Dealing with pains?

Question

I work in a medical centre as a receptionist. I cannot dictate to the drs how long their appointments have to be, nor can I book more people in if the drs are over booked. Yet everyone seems to think that all i do is sit at my computer and do nothing. I get abused, sworn at and I have to sit here and take it with a smile on my face. Why is it that people are like this? If I could help I would, but sometime nothing can be done. I love my job, and the people I meet, but there is that one person that makes me think about leaving because I am just sick of it.....

Answer 1

Each person in the medical field needs to be able to "sit" or "follow" everyone in the field when they are hired as part of the orientation to be able to at least get an understanding of what each job entails.

I work in the medical field also and I travel with a contract company. I see frustration everywhere I go. I see places where there are nurses who are overworked and places who absolutely do not have enough staff because the building wants to save money and the patients are the ones who suffer in the long run. It is the rest of us who have to "cover" and apologize for everything. I am a therapist and I travel to hospitals and nursing homes. Some places expect any and ALL staff to answer call lights even when you have your own job to do. That is hard for someone like me who frequently doesn't even know the patient or the facility when I am contracted out to different places. I don't mind answering call lights, but I also have my job that is expected of me from the facility. Patients complain of bad service and I try to make up for it. I have to be productive in the therapy world, and answering call lights is not a therapy service. I wind up doing more nursing jobs than my therapy.

We as Professionals have to put on that smile no matter what and apologize. We also have to let the other "professionals" know exactly what they are dealing with in whatever job we have. We have to have respect for each other and what we all do and find things to thank each other for. It would make things better for sure. We have to realize that we are not in the other persons shoes and they may be having a bad day. I sometimes offer my services, if I am slow where I am, and I ask them if I can do something for them to help them.

Don't let one person make your decision. There is always going to be someone at every job like that. The grass is not always greener on the other side. It is the people you work with that make it. Have meetings once a week to discuss department issues, etc... That way things are laid out on the table and hopefully they will be able to see what your job is actually like.

Best wishes to you.

Answer 2

Sometimes just explaining that you can only do what the doctors allow will help. If they have a problem with the office policies, you might refer them to the office manager.

If the person that is making you miserable is a patient and continues to treat you with disprespect after you have explained the situation, maybe you could talk with a supervisor or one of the doctors. This patient might need to be reminded of office policies and the appropriate way to treat the office staff.

If it's a co-worker, could you speak with her? If not, speak with a supervisor and explain the situation and ask for help to resolve the situation.

Answer 3

Jobs dealing with the public can really suck and that is a fact. If you are feeling burned out, maybe the best thing to do would be to find something else because the people aren't going to change.

Answer 4

Part of dealing with the public ... sorry but thats just the way it is.