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.

Answer 11

One time I had an appointment with the doctor and the receptionist couldn't find my name on the computer, I even showed her the appointment card they gave me and still she couldn't find my name, she told me to sit down and wait. After a while she called me and at last she did found my appointment, unfortunately I have to wait longer to see the GP because of what happened.

Answer 12

LOL That's a good one. Receptionists can be like that though and there's no excuse for it . My mom had to go to the eye dr last week. She said the dr was a real sweetheart, but the receptionist was so hateful to her, she was about ready to tell her off. I must say after I saw how she treated mom, I was about ready to hop in the car and make a visit to see her myself. As my daughter always says, 'you don't want my mom to have to come up there.' lol

Answer 13

I've never had problems with the receptionist - but she's had problems with me! OK, I'm not in the UK, but I stand up for myself - not an age thing, I always have done. I was brought up to be 'bolshie' by my rather right of centre parents and if you can't work that one out, they were from Liverpool.

Answer 14

that is brilliant...... I don't have problems with Receptionists any more at the surgery I'm at , but years ago there was one certain....lets say, obnoxious receptionist who used to give you the third degree just to make an appointment,she always tried to ascertain if you needed to see him, I used to get really upset that she questioned us to see if it warranted an appointment...who did she think she was!!!....it turned out she was having an affair with the Doctor and I suppose she thought the less appointments he had she would get more time with him...sickening isn't it

Answer 15

Thats the best so far today. Really enjoyed it. Thanks.



I used to work for the elderly and trying to get past a receptionist really is a nightmare. They have more power than MANWEB.....

Answer 16

To answer your first question,

It is illegal in Cal. to ask any

patient the reason why they are at the doctor's office.

The only one that can ask you that (outside of the doctor), is the nurse who takes your vitals and needs to know your problem. But, this is behind a closed door.

Answer 17

I used to have trouble because the receeption staff were foul faced and I took the mickey out of them telling them that if I wanted to see such miserable faces I'd prefer to go to a funeral palour. Them another time(soon after ) I went in and it was quiet and I asked if they had cured 'em or killed 'em. I notice now that they sometimes smile, not to often but enough to make thing less unpleasent for us all. After all who wants to go to the doctor

Answer 18

That`s so funny. I think some people just don`t have any life and the job becomes where they have control. So they turn into control freaks in the office and give everybody a hard time.

Answer 19

My doctor's receptionists are always nice to me. Sometimes they seem a little rushed, but who can blame them!



Thanks for the chuckle, now here's one for you:



Doctor's Receptionist: What are you here to see the doctor for?

Wife: Well, my husband thinks he's a satellite dish.

Doctor's Receptionist: Oh, don't worry, I'm sure the doctor can cure him.

Wife: I don't want him cured, I want the doctor to adjust him so that we can get the movie channel.

Answer 20

LOL!! Good for him!

I am not a great fan of receptionist in a dr's offices. You would think they were the person in charge. ok...in all fairness...there are a "few" exceptions.

Answer 21

I worked for an internist. We had a patient that was elderly and on an HMO, we wanted his wife to have her "prostate" checked since they were paying the insurance premiums. I tried explaining for 20 minutes that women do not have PROSTATE glands. I even took out the reproductive organ chart and showed it to him. Finally the doctor came in and the guy asked him to examine his wife's prostate gland, the doctor explained just what I told him, over and over and over again. Finally to make EVERYONE happy, the doctor did a rectal on the wife, made them all happy and he told me "See. I told you my wife needed her prostate examined"....

Answer 22

No my doctor's Receptionist is a pure gem. She is always polite and extremely helpful. She does not pry and always offers me an appointment if there is one available. In fact my whole surgery is wonderful.

Answer 23

Yes, I had a problem with one, thankfully she didn't last long. She was rude, kept me waiting at the counter while she finished her (obvious) personal call and couldn't remember what I'd said form one minute to the next.

Answer 24

that was so funny and so true. they should not ask personal questions with other people around . what happened to privacy laws? And if you have to explain over the phone why you are making the appt. cant they write it down somewhere so you dont have to explain it all over again?

Answer 25

Although I've read this one before, it never ceases to crack me up!!!! LOL



And yes, I have had problems with my doc's support staff and in fact just changed docs because of it!



3 hr waits with no explanation [and they are the one's who book his appts. KNOWING he is on duty at the hospital and comes in late]



keeping the office phone on answering machine with no way to leave a message even when the office is open.



Never giving the doc messages...



Daggum shame since I really liked the doc...

Answer 26

tel receptionist Mon for repeat prescript for close fam member got so much grieve you must tel before 12.30 and 1330 pm but OK Will give in this time ....then realised on Tues forgot summit tel 12.30pm ...oops sorry docs closed at 12.30 pm tel during hrs ...whit its 12.30 pm ....half day gees ...... wed ... need to tel docs need to tel doc need to tel doc all the way till 12.30 ...don't they realise we also have time schedules that may not fit in with theirs ..... Cretans ...oops my appointment has been rescheduled lol

Answer 27

Absolute Quality.That's the funniest thing I've seen in a while.

Answer 28

Been around, still funny. If someone wants to hear my aches and pains, more power to them. I could care less.

Answer 29

well done the old guy, receptionists think they know it all, good to take one down a peg or two

Answer 30

That is a great story. Isn't it true when you try to avoid saying what's wrong they get more persistant and angry when you do say!

Answer 31

Diamond that is an absolute gem, brilliant.

Answer 32

I love your outpourings of Glee

Answer 33

I loved this.



Seniors are great with this type of thing.

Answer 34

OMG diamond ! I was laughing so hard I almost choked to death. That was a good one. Thanks I needed that. The laugh I meant lol!

Answer 35

Good one!! If you don't want an answer... don't ask the question. Chuckles!!

Answer 36

Finally my laugh to get this going today. I've been looking for the humor in something all day. Thanks!

Answer 37

Lol....that was a good read..

Answer 38

brilliant!!!