Is it possible for a cheerful, good mannered person to hold down a job as a Doctor's Receptionist ?

Question

Supposing you got past the interview OK, remembering not to ever return a greeting or a smile, but then you accidentally slipped out of role and started smiling, answering questions or worse still - being helpful to patients ? Supposing you made a mistake and then accidentally apologised for it ? What is the punishment? Do they send you to Nasty School for retraining?

Answer 1

As a nurse in both GP surgeries and A&E I have much expierience of receptionists and you are quite right, some of them are absolute shockers!!.

Even if they are nice as people they can be absolutley cringe makingly rude to the general public.

There are one or two nice ones but they are few and far between.

God alone knows where they learn their people skills.

And some are quite unpleasant to the nursing and medical staff too.

Answer 2

It's not an easy job as people come to the surgeries in all sorts of mental states and in all sorts trouble, at these times their manners can wear thin through fear.
It is an opportunity to help someone, at the worst moment of their lives, to help them feel that the world cares, as you are the first contact: on the phone or in person.
It is an opportunity to have integrity as you hear and learn of the illnesses that afflict the members of your community, people you know, and you must not gossip about it.
And that's just the doctors, nurses and your colleagues!
Hard work for the strong of character.
But righteous.

Answer 3

They are no longer known as receptionists, they have been renamed "stoppers". Preventing patients from interfering with the twice weekly golfing activities of your GP, ( Godlike Person) is now their sworn duty. Anything that they can do to `stop` you from entering his surgery, (throne room), meeting and greeting (via surgical gloves) is rewarded with `smirk points`, which are exchanged for sour lemons.

Answer 4

#1 you can smile and be polite. You can help the patients just not with their medical or mental problems. Ask them how there day is etc. You cannot help them with medical issues b/c you are not a Dr. and if you give advice and it goes rong for them (even if it worked for you) you can get sued! I work in a hospital and do just fine and am cheery and happy everyday and smile to the patients.

Answer 5

Its not that they are just rude and unpleasant its the fact they expect you to tell them the symptoms so that they can say whether it is serious or not. I thought that was what your doctor was for!

I didnt realise that doctors receptionists were actually doctors and not just receptionists (I have worked on a reception before I know that trained monkeys can do it)

Answer 6

That's funny. Actually all the receptionists that I have come into contact with around here are great! I'll tell you who is rude though, people who work in fast food drive throughs!!

Answer 7

I don't know where you people live, but here in NYC I have encountered many cheerful, friendly receptionists in doctor's offices. They are the rule, not the exception, in this city.

Answer 8

I think that it is illegal for a receptionist to be cheerful. There probably are severe penalties for transgression but to my knowledge there has never been a recorded case of anyone ever offending.

Answer 9

LOL.......what a riot....you are soooooooo right ,,,,,they are the worst but in a way can you blame them....they have to listen to complaining and angry patients all day, the drs. are always "running behind" and they have to deal with billing and other problems.....not to mention cranky docs......not a fun job but you are right,,,,the occational good attitude would be great.

Answer 10

i would like to think all of those attributes would make a good medical receptionist, but at my doctors its like getting past the gestapo first, thats just to get an appointment, god forbid you ask for a repeat prescription, or turn up a couple of minutes late for your appt, they scare me!!!!!!