Friday, March 19, 2010

Don't call us, we'll call you

She showed up 30 minutes late for her 10:00 appointment.

Normally I wouldn't have seen her, but since the 10:30 had canceled at the last minute, I did.

She apologized for being late, because her pain medications made her so confused she got lost finding my office.

She spent most of the visit telling me how her chronic pain kept making her late for work, on the days when she was able to go to work at all.

She talked about how she didn't think she'd be able to work much longer, and was looking into applying for disability.

And when I asked her if she had any further questions, she whipped out a copy of her resume and asked me if I was interested in replacing any of my current staff.

24 comments:

  1. OMG! Where do you find these people? Are you running an add in the paper? West coast doctor looking to expland his practice. Only nuts should apply?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha! I'm totally posting about this on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Yes, our doorstop seems to be missing, we could probably place you there if you pass the drug test....do you have any prior experience?"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thank you to Evil HR Lady for finding me another fantastic blog to follow.

    ReplyDelete
  5. And maybe you could pay her disability, while you're at it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The drugs really are making her nuts!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's actually kind of sad. She probably offered up the resume to you thinking you'd be a compassionate employer. You'd be surprised by how many employers are *not* compassionate about illness.

    I would recommend a job she could do from home, though--she shouldn't be on the road! I guess there's always need for more sex callers, right? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. That would be like a woman coming in for an appointment for a raging case of herpes only to have her give you her phone number afterwards and say 'call me' as the appointment ended, lol. Not good!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maybe Ed needs an assistant?

    Hopalong Ginsberg

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think she forgot to mention that she self-medicated with some pot before she came to her appointment. That would also explain getting lost on the way to your office!

    ReplyDelete
  11. After much thought... if I could do it all over again I would definitely have become a stay at home mom radiologist.

    I always kicked myself for not finishing med school and becoming only an RN...

    But today... expecially after your lovely experience... I am glad you are the doctor and I am the nurse. Too many crazies... and too many of them procreating.

    Have a lovely weekend Grumps.
    Feel free to stop by our new space and say hay... www.chamberpotstew.blogspot.com

    ~TH

    ReplyDelete
  12. taking heart- sorry, you should kick yourself. i see many nurses every day who could not get to med school for socioeconomic reasons who would be far better doctors (much larger scope of practice) than most i have known.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anon (3/20) -- do you have any idea what they do to people in medical school and medical training? It's a miracle anyone comes out being able to be a good doctor....

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, at least she gets points for determination.

    ReplyDelete
  15. @Anonymous 11:56 PM: Ed is the office fish.

    Hopalong Ginsberg

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dr.G, as someone who has taken highly sedative medication and then managed to live life past those years... I find this story really sad. I do know what it feels like to miss out on life (appointments, school, birthdays, etc) and its little pleasures, just because of my highly sedative anti psycotic meds... I am so grateful that i dont have to live like that anymore.
    p.s. get well soon!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh this is priceless! This has had me laughing out loud before 7am...thanks - great blog! I'll be back

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm just thrilled to know of a doc who usually wouldn't see a late patient. I hate it when I show up on time (actually, usually ten minutes early so I can do the paperwork) but the person with the appointment before me is late and is seen anyhow, thus pushing my actual appointment back.

    If you're late, you go to the back of the line is what I say.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Gold Digger- Yeah, I agree. That's always been my policy.

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?