I leave half the stuff blank because usually the nurse or the doc comes in and asks everything I've painstakingly responded to on the form. It sounds like you actually read the forms you ask patients to fill out.
One of my pet peeves is when they ask a question on a form but do not give you enough space to provide anything more than a yes or no to an open ended question.
Some years back I kept an appointment with my PCP, Doctor Goodstuff. In due course I check in with the nice lady behind the glass, was eventually called and escorted to an examination room. A few minutes later Dr. Goodstuff strolls in.
"Hi Jack. How are you doing?"
"Oh, pretty well, take me all around."
"That's nice. How's your mom?"
"She's fine. She's learning to play the piano and staying busy with church and all."
Dr. Goodstuff smiles and nods. His nurse, who operates the laptop, smiles pleasantly and waits.
"So, anything bothering you?"
"No, not really."
Silence. We look at each other.
"So what can we do for you today?"
"Well, you told me to come in, so here I am."
Dr. Goodstuff looks pissed and glares at his nurse. She looks vaguely dismayed over something.
"Okay, well, you can go. Have a good day."
We shake hands with the usual pleasantries, and that was that. Clearly, the office staff doesn't know what the office management expects them to do.
Nothing unusual there. Awhile back, when I went in to see my regular physician, I was asked "reason for visit?". I said she wanted me to come back, but I couldn't remember why.
A compliant patient is good, right?
ReplyDeleteI leave half the stuff blank because usually the nurse or the doc comes in and asks everything I've painstakingly responded to on the form. It sounds like you actually read the forms you ask patients to fill out.
ReplyDeleteOne of my pet peeves is when they ask a question on a form but do not give you enough space to provide anything more than a yes or no to an open ended question.
ReplyDeleteBut did he say "please?"
ReplyDeleteSome years back I kept an appointment with my PCP, Doctor Goodstuff. In due course I check in with the nice lady behind the glass, was eventually called and escorted to an examination room. A few minutes later Dr. Goodstuff strolls in.
ReplyDelete"Hi Jack. How are you doing?"
"Oh, pretty well, take me all around."
"That's nice. How's your mom?"
"She's fine. She's learning to play the piano and staying busy with church and all."
Dr. Goodstuff smiles and nods. His nurse, who operates the laptop, smiles pleasantly and waits.
"So, anything bothering you?"
"No, not really."
Silence. We look at each other.
"So what can we do for you today?"
"Well, you told me to come in, so here I am."
Dr. Goodstuff looks pissed and glares at his nurse. She looks vaguely dismayed over something.
"Okay, well, you can go. Have a good day."
We shake hands with the usual pleasantries, and that was that. Clearly, the office staff doesn't know what the office management expects them to do.
Nothing unusual there. Awhile back, when I went in to see my regular physician, I was asked "reason for visit?". I said she wanted me to come back, but I couldn't remember why.
ReplyDeleteWow, the dating scene sure has changed since I was single...
ReplyDelete"He didn't actually specify where, but he was very insistent."
ReplyDeleteA totally logical answer to an unclear question.
ReplyDeleteDuh...what we have here is a failure to communicate!
ReplyDelete