Thoughts of a Medical Receptionist

Thoughts of a Medical Receptionist. My list of do's and dont's :)

1. Do not scream at the receptionist, nurse, and/or biller about a balance. YOUR insurance left it to you, I promise we did not ask them to. You don't like it complain to them!

2. Yes, your care is important. But so are the other 1000+ patients we see. So don't expect the staff or MD to completely halt their day to write you a prescription for something you have been out for 2 weeks but suddenly just HAVE to have.

3. We work extremely hard. So please respect the fact that we also deserve a day off occasionally.

4. Just because you are at a doctors office does not mean you are seeing the MD. We do other things as well, such as shots, so when we call someone back that signed in after you don't come huffing and puffing at us because you think you have been skipped.

5. The staff cannot control how quickly you are seen. Yes you have an appointment time. But respect the fact that the patient ahead of you may have just suffered a major thing, maybe a heart attack etc, and may require just a FEW extra minutes of the MD's time. You would want the same courtesy right?

6. Not all MD's are a 'walk in clinic'. We have appointment times for a reason. Things happen, understandable. If possible you will be worked in. But it is not fair to penalize another patient who has an appointment time because you decided your big toe hurts and you have to be seen immediately. 

7. Don't approach staff when the office is closed and ask for an appointment. Contrary to what is apparently popular belief, we do not carry mini schedules in our pockets. I don't know when the next opening is. Call the office when it opens like everyone else.

8. When the MD refuses to write you a prescription, don't get angry with me. I did not go to medical school, I do not have MD behind my name, therefore no amount of complaining is going to change the fact that the MD said NO! 

9. Don't go to the doctor if you have no intentions of following the recommendations or taking medication given. We can't care for someone who isn't willing to do their part.

10. The doctor has a staff for a reason. They cannot stop seeing a patient to take your call. I can't stop them while in with a patient to ask a question. Trust us to relay your message and get back to you promptly.

11. If we are on a phone call with a patient be respectful and don't loudly approach us as if we need to put them on hold. They are also important.

12. I will go above and beyond to help you. But treat me as if I am the dirt under your feet and it just may take some time to get your help.

13. If we send you for hospital tests, we do control how quickly we get the test results. Once we get them we will call you upon the MD's review. So don't get angry when we don't call you the SAME day you have the test. It's a process. And for your benefit it needs to be done correctly. There is no room for carelessness. 

14. Be compliant. Period.

15. Be knowledgeable of what medication you are taking. Maybe you saw another MD that changed something, or added something. Once again we have 1000+ patients, we don't always know when you saw another MD or correspond with them. We do our best. 

16. You as a patient are of course top priority. BUT you are not the only patient. We have several to care for. No one patient is more important than another. Everyone deserves the best care, and we will always strive to give you that.