Monday, November 1, 2010

Mary's Desk, November 1, 2010

Mary: "Dr. Grumpy's office. This is Mary."

Ms. Nitpick: "Yes, I'd like to make a follow-up with Dr. Grumpy."

Mary: "Okay, we have a 4:30 tomorrow afternoon."

Ms. Nitpick: "That won't work. It's too early. How about 5:00?"

Mary: "No, I'm sorry, but the doctor leaves at 5:00 each day to do hospital work."

Ms. Nitpick: "What about 4:45?"

Mary: "Our last follow-up slot is at 4:30."

Ms. Nitpick: "What about 4:35?"
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12 comments:

  1. DanNovember 1, 2010 at 6:24 PM

    Was it agreed that he come in at 4:32 and 30 seconds?

    ReplyDelete
  2. The MotherNovember 1, 2010 at 6:27 PM

    Timing is everything. Perhaps it's a zen thing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. ErinNovember 1, 2010 at 6:57 PM

    Hmmm. I will see your 4:30 and raise you 5 minutes. Deal?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Queen of the RoadNovember 1, 2010 at 8:16 PM

    And, if you had accommodated her, I bet she would have no-showed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulieNovember 1, 2010 at 9:11 PM

    now this is where i would start counting backwards ... "sorry 4.30 is now taken, how about 4.25 ... 4.20 ... 4.15 .........." see who gives up first :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousNovember 2, 2010 at 12:22 AM

    So, will you be seeing her? It sounds like she is one that you would not want as your last appointment. She might not show up until 4:45.

    My Neuro is so good to me (as our all my docs) and I wouldn't even think of "pulling" some of shit your patients pull on you.

    I actually bring certain doctors(Neuro included)coffee and a treat when I come in for my appointments.

    ReplyDelete
  7. pharmacy chickNovember 2, 2010 at 12:34 AM

    Reminds me of the time I had a customer who wanted to know EXACTLY how long it would be til his rx was ready. I had said. "oh around 10-20 minutes." He wanted a more specific time..I sarcastically said. "ok, how about 17 minutes and 45 seconds?".
    he was not amused.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mr. Deaf CarpenterNovember 2, 2010 at 1:49 AM

    A simple solution:

    Mary should have said "5pm spot is available, however our policy requires patients to show up 30 minutes early".

    ReplyDelete
  9. Swami DilNovember 2, 2010 at 3:01 PM

    Why does Mary have to be so difficult...........?

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousNovember 2, 2010 at 11:04 PM

    My guess is she still would not show up until almost five, and then have a laundry list of complaints taking up 45 minutes....

    ReplyDelete
  11. terri cNovember 3, 2010 at 8:01 PM

    Yup I also am betting she'll show up just a few minutes before 5...

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousNovember 4, 2010 at 6:15 AM

    Assuming that an appointment was kept, how about a pre-recorded message, to be played over the PA System in your office:

    "At the tone, it will be 4:35 and ten seconds, and the end of your consultation, precisely. Have a nice *second* opinion."

    Feeling mean today; its a *zen* thing!

    ReplyDelete

So wadda you think?