused: "Will she be in today if you're closed?"
Dr. Grumpy: "Have a nice day." (hangs up, watches hairs leap off his head like lemmings)
At this point, I would really just want to pack up and go home, holiday or not.
ReplyDeleteYeah, patients are canceling in droves for some reason today. I want to go home and go back to bed.
ReplyDeleteWell she's a nice change to the ones that get mad when you are closed on other holidays :)
ReplyDeleteI got the opposite today. I'm military and go to the gym before work, so people are used to seeing me walk out in my uniform.
I must have had at least 10 people stop and ask me why I wasn't in it today - then get jealous because they don't work for the federal government (if they only knew...)
*facepalm*
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you stay sane.
ReplyDeleteNeither do I.
ReplyDeleteAre the banks open today?
ReplyDeleteDunno. Maybe some supermarket branches are, but suspect that's all.
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine someone would think you don't know your own schedule (shaking head)
ReplyDeleteHolidays are my favorite time to schedule appointments. Not as many patients, schedule's running on time, there's a relaxed atmosphere...
I guess she wanted a holiday from her neurologist. :P
ReplyDeleteP.S I am glad that today your ads have stopped telling me how to "lose belly fat" or "find Irish singles". I have enough neuroses without one of my favorite blogs adding to them!!
"watches hairs leap off his head like lemmings" = hilarious!
ReplyDeleteBut, you didn't tell us if Mary came in or not.
ReplyDelete(Sorry.)
So you are closed today, right?
ReplyDeleteObviously, you doctor types are not to be trusted to know where you're supposed to be or when you're supposed to be there!
ReplyDeleteBanks might be closed, but everything eles is open down here. Poor kids are like your confused patient, "why do we have school when the town over does not," My response "town over is in another state, now go to school" Them: are you sure school is open???? over and over we went, they are at school now
ReplyDeleteThey're all cancelling so they can go to the ER because they're open 24/7 FOR SURE.
ReplyDeleteI don't get how patients are allowed to call you about any little thing at any time. My daughter's pediatrician's office has a message saying that if you contact them with questions after hours, there is a $20 charge. That seriously makes me think twice about what's an emergency and what isn't. Why can't you do something like that? (And if you can't, why can they??)
ReplyDeleteFizzy- I personally don't think that's right. It may be legal, but that doesn't make it right.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have my patients be able to reach me in an emergency, rather than have them go 2 days without meds or treatment to save $20.
But everyone is different.
my office runs 10-15% no show, but today everybody showed up, with add-ons on top of them. lots of kids too.
ReplyDeleteI'm imagining Dr. G. needing to try body language and hand gestures through the phone, as the words are not going anywhere close to the interpretation center.
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't go to the post office on MLK day.
ReplyDeleteI would have charged her double copay for canceling on the day of the appointment. Shame on her for waisting your time like that.
ReplyDelete