Any one had trouble with their doctors receptionist?

Question

They always ask at the doctor's office why you are there, and you
have to answer in front of others what's wrong and sometimes it is
embarrassing.
There's nothing worse than a Doctor's Receptionist who insists you
tell her what is wrong with you in a Room of other patients. I know
most of us have experienced this, and I love the way this old guy handled it:
An 86 year old man walked into a crowded waiting room and approached
the desk....
The Receptionist said, "Yes sir, what are you Seeing the Doctor for today?"
"There's something wrong with my dick", he replied.
The receptionist became irritated and said, "You shouldn't come Into
a crowded waiting room and say things like that."
"Why not? You asked me what was wrong and I told you," he said.
The Receptionist replied; "Now you've caused some embarrassment in
this room full of people. You should have said there is something
wrong with your ear or something, and discussed the problem further
with the Doctor in private."
The man replied, "You shouldn't ask people questions in a room full
of strangers, if the answer could embarrass anyone.."
The man walked out, waited several minutes and then re-entered.
The Receptionist smiled smugly and asked, "Yes ?"
"There's something wrong with my ear", he stated.
The Receptionist nodded approvingly and smiled, knowing he had taken
her advice.
"And what is wrong with your ear, Sir ?"
"I can't piss out of it," he replied.
The waiting room erupted in laughter.

Mess with seniors and you're gonna lose!

Answer 1

I'll have to try that on our receptionists they always try to make you wait ten days for an appointment even though you are supposed to get an appointment in 48 hours, and they ask you if it is urgent. Obviously you wouldn't be there if you didn't need to be.

Answer 2

Sounds like denise m goes to the same docs we go to lol coz 1 of our doctors was having an affair with a receptionist AND 1 of the Practise Nurses as well! No wonder no-one could get an appointment with him....he was too tired to see anyone!! Yes, we've had a few problems with the receptionists at times n they ask why the appointment is needed too. But getting a Home Visit is even worse! You have to speak to the receptionist, then the doctors secretary, then she decides if you really need a visit! Get yourselves a digital thermometer, folks, coz when you tell her you've got a temp. n they ask how you know it is very satisfying hearing the "Oh!" on the other end of the line!! Weekends are a definate no-no for a home visit tho coz we always get a locum from another practise who doesn't know the family history n they don't give the same medications that you know works for you! Most of the receptionists at ours are ok but there's always 1 tho isn't there!!!

Answer 3

I have worked as a secretary before and sometimes had to cover reception if someone was off ill or there wasn't enough cover for lunchtimes etc and if i ever spoke to people on the phone or people who came into the office the same way that my doctor's receptionist feels is ok to speak to everybody that phones up or comes in, then I would have probably got a verbal warning at the very least.

My doctors receptionist seem to act like I am asking for a kidney from them if I so much as attempt to get an appointment.

Why should we list our symptoms in front of a full waiting room of people? You are assured by your doctor of their confidentiality, but it doesn't matter a jot if the receptionists are asking about your symptoms in a packed waiting room!

Love the story though!!

Answer 4

I have very little shame, and I usually answer directly (not in crude terms, mind you) about what I'm seeing the Doc for. It has occurred to me, though, that a good deal of people probably feel very awkward trying to explain their condition in a crowded room. I've gotten some surprised looks from the receptionists because of my answers.

If you had an appointment, you can just tell them you are there for your appointment. If they ask, tell them it's for the same problem you mentioned when you first made the appointment. If it's a walk-in visit, ask if they have a sign-in sheet. Then you can write why you're there and they can read it to decide how urgent it is and which Doc you should see.

Answer 5

I have never encoutered a situation where a patient has to state his symptoms in front of other patients and to a none medical member of staff too. Personally, I think that such stories are pure fiction as this would be a blatant breach of patient confidentiality. I have occassionally been asked on the phone by a receptionist to give some indicationof my illness if I have asked for an emergency appointment but that is all.

My main grumble about receptionists at my local surgery is that they employ a whole load of them who never seem to pass information around so that you often have to repeat a stry to each one individually. They really do need some lessons in communication skills.

Answer 6

Yes, I have encountered some. I love the ones who want the insurance inform before they say good morning or the ones who talk to you looking down writing something without making eye contact.

Once my mom had an appt. and waited for about 45 minutes for the doctor, she finally went to the receptionist to find out what was taking so long. The receptionist said that she had forgotten her and apologized. By this time, the doctor had slipped out to lunch. My mom had to make another appt. Boy was she upset.

Answer 7

this story is fab.
on a darker side of receptionists, my son was 3 years old and had been very ill during the night and even though i'd given him medication to bring down his fever it hadn't worked by morning and he was ill, i phoned the doctor and the receptionist said there was no available appointments, until next week, i told her he was very ill and she said well im sorry there's nothing i can do. Sweetly i asked her to confirm that the doctors were refusing to see my 3 year old, ill son, with that she told me to come to the surgery within 15 minutes, we did he saw the doctor and he was not happy with what had happened and needless to say it doesn't happen anymore to us. I'm not one of these people who goes to the doctors every time my kids sniffle only when they're ill and i won't put up with anyone telling me over the phone that a doctor won't see my child because there's no available appointment.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, many people have no brains nor manners and BELIEVE that they are doing a great service and job! Dumb-bells! That DR. needs to know your thoughts/feelings on that sensitive manner! Tell that Doctor about the receptionist's rudeness!

My hubby always answers, "..to pay the Dr.'s rent!" Usually, that question is asked when one is ALREADY in the room, waiting for the Dr. and getting your vitals taken not in public, which is rude and embarassing. My ususal answers are: " the Dr. wanted my return visit" or "it's just a normal check-up" that is all they need to report.

Answer 9

When I was very young I worked for a dentist who shared a patient waiting room with a doctor. One day an older (to me at the time) man came up to our window. I did not recognize him as one of our patients so I asked what the reason for his visit was... exam, toothache, etc. He became very angry and shouted "I'm here to get my plough fixed! What do you think I'm here for?". You might have already guessed that he had the wrong reception window and needed to see the doctor, not the dentist.
I was young enough to be embarrassed by this but I know he was also when he realized his mistake.

Answer 10

Yes, for some reason most of the receptionists in doctors offices who I encounter are rude and unfriendly. Even in places where the doctors and nurses are nice. I think maybe it's because they want to be doctors and aren't there yet (or they never got there), so they're resentful. Or maybe they just get tired of dealing with patients.