Doctor Doctor give me the news ...

[southy]

Is anyone else getting fed up with their doctor and staff? I've had the same family doctor for approximately 15 years. This doctor recently joined a group of other doctors and they share receptionists. Having been fairly healthy I haven't needed an appointment for some time. Today I realized I needed some prescriptions refilled so called to make an appointment. One would think that those of us who see doctors can be looked upon as THE CUSTOMER and the DOCTOR and their STAFF as the BUSINESS. That being said … the first thing I'm asked is what is the reason for your visit? I could have given her a dozen different reasons but chose being honest and said I needed some prescriptions refilled. The fact I need refills should tell her that I have some health issues. She goes on to say … "well you know you should give us 3 weeks notice that your prescriptions are running out". Since I neglected to take my happy happy pills I quickly responded with …"I'm not buying it!" I had an appointment for the next day. Why do doctors and staff think they hold all the power and we should jump to their schedule and rules. I guess because if you get fed up and tell them to love themselves finding another family doctor simply isn't in the cards. What happened to the days where doctors and staff respected their patients and the patient came first? Crazy world we live in .. just wonder where it will end. Makes me wonder if doctors only concern is the money and not the patient. I hope not but there are days I really wonder.

[DetectivePikachu]

If you really think you are "the customer" why don't you find a new business to patronize?
If you go down that route, i say good luck to you, its almost impossible to find a doctor taking new patients these days.

They have the power because there is fewer and fewer doctors per capita.

I would cation you about being rude to your doctor over these incidents as there have been stories of Doctors punting patients and them having a heck of a time to find a new one.

The system needs fixing, but how the heck do you do that with out paying GP's more to attract new students (especially to remote parts of the province) New medical students want to specialize now as that is where the money is in medicine. GPs are a dying breed.

[Frisk]

Why do doctors and staff think they hold all the power and we should jump to their schedule and rules.

Because they're busy and following procedure helps things to run smoothly. If you need an urgent prescription refill you should go to a walk in.

[mexi cali]

Doctor doctor, gimme some pills, I got the aches and pains and the chilly chills.

[Bsuds]

If it's an emergency refill your pharmacist can probably give you enough till you can get an appointment. They are allowed to do that for most meds these days. I believe with the exception of narcotics.

[southy]

Why do doctors and staff think they hold all the power and we should jump to their schedule and rules.

Because they're busy and following procedure helps things to run smoothly. If you need an urgent prescription refill you should go to a walk in.

I too am busy! By making an appointment to have my prescriptions (plural) refilled I'm following procedure. Have you ever tried having your doctor refill a prescription over the phone? Did you see anywhere that I needed an "urgent prescription refill"? Quit assuming!! My point is pretty damn simple removed… I called to make an appointment, yet I was drilled and told what I should be doing. Waiting three weeks. Funny thing is I have never ever been told that nor have I read that in their medical office. Why would I go to a walkin? I would rather deal with and pay my own doctor.

[oneh2obabe]

Depending on your medication and how long you've been with the same pharmacist/pharmacy, they can refill if it falls within certain guidelines.

http://library.bcpharmacists.org/6_Reso ... ochure.pdf

ETA - just got off the phone with my pharmacist and he renewed one of my prescriptions - can pick it up tomorrow morning.

[my5cents]

The wording of the topic, got me thinking of my peeve.

I live in Summerland, saw a specialist in Kelowna. He sent me for some special tests that I guess only specialists order.

A week or so later I get a call from his office, "the doctor wants to see you".

So drive to Kelowna, wait half an hour, get in to see the doctor. "everything is fine, the tests were negative". What !!! ???

[coffeeFreak]

We don't expect mechanics to add us to their busy schedules for basic maintenance to our cars, so why would a person expect this of his or her busy doctor, and especially for something that could clearly have been taken care of by making an appointment in advance.

I am reminded of a saying I saw posted in a busy office: "lack of planning on your part, does not constitute and emergency on my part".

[Frisk]

I too am busy! By making an appointment to have my prescriptions (plural) refilled I'm following procedure. Have you ever tried having your doctor refill a prescription over the phone? Did you see anywhere that I needed an "urgent prescription refill"? Quit assuming!! My point is pretty damn simple removed… I called to make an appointment, yet I was drilled and told what I should be doing. Waiting three weeks. Funny thing is I have never ever been told that nor have I read that in their medical office. Why would I go to a walkin? I would rather deal with and pay my own doctor.

I don't understand what you're even upset about. You needed a prescription refilled but you didn't have an appointment, so you called to make one, they inform you that you're supposed to make one a couple weeks in advance but still let you in to see the doctor the next day. Nothing about that sounds earth-shattering to me.

It's the responsibility of the patient to make sure that their appointments are booked. I've been in that position before and always accepted it as my fault if I ran out of meds and they couldn't get me in right away.

[Urban Cowboy]

My bone of contention is the double standard.

My specialist has rules posted and strictly enforced by the receptionist, that state if you miss your appointment there's a $50 charge. Fine if that's their rule, but then why is it that in almost three years of having to go there, I find myself sitting and waiting for an average of 45 minutes every visit, on appointments that are made three months in advance?

To my thinking if they can't see me within fifteen minutes of the scheduled time, then they should be paying me for my time.

This isn't a place where emergencies happen, thus I'm left feeling that they think my time is worthless and only theirs has value.

I think that some places have just gotten too smug, in the knowledge that they can do whatever they wish, as we don't really have any recourse.

By contrast my GP on the other hand has never had me wait more than about five minutes, on a prebooked appointment, and that in an office where emergencies do come up now and then.

A person shouldn't have to book half a day off from work, simply to accommodate a five minute session with the doctor.

[southy]

Cowboy - thank you! This is exactly why I was so upset. You nailed it. Yes, it was the smugness of the receptionist that bothered me more than anything.

[alanjh595]

I too am busy! By making an appointment to have my prescriptions (plural) refilled I'm following procedure. Have you ever tried having your doctor refill a prescription over the phone? Did you see anywhere that I needed an "urgent prescription refill"? Quit assuming!! My point is pretty damn simple removed… I called to make an appointment, yet I was drilled and told what I should be doing. Waiting three weeks. Funny thing is I have never ever been told that nor have I read that in their medical office. Why would I go to a walkin? I would rather deal with and pay my own doctor.

I hope that what you were "too busy" doing was more important than your health related medications. Adjust your priorities accordingly.
Mom's not around anymore to make sure you take the pills on time.
Put a reminder on your cel phone, to ring 4 weeks before the meds run out.
Ask for one years worth of refills, but still put a reminder on your phone.

No excuse, no sympathy.

[southy]

removedI

[stuphoto]

Southy, give your doctors new staff time to know you.
My doctor actually lets me know something like " you have 6 weeks of your prescription left. Would you like to order some now or come back "
When the main receptionist sees me she gives me a smile and often just takes me right to a room to wait.

As for the long wait, a couple months ago my doctor was running around 45 minutes behind.
It wasn't because of her being disorganized, but rather because of one patient having issues that required more time than expected.

I wasn't at all upset because I would rather have a doctor that actually takes the time to listen, and helps me than a doctor who just hands me a prescription and pushes me out the door.
However I only book my doctors appointment on days off, just in case there is a delay.