Don’t forget your appointment OK ?

Bonnie said:
iu
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lol lol lol ! laughing out loud!
 

There's a new shingles vaccine out now that's supposed to be much more effective than the old one. My doctor suggested getting it at one of the local pharmacies, as his office didn't have any in stock. The trouble is, neither do any of the local pharmacies. They all seem to be out of it. So right now, all I can do is hope for the best.
 

I have seen "no-show" charges a high as $50. I think the idea is a good one especially if you are going in for a procedure. I showed up for my appointment at my doctors office right on time a couple years ago. The problem was that day was the second but my appointment was for the seventh. They sound alike over the phone. It is your responsibility to keep the appts. and notify them of any changes.
 
First time this has happened to me. Honest!

I go see my ENT doctor every four months for cleaning my ear canals. My last appt was in August, and to get good morning hours, I always make the next appt at that time. So, they gave me an appt for December and wrote it for me on a card. I wrote it on my calendar, "Dec 12, ear doctor". Last night I looked at my card to see what time I had to be there this morning. The appt was for Dec 4! Argh! I had to ask my neighbor to call and apologize and make another appt, now it's for January 17. Wonder how much the no-show fee will be? They probably called me on the phone but I don't understand the messages, just keep the phone for emergencies. You'd think ear doctors have lots of hearing impaired or deaf patients and would be willing to email or text. I asked, they said they're ''not set-up for that''.
 
Catlady said:
email or text. I asked, they said they're ''not set-up for that''.
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That is just terrible of them, IMO! :cry::mad:

I have a few different serious medical limitations, and have the same problem, that medical offices (including my own doctors!) and such, are not willing to adjust in a simple way or to communicate with me, in very simple and quick-for-them, alternative ways for me. When I worked, I did, and would easily and gladly do these small tasks for people!

fmdog44 said:
The problem was that day was the second but my appointment was for the seventh. They sound alike over the phone.
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Many other people have this difficulty as well!
 
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Catlady said:
They probably called me on the phone but I don't understand the messages, just keep the phone for emergencies. You'd think ear doctors have lots of hearing impaired or deaf patients and would be willing to email or text. I asked, they said they're ''not set-up for that''.
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@Kaila = I did check my messages today and there was one on Dec 3 and I tried to listen and still could not understand. I do remember doing a search online for that phone number and could not get a caller name so I just assumed it was a spam call trying to get me to buy something or other. I shot off an email to their main office in some other state today complaining about the irony of an ENT practice not giving other options to their hearing impaired and deaf patients to communicate with the office, but I doubt I'll get a reply, never mind a solution to the problem.
 
Most optometrists, dentists, chiropracters, and similar providers use packaged software to handle billing and appointment management. they can set it up to make as many reminder contacts as they want using email, robocalls or computer generated snail mail. I tried to convince my dentist's office manager to send me reminders via telegram... (no particular reason but I thought it would be cool to receive a telegram.) All that idea did was make her grumpy.

Missed appt's cost the care providers money. Using software for reminders costs are fixed no matter the number of contacts.
 
I'm surprised to hear that it's such a problem in other parts of the country. Locally, we get the obligatory call, a couple of days ahead and we also get messages sent to our email address, and if that's not enough, there is a service on your computer called "My Chart".

This site holds all test results, info on past visits and a complete listing of all future visits to our primary care physician and other specialists that are associated with the local health organization.
For us, it's pretty hard to have an excuse for missing a visit unless we're totally unaware of our health problems.
 
My doctors use the patient portals here to remind patients of appointments, etc. I love it. I have never missed an appt. as I attach the card for the next one to my calendar beside my bed. Between that and the emails on the patient portal, I have never missed an appt. You can also set appts on your phone calendar but I don't use it.
 
I'm ok with a gentle reminder. HOWEVER, my health care provider emails me, texts me, and calls me. If there were another way to do it, I'm sure they'd do that too. It's a bit much.
 
Carol, how about a carrier pigeon flying into your house, with a reminder note in its beak?

Llynn, all dentists' office managers are grumpy. Goes with the job.
 
Ken N Tx said:
Who gave them the number??
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I had to give it to them, it's required, and since they don't email it was the only option. I did tell them about my phone problem and gave them my email addy. Sigh!

This is the first time it's ever happened, I'll just have to be more careful from now on. I usually learn from my mistakes.
 
I hate reminders. One time I got a phone call about a doctors appointment and it wasn't the date I had on the appointment card. I called and she said I was wrong.
I went on the date she specified but brought the card with me. She argued until I showed her the card. I didn't even get an apology.
I write all appointments on the calendar but also save the card in my wallet just in case.
 
I appreciate the reminders because I can easily get caught up in life and overlook an appointment. It takes me literally five seconds to read a text or delete an email, and less than a minute to answer a reminder phone call (or listen to the voice mail).

Businesses send out reminders not because they love to do so, but because it helps prevent skipped appointments.
 
Catlady said:
make another appt, now it's for January 17.
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I wonder if you send them, snail-mail, a written request, THIS WEEK now,
to request that they mail you back (snail mail, you might even enclose a self-addressed envelope)
an appointment card or note, with your new date and time on it,
if they might do it, so then you could be certain that you got it right, from that person who made the call for you. Just a thought I had.
 
Kaila said:
I wonder if you send them, snail-mail, a written request, THIS WEEK now,
to request that they mail you back (snail mail, you might even enclose a self-addressed envelope)
an appointment card or note, with your new date and time on it,
if they might do it, so then you could be certain that you got it right, from that person who made the call for you. Just a thought I had.
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Thanks, I think I will do that. And also tell them why there was a mixup and why I didn't get their reminder because I could not understand the phone message and they refuse to email a deaf person a reminder. I might as well make use of my famous Italian temper that gets me into trouble so often at Senior Forum. :rolleyes:
 
Catlady said:
I could not understand the phone message and they refuse to email a deaf person a reminder.
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Why don't you have a caption phone?
"Captioned telephones can be used in a home or at work and have a built-in screen that displays text captions of the conversation during the call in near-real time. When a call is made, the captioned phone automatically connects to a Captioned Telephone Service (CTS)."
https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/assistive-listening-devices/captioned-phones
 
Pepper said:
Why don't you have a caption phone?
"Captioned telephones can be used in a home or at work and have a built-in screen that displays text captions of the conversation during the call in near-real time. When a call is made, the captioned phone automatically connects to a Captioned Telephone Service (CTS)."
https://www.healthyhearing.com/help/assistive-listening-devices/captioned-phones
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I thought of getting one, but I never hear the phone ring unless I see the light flashing on the phone and I happen to be in the room where the phone is. The caption phone is good for on-time convos but they don't give you captions for messages left.

I also thought of getting that TTY capability, but not all businesses have it available.
 
@Pepper - I just went to check my ENT, no TTY available, but they have fax, I don't think the fax thing would work for appts and questions etc.

EDIT = just saw your last post, I wouldn't be able to hear the prompts and anyway, at this time I have an answering machine, can't call for messages.
 
Catlady said:
First time this has happened to me. Honest!

I go see my ENT doctor every four months for cleaning my ear canals. My last appt was in August, and to get good morning hours, I always make the next appt at that time. So, they gave me an appt for December and wrote it for me on a card. I wrote it on my calendar, "Dec 12, ear doctor". Last night I looked at my card to see what time I had to be there this morning. The appt was for Dec 4! Argh! I had to ask my neighbor to call and apologize and make another appt, now it's for January 17. Wonder how much the no-show fee will be? They probably called me on the phone but I don't understand the messages, just keep the phone for emergencies. You'd think ear doctors have lots of hearing impaired or deaf patients and would be willing to email or text. I asked, they said they're ''not set-up for that''.
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Well, yesterday I got a bill from the ENT doctor, they charged me $50 for not calling or cancelling, even though my neighbor told them what happened. I told my neighbor about the fee and she called them and asked them to give me a one time forgiving break. And they said YES! I couldn't believe it. $50 is a lot of money to me. I'm kind of superstitious, so hopefully this break is a good omen for 2020!
 
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