Phone lady: "Hi, I need to make a new-patient appointment with Dr. Grumpy."
Mary: "Okay... We can see you this Friday, at 1:30. Does that work?"
Phone lady: "Yes. I have Major Illness insurance, do you take that?"
Mary: "We certainly do. We'll see you on Friday. Any other questions?"
Phone lady: "Yes, do you think I need to see a neurologist?"
Mary: "I really can't answer that. Didn't your internist refer you?"
Phone lady: "Yes, but I don't trust her medical judgment, so I'm asking you."
15 comments:
Mary: Sorry, I'm not qualified to answer that. Maybe you should ask your car mechanic. Or perhaps the check-out clerk at the grocery store.
Actually Moose, I think she made a very wise choice in getting a second opinion. Second opinion on the idea of making the appointment.
Never ask your mechanic all he says is You need a timing belt.
What's Mary's highest level of education? High school?
Yes.
Recall one hundred years ago, with an 8th grade education, you could obtain a certificate to teach school....
On the other hand, maybe Mary's reputation has spread beyond the office and this blog resulting in her being solicited for advice...
But why would the caller expect Mary to say anything but yes anyway?
Dr. Mary, saint that she is ~
The caller has major illness insurance-translated-high deductible-which means patient is going to pay cash for the visit. She probably wanted a a little reasurance before running up the visa bill.
Also, in my state, I'm seen some pretty bogus referrals.
All Hail Mary, giver of second opinions when appointments are needed.
With this PTs luck, she has something serious that the internest has never seen before (Grumpy did in some textbook eons ago ;-D) and needs Grumpy, stat.
BTW, Sir Yak Herder, the pink scrubs on a male model at Landau are especially fetching. Just commenting. Tho, if someone wearing that color of any gender walked into my cell, er, room, wearing bubble-gum pink I would defenestrate.
At the pharmacy I am constantly amazed how many people will butt in on a counsel of some OTC medication with their two cents worth which isn't worth two cents and often completely wrong. And then to make it worse the person I'm counseling will take the advice of a complete stranger over their trusted pharmacist with a PharmD. Ouch.
-CrazyRxMan
@craxyrxman
They're not disregarding your opinion. They're just listening to whom agrees with them. People want to do what they want to do and just a single nudge in the right direction is all they need to not feel bad for doing so.
If Mary is REALLY good, I think she'd be telling Phone Lady to refer Dr. Grumpy to all her friends.
And she'd be asking for commission and/or combat pay.
I hope Mary really does have a sense of humor!
Mary's comforting voice on the phone, humming decibels of comfort, like the purring of a kitten in one's lap, or mother's crooning affirmation, yes, yes, it is not a bad idea for you to see Dr. G, an expert in the care of yaks, he knows yaks. Whether senile dementia, or Alzheimers he has extra training in the neurological issues of yaks, and is certified in all aspects of the care and feeding er, yes, yak therapy.
Neuroconsulting Olympics
Intern MD: Bronze medal
Mary: Gold & Silver medals
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