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?"
12 comments:
Was it agreed that he come in at 4:32 and 30 seconds?
Timing is everything. Perhaps it's a zen thing.
Hmmm. I will see your 4:30 and raise you 5 minutes. Deal?
And, if you had accommodated her, I bet she would have no-showed.
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 :)
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.
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.
A simple solution:
Mary should have said "5pm spot is available, however our policy requires patients to show up 30 minutes early".
Why does Mary have to be so difficult...........?
My guess is she still would not show up until almost five, and then have a laundry list of complaints taking up 45 minutes....
Yup I also am betting she'll show up just a few minutes before 5...
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!
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