Stupid medical office staff!!!

[thefrogprincess]

Twice in the last 2 weeks I have had receptionists at 2 medical offices treat me like I have no clue what I am talking about! First, I was calling to schedule a follow up cervical biopsy that my GYN wanted!!!! The receptionist was like "Oh, well, you;ll have to talk to her nurse, we have to make sure that is what the doctor really wanted." Excuse me? I hadn't realized that I'm stupid. I was there when the doctor told me to get it, that's all!

Then today I called an oral surgeon about having a badly broken tooth extracted. They set up an appointment for a consultation...fine. Then she asked for my insurance information, which for my dental is the same as my health (I can go to any dentist I want). I told her the name of the company and she was like "I think that is your health insurance, I need your dental." I told her that it was the same and that my last dentist had used this same medical card to file their claims. She said she would call them to verify that. Are you kidding me??? I am the subsciber to the plan! I have been to the dentist with this insurance, I am not stupid! Then she says that the woman who usually handles all the insurance stuff at that office had already left for the day. I told her that if she didn't know what she was talking about then she just shouldn't bother. I would rather have called back another time and talked to someone who knows what they are doing.

I would go to another surgeon but this guy took out my wisdom teeth and he did great. I had no pain whatsoever. I never bothered to even take my pain pills. Sometimes the people who work in the medical field absolutely astound me!

Thanks for letting me rant. Please feel free to share your stories.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Twice in the last 2 weeks I have had receptionists at 2 medical offices treat me like I have no clue what I am talking about! First, I was calling to schedule a follow up cervical biopsy that my GYN wanted!!!! The receptionist was like "Oh, well, you;ll have to talk to her nurse, we have to make sure that is what the doctor really wanted." Excuse me? I hadn't realized that I'm stupid. I was there when the doctor told me to get it, that's all!

Then today I called an oral surgeon about having a badly broken tooth extracted. They set up an appointment for a consultation...fine. Then she asked for my insurance information, which for my dental is the same as my health (I can go to any dentist I want). I told her the name of the company and she was like "I think that is your health insurance, I need your dental." I told her that it was the same and that my last dentist had used this same medical card to file their claims. She said she would call them to verify that. Are you kidding me??? I am the subsciber to the plan! I have been to the dentist with this insurance, I am not stupid! Then she says that the woman who usually handles all the insurance stuff at that office had already left for the day. I told her that if she didn't know what she was talking about then she just shouldn't bother. I would rather have called back another time and talked to someone who knows what they are doing.

I would go to another surgeon but this guy took out my wisdom teeth and he did great. I had no pain whatsoever. I never bothered to even take my pain pills. Sometimes the people who work in the medical field absolutely astound me!

Thanks for letting me rant. Please feel free to share your stories.

 

[thefrogprincess]

Twice in the last 2 weeks I have had receptionists at 2 medical offices treat me like I have no clue what I am talking about! First, I was calling to schedule a follow up cervical biopsy that my GYN wanted!!!! The receptionist was like "Oh, well, you;ll have to talk to her nurse, we have to make sure that is what the doctor really wanted." Excuse me? I hadn't realized that I'm stupid. I was there when the doctor told me to get it, that's all!

Then today I called an oral surgeon about having a badly broken tooth extracted. They set up an appointment for a consultation...fine. Then she asked for my insurance information, which for my dental is the same as my health (I can go to any dentist I want). I told her the name of the company and she was like "I think that is your health insurance, I need your dental." I told her that it was the same and that my last dentist had used this same medical card to file their claims. She said she would call them to verify that. Are you kidding me??? I am the subsciber to the plan! I have been to the dentist with this insurance, I am not stupid! Then she says that the woman who usually handles all the insurance stuff at that office had already left for the day. I told her that if she didn't know what she was talking about then she just shouldn't bother. I would rather have called back another time and talked to someone who knows what they are doing.

I would go to another surgeon but this guy took out my wisdom teeth and he did great. I had no pain whatsoever. I never bothered to even take my pain pills. Sometimes the people who work in the medical field absolutely astound me!

Thanks for letting me rant. Please feel free to share your stories.

 

[kybert]

give them a break. the first receptionist wanted to double check so you didnt make an unnecessary appointment. the second wanted to double check so you didnt get charged for something you arent covered for. they arent doing it on purpose to annoy you, they are doing it to help you.

 

[kybert]

give them a break. the first receptionist wanted to double check so you didnt make an unnecessary appointment. the second wanted to double check so you didnt get charged for something you arent covered for. they arent doing it on purpose to annoy you, they are doing it to help you.

 

[kybert]

give them a break. the first receptionist wanted to double check so you didnt make an unnecessary appointment. the second wanted to double check so you didnt get charged for something you arent covered for. they arent doing it on purpose to annoy you, they are doing it to help you.

 

[JazzysMom]

You have to remember all the people that these office deal with who "think" they know what they are talking about. Then the office finds out that the person doesnt have a clue. THe office gets burned & double checks everyone now. Understandable and good practice IMHO! I found out from my P/T Group that my co pay went up. I hadnt been notified by my husband insurance carrier yet. Well yesterday I got the packet & there it was saying what the P/T office told me. Granted you get some people in the office that dont always know their a$$ from their elbow too!

 

[JazzysMom]

You have to remember all the people that these office deal with who "think" they know what they are talking about. Then the office finds out that the person doesnt have a clue. THe office gets burned & double checks everyone now. Understandable and good practice IMHO! I found out from my P/T Group that my co pay went up. I hadnt been notified by my husband insurance carrier yet. Well yesterday I got the packet & there it was saying what the P/T office told me. Granted you get some people in the office that dont always know their a$$ from their elbow too!

 

[JazzysMom]

You have to remember all the people that these office deal with who "think" they know what they are talking about. Then the office finds out that the person doesnt have a clue. THe office gets burned & double checks everyone now. Understandable and good practice IMHO! I found out from my P/T Group that my co pay went up. I hadnt been notified by my husband insurance carrier yet. Well yesterday I got the packet & there it was saying what the P/T office told me. Granted you get some people in the office that dont always know their a$$ from their elbow too!

 

[Ratatosk]

I've gotten comments from the receptionist like that in the past and my response has usually been sarcastic "No, the doctor didn't order it. I just thought it'd be really fun to have a needle stuck in my neck" (referred for a needle biopsy of my thyroid for a lump, which turned out to be a cyst).

I ALWAYS get that for the mammogram even though my insurance covers it once a year and my doctor orders it. Personally, I'd rather NOT have my boob squished flat as a pancake, but what can you do.

I imagine the receptionist are dealing with lots of people who are trying to get an appointment asap and have to hear everyone's reasons, health issues. But at the time, it's really annoying. I get really crabby and it's no reason for them to be rude.

And when I had to have a biopsy, I'd been referred to them by Planned Parenthood 'cuz that's where I got my pills cheap cuz they weren't covered under my insurance plan at the time. And the doctor was concerned because it was going to be an expensive procedure and was worried I wouldn't be able to afford it -- why have it, if I didn't need it was his reasoning. My response was lets get this over with, not a money issue when it comes to ones health. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

I've gotten comments from the receptionist like that in the past and my response has usually been sarcastic "No, the doctor didn't order it. I just thought it'd be really fun to have a needle stuck in my neck" (referred for a needle biopsy of my thyroid for a lump, which turned out to be a cyst).

I ALWAYS get that for the mammogram even though my insurance covers it once a year and my doctor orders it. Personally, I'd rather NOT have my boob squished flat as a pancake, but what can you do.

I imagine the receptionist are dealing with lots of people who are trying to get an appointment asap and have to hear everyone's reasons, health issues. But at the time, it's really annoying. I get really crabby and it's no reason for them to be rude.

And when I had to have a biopsy, I'd been referred to them by Planned Parenthood 'cuz that's where I got my pills cheap cuz they weren't covered under my insurance plan at the time. And the doctor was concerned because it was going to be an expensive procedure and was worried I wouldn't be able to afford it -- why have it, if I didn't need it was his reasoning. My response was lets get this over with, not a money issue when it comes to ones health. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Ratatosk]

I've gotten comments from the receptionist like that in the past and my response has usually been sarcastic "No, the doctor didn't order it. I just thought it'd be really fun to have a needle stuck in my neck" (referred for a needle biopsy of my thyroid for a lump, which turned out to be a cyst).

I ALWAYS get that for the mammogram even though my insurance covers it once a year and my doctor orders it. Personally, I'd rather NOT have my boob squished flat as a pancake, but what can you do.

I imagine the receptionist are dealing with lots of people who are trying to get an appointment asap and have to hear everyone's reasons, health issues. But at the time, it's really annoying. I get really crabby and it's no reason for them to be rude.

And when I had to have a biopsy, I'd been referred to them by Planned Parenthood 'cuz that's where I got my pills cheap cuz they weren't covered under my insurance plan at the time. And the doctor was concerned because it was going to be an expensive procedure and was worried I wouldn't be able to afford it -- why have it, if I didn't need it was his reasoning. My response was lets get this over with, not a money issue when it comes to ones health. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[lilMeggies]

I'm taking medical office admin in school and it's OUR job to double check all the info you are giving her so calm down she isnt stupid your just being impatient

 

[lilMeggies]

I'm taking medical office admin in school and it's OUR job to double check all the info you are giving her so calm down she isnt stupid your just being impatient

 

[lilMeggies]

I'm taking medical office admin in school and it's OUR job to double check all the info you are giving her so calm down she isnt stupid your just being impatient

 

[CaliSally]

...but then there are the hospital staff nurses, respiratory therapists and fellows that have that God-like mentality - They can't let you be correct, so they have to dismiss what you say. It is a crying shame that some of these people have no humbliness while practicing their trade. The unteachable ones are the ones I'm afraid of when they get near me.

Jessi, I'm with you on this one, with respect to THESE kinds of people...but it is hard to remember (after dealing with these types), that the receptionists do have a reason for their questions.

Having a serious illness/disease is not for the weak. We have to deal with all kinds of personality types, while trying to help them help us...ugh! I have a short fuse to begin with, which certainly doesn't help - just makes that other person that much more difficult to communicate with. Crap! I can't win...damned if I do, damned if I don't.

....anyway, thanks for helping me "get in a mood" lol...
~shortfuseSal

 

[CaliSally]

...but then there are the hospital staff nurses, respiratory therapists and fellows that have that God-like mentality - They can't let you be correct, so they have to dismiss what you say. It is a crying shame that some of these people have no humbliness while practicing their trade. The unteachable ones are the ones I'm afraid of when they get near me.

Jessi, I'm with you on this one, with respect to THESE kinds of people...but it is hard to remember (after dealing with these types), that the receptionists do have a reason for their questions.

Having a serious illness/disease is not for the weak. We have to deal with all kinds of personality types, while trying to help them help us...ugh! I have a short fuse to begin with, which certainly doesn't help - just makes that other person that much more difficult to communicate with. Crap! I can't win...damned if I do, damned if I don't.

....anyway, thanks for helping me "get in a mood" lol...
~shortfuseSal

 

[CaliSally]

...but then there are the hospital staff nurses, respiratory therapists and fellows that have that God-like mentality - They can't let you be correct, so they have to dismiss what you say. It is a crying shame that some of these people have no humbliness while practicing their trade. The unteachable ones are the ones I'm afraid of when they get near me.

Jessi, I'm with you on this one, with respect to THESE kinds of people...but it is hard to remember (after dealing with these types), that the receptionists do have a reason for their questions.

Having a serious illness/disease is not for the weak. We have to deal with all kinds of personality types, while trying to help them help us...ugh! I have a short fuse to begin with, which certainly doesn't help - just makes that other person that much more difficult to communicate with. Crap! I can't win...damned if I do, damned if I don't.

....anyway, thanks for helping me "get in a mood" lol...
~shortfuseSal

 

[thefrogprincess]

I really do see their side of the issue. I work with the public so I know that at least 80% of them are clueless. What is frustrating is when these people PERSIST in this belief that I am clueless. The chick at the dentist's office wouldn't drop it. I even faxed them a copy of my insurance card to prove to them that it is both my medical and dental coverage. Yet she insisted on calling my last dentist to verify it. I know they are supposed to ask a bunch of questions to help, but there comes a point when they just need to drop it!

 

[thefrogprincess]

I really do see their side of the issue. I work with the public so I know that at least 80% of them are clueless. What is frustrating is when these people PERSIST in this belief that I am clueless. The chick at the dentist's office wouldn't drop it. I even faxed them a copy of my insurance card to prove to them that it is both my medical and dental coverage. Yet she insisted on calling my last dentist to verify it. I know they are supposed to ask a bunch of questions to help, but there comes a point when they just need to drop it!