All too often, doctors keep patients waiting. If a doctor has been delayed due to another patient's urgent need or the doctor's own personal crisis, I understand. On the other hand, many doctor offices intentionally overbook patients causing the attending physician to run late and rush through their patients as if it were assembly line work. Regardless of the reason, in all situations, it is incumbent upon other staff members of the doctor's office to inform the waiting patient of the delay and to periodically do so at reasonable time intervals until the doctor arrives to see the waiting patient.
I had a 1:30 p.m. follow-up appointment with my allergist today, February 14, 2023. I was prompt arriving a bit early. The med assistant promptly called for me to come on back, escorted me to the exam room, took my vitals, asked some questions as to how I was doing, etc. Upon finishing her duties, she left the exam room at 1:32 and told me the doctor would be in shortly.
One half-hour later, the doctor had not yet seen me, nor had anyone else come into the exam room to check in on me or to inform me about the doctor being delayed. The doctor apparently did not think I had anything better to do than to wait around (for who knows how long) for her in a sterilized examination room twiddling my thumbs and staring at the blank walls. I kept my appointment, the doctor did not. Consequently, I left.
Professionalism involves more than occupational education and/or training requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities, it also includes one's attitudes, behaviors, and treatment of one's clientele.
No comments:
Post a Comment