Disgusted with endos

[sparkle9]

I thought I had finally found an endo I liked and could relate to. I saw him in December, had the tests he ordered, saw him again in January, and was supposed to see him again in April. At the January appt. I told the receptionist that I had a very busy schedule and it was difficult to make an appt. for 3 months ahead. She said no problem, just call a couple of weeks ahead of time and we'll fit you in because you're an established patient.

So...things happened. Two close family members were diagnosed with cancer within 2 months. I had to go out of town to take one of them to the Mayo Clinic. Then things got crazy at work, so I never made the April appt. My control had improved, so I wasn't too concerned about it. Then yesterday I called the endo's office to make an appt. and this very snippy receptionist told me that since I unfortunately hadn't called when I was supposed to, they had to put me at the "end of the list" and I couldn't have an appt. until July. I started to try to explain the situation, but she didn't want to hear it and just cut me off. As they say in the south, she was ugly! I made an appt. for July 11th but I think I'll cancel it.

I was sooooo annoyed and I want to know what y'all think. Was I out of line or was she? I get along great with the folks in all my other doctors' offices so believe me, I'm not hard to deal with. But this is the second time I've had a problem with an endo's office. I quit going to the last one because he was totally obnoxious.

I guess I'll have to go to Atlanta, which is about 80 miles from where I live. I'm seeing my primary care dr. next week, so I think I'll explain the situation and ask him for another recommendation.

Thanks,
Sparkle

I

[am1977]

I do understand your frustration...what a pain! :mad: I guess I can kind of understand both points of view. Yes, it would have been nice if you had called to cancel instead of just not showing up, especially if they are a busy office and could have fit someone else in. But then again, sometimes circumstances are beyond control and things happen. I don't think it's fair that they move you to the last on the list...it doesn't seem like they are very understanding at all. I would be angry too, and honestly, I probably would switch. It doesn't hurt to get another referral and see who else is out there.

Good luck ;)

[sparkle9]

Thanks, Andrea. Actually I didn't have an appt. but was calling to make one. Since I called after 3 months had gone by, they gave me a hard time. It seems that some doctors are rather self-centered and don't seem to care very much about circumstances that might make it difficult for their patients to schedule an appt. Oh well, time to move on, I guess.

[rzrbks]

All the CDEs I work with have very little respect for the professional attitudes of the Endos around here.

In fact, they send most of their patients to a small city about 30 miles/50Km away cause there is an actual decent Endo there

[duck]

Call the office and ask to speak to the office manager. If you did that to someone while you were at work, you would probably suffer the misfortune of that person complaining--and they should. And so should you.

If that doesn't work, write a letter to whatever regulatory agency doctor's offices have to go through to open a practice--and CC the office and the local paper. I feel like I give that advice all the time (CC'ing the paper or the news), but it WORKS. Businesses do NOT like bad publicity, and hate the "Eyewitness News Special Report" reporters even more.

[KickStart101]

Hi Sparkle: Well, it sounds to me that you and the Endo got along fine.
It was the "ugly" receptionist pulling rank and making your life and probably
a few other patients' lives miserable. The Endo probably knows nothing of
how the receptionist is treating a few "choice" patients since I'm sure no
one told him. On the other side, I know Docs are usually over-booked so I
wouldn't expect an appointment for at least a month usually more, unless I
was in a bad state they'd probably switch appointments with someone else.
I certainly wouldn't be making a 160 mile trip(there and back) for an appt.
(I hate driving far for appts., so I don't. Twenty minutes tops :D ). I
would make that appt., talk to the Endo about the situation and the "ugly" receptionist first. But that's me. :) Good Luck!

[Mark C]

sparkle9! If you are in Atlanta, I have a wonderful Endo at the Northside Doctors Office building near 400 and 285. Give me an email if you would like to... Yours is not enabled.

Truth be told, that receptionist is doing the exact wrong thing for any doctor office to do! Putting you off is the most dangerous thing from their standpoint. Dragging it out is exactly the wrong attitude, as when I'm having an issue, my Endo gets me in somewhere during the day or next!

Note to self... Call Cynthia and get a Novolog script in process!

[sparkle9]

Thanks, Mark. I really appreciate it.

[Dewey]

I thought I had finally found an endo I liked and could relate to. I saw him in December, had the tests he ordered, saw him again in January, and was supposed to see him again in April. At the January appt. I told the receptionist that I had a very busy schedule and it was difficult to make an appt. for 3 months ahead. She said no problem, just call a couple of weeks ahead of time and we'll fit you in because you're an established patient.

So...things happened. Two close family members were diagnosed with cancer within 2 months. I had to go out of town to take one of them to the Mayo Clinic. Then things got crazy at work, so I never made the April appt. My control had improved, so I wasn't too concerned about it. Then yesterday I called the endo's office to make an appt. and this very snippy receptionist told me that since I unfortunately hadn't called when I was supposed to, they had to put me at the "end of the list" and I couldn't have an appt. until July. I started to try to explain the situation, but she didn't want to hear it and just cut me off. As they say in the south, she was ugly! I made an appt. for July 11th but I think I'll cancel it.

I was sooooo annoyed and I want to know what y'all think. Was I out of line or was she? I get along great with the folks in all my other doctors' offices so believe me, I'm not hard to deal with. But this is the second time I've had a problem with an endo's office. I quit going to the last one because he was totally obnoxious.
Thanks,
Sparkle
Sparkle,

I totally agree with you decision to switch, and that the receptionist is Way out of line. As Duck said, I would complain to a higher up, or possibly the endo himself? Finding out such devastating news about family members with illnesses (Especially such as cancer :() certainly is good enough reason to have forgotten to place a call. I figure it this way: You're paying these people to provide the service of health care, Not to get a third grader's lecture from some rude receptionist who seems to care less. Never settle for less than your expectations.

I've had a run-in with a rude office manager at my endo's office, but we all came to an understanding (I will continue to download my own blood sugar charts/reports). She asked for my meter, and I showed her my charts. She said that they had the wrong parameters and that She was just going to take my meter to download it again (insert demanding tone here). I explained to her that I had erased the memory, as I wanted to start fresh. She got very frustrated with me and said I should Never clear my memory. When I went in to see my endo, I proceeded to tell him that I Always do all of my own downloads, and to provide me with any parameters and information he wished to see. I've continued to download my own results, and she hasn't said a word to me since...lol :D

I say to stand up for what you believe in, and don't tolerate her (or anyone else's) rudeness. I'm very sorry to hear of your family members' illnesses. :( Please know you're in my heart, thoughts & prayers.