Doctor's office staff??????

fuzzybuddy said:
I've just got off the phone, making a DR.'s appointment. I asked for an afternoon appt., because I don't move well in the morning. Trish said, "the 18th at 8 AM". I've been going to this doctor for over twenty years, and I've been through Trish, Bonnie, Bev, Lainy, Elaine, Carly, and many more. Apparently, there's slim pickings when it comes to Dr's office staff. I've had to call the office at least three time to get a refill. I take my appt. card with me, because the date or time may not be what's on the dr.'s schedule. Have you met staff. like Trish, at your doctor's office??????????
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Oh yes. The receptionist at my doctor's is just so horrible and cold, I am scared of her. I feel apologetic even to ask for a repeat prescription as it feels like I am asking too much. I find it so stressful.
 
CinnamonSugar said:
@Marian : I have a slightly different take on this, may I share?

some states allow FNP to operate pretty independently (write prescriptions without MD oversight, etc) and other states they still have to run everything by an MD. You don't just go from being Joe-on-the-street to nurse practitioner. You have to be an RN first and then do schooling for NP and pass a separate set of boards to be certified to practice. Many NPs do advanced degrees as well to work in more specialized fields, like cardiology.

The FNP's I've worked with or seen in an office are competent, knowledgeable and caring. Many of them (more so PA's) come from a military/medic background or at least have experience "in the trenches" of the hospital/practice before coming to decide to be a NP. So they have practical experience and also understand medical care from the patient's POV. Also, I've found that NPs and PA's are generally more approachable and available than your average MD; they are willing to take the time listen and are not all up in their egos.

NPs know the limits of their scope of practice; they will refer to an MD when needed.

As one sign I saw put it, NP's "have the mind of a doctor and the heart of a nurse." I don't mind using their services.
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Our local Urgent Care is run by a NP. We love going to her when our doctor is booked. She seems to have all the time in the world for us and even calls the next day to see how we're doing. Our doc was on vacation when my husband went to her with blood clots on both lungs. She had him on an ambulance to a Dayton hospital in minutes and two days later offered to go fetch him home herself when she found out I couldn't do city driving. (We wouldn't let her -- he took a cab.)
 

Michael Z said:
If you can, go online with your clinic. I have a “MyChart” account where I can ask for an appointment and require certain days and hours. Also, I can read test results and send messages to doctors with their reply taking the place of expensive 5 minute office visits.
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Ditto.
 
Della said:
Our local Urgent Care is run by a NP. We love going to her when our doctor is booked. She seems to have all the time in the world for us and even calls the next day to see how we're doing. Our doc was on vacation when my husband went to her with blood clots on both lungs. She had him on an ambulance to a Dayton hospital in minutes and two days later offered to go fetch him home herself when she found out I couldn't do city driving. (We wouldn't let her -- he took a cab.)
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I‘m glad you have such a great experience. I have not.
 
Whelp, during my last visit to my doc’s to go over annual blood work, the intake nurse asked me for a urine sample. I thought this peculiar as I didn’t have a UTI, STD, or any urological symptoms. But I complied (“Resistance…is futile!”), and dutifully produced a sample. Maybe it was now required as a screening. The intake nurse then took me into an exam room, and asked me what symptoms I was experiencing. I told her none, as I was just there to go over bloodwork done for my high BP, cholesterol, and PSA. The nurse got a strange look on her face. Going strictly by my first name, she had confused me with another patient who shared my first name, and was there for a urological problem!- - True story!

I had a good laugh over the whole thing. The nurse was, after all, only hyooman…
 
I understand your frustration. Although my doctor has a dedicated receptionist-secretary Gladys, who drives all the way from Pennsylvania and knows me well, I didn't always get her each time I called. Can't remember their names now but I wrote them down each time I made appointments or told them I needed RX renewals. Getting through by phone used to be a hassle to begin with and I've also had to call three times to get my meds refilled. I mentioned the problem to my doctor after that happened and he said he would see that it didn't happen again. But now I also have access to the My Chart feature which allows me to schedule appointments. I find that it doesn't always work for ordering prescription renewals however. I like to see my PCP at least twice a year anyway (sometimes 3 times), so I just ask for renewals then and also ask for several refills at that time. Reminds me...it's time for me to make another appointment.
 
I'm also a big fan of My Chart, I see several different doctors and most are in the same network, My Chart makes it very convenient and streamlined for keeping up with my health....appointments, all the test and medications.
 

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