Ya know, people are always making cracks about “banker’s hours” in reference to shortened workdays. Well, bankers got nothing on some doctors. My son has his one year old check up due. We had an appointment for today at 4pm so his mom could leave work a little early and be there as well. I got a call this morning from the doctor’s office to ask if we could come in early. I said no. Let me explain why.
I got a call a few months ago asking me to bring him in early for another check up. I agreed to bring him in early. Two hours early because the doctor was trying to clear her afternoon appointments. Can’t blame her for that. We got there two hours early only to wait for over two hours before seeing the doctor. When we left, it was later than if we had just been seen at our original time. I was irritated.
Today I get a very similar call. Only this time I was bluntly told that “the doctor doesn’t want to work in the afternoons anymore” that’s almost verbatim. Learning from experience from the last appointment and the fact that Chrissy was planning to leave work to be there I told the secretary that we wouldn’t be able to reschedule this time. She then proceeded to tell me that “the last appointment is at 1pm so we may not be here when you arrive”. Really? First of all, I made her aware that the last appointment was not at 1, it was obviously at 4 when we were scheduled. I only received a reply that I should call to see if anyone is there first.
My question is: on what planet is it OK to treat customers this way and why is the medical industry the only ones that seem to get away with it?
I am a business owner. I have called clients a few times to see if they can meet earlier. Most times they can but when they can’t I don’t tell them that I probably won’t be there because I don’t like to work in the afternoon. I would be (even more) out of business (than I already am). Fast.
This has me steaming mad. It would be one thing if she had an emergency and had to reschedule. It happens. But to reschedule because you don’t want to work in the afternoons and furthermore tell the customer that you won’t be there when their appointment is scheduled is bullshit.
Finding a new doctor is out of the question. Obviously there is nothing I can do about it. I just needed to blow off some steam.
