not in ALL doctor's offices.

It’s a business practice to call at the end of the day and it creates angst and stress. Medical professionals should know this and do better.

at LEAST concerning particular patients/clients.

I’ve done it each time it’s happened. But again, it should be common sense. I mean, come on. Can’t they empathize and realize how THEY might feel?

There is way too much forgiveness in the world right now for willful ignorance in my opinion. These are professionals and they should care. They should establish better business practices.

Thinking of myself in dentist office, when daughter drove me and waited for my release; I heard office staff mentioning to each other that my daughter was waiting for me by going to grocery store; I was pleased to hear it all.

common sense! Common sense that serves them. Call late in the day, person doesn't answer, office is closing, won't have to deal with person until tomorrow.

And I couldn't agree with you more. My sister and I are dealing with our elderly mother and some non-life-threatening medical issues. Ushering an old lady who has never touched a computer through today's medical world is not for the faint at heart.

... posts the test results online, and then sends me an email.

They want and need to receive the results and be able to ask questions and understand the information they are being given, and to know what their options for treatment are.

I can email my doctor, or set an appointment. sometimes just wait a day and the doctor contacts me. Main thing is that I don't have to wait for lab results.

provide results to your primary) the results are posted. Most tests have a summary giving you the results of MRIs, chest X-rays etc as well as all blood tests. I get the blood test results the same day or next day at the latest while it may take the nurse a few days to a week to call with results. It alleviates most of the waiting in suspense.

I get an email alerting me when any test easily is posted.

But most older people (most all people in general) want the personal interaction to be able to ask questions about results and treatment options. If you are waiting to find out if you have breast cancer returning after having been treated for it before is NOT something someone should read on a patient portal. There are times when doctors and their staff should actually THINK about their patients.

If you’d read the thread you would have seen that I’d already addressed the patient portal issue.

when they do because that's when they are free to make them.

Meanwhile, I have an on-line connection to my doctors that's easy to access. Hmmm.

Last edited Wed Mar 6, 2024, 10:49 AM - Edit history (1)

Except one*, two dentist offices will not human-answer their phone. It goes to voicemail and will be answered in 1-2 business days. I had to cancel Monday and was so pissed I kept dialing letting it ring 100 times, she finally answered. I who pay big bucks paying out of pocket, shouldnt have to that. And I mean thousands of dollars.

My practice calls after 5pm. If u miss the call and call back, you get voicemail. No one gives a shit anymore. I can see results in the portal. This is usually scheduling issues. Again, they do not care. I call during business hrs. Theyre there, just dont amswer the phone. I was so pissed monday i was going to keep dialing all day if i had to
* the third practice alwats answers by the third ring, unless theyre at lunch. They then immediately call you back after lunch. When I transferred to them, they had to keep calling the non-answering dentists office. She was flummoxed. I said, theyre not answering, right? Ive sat in the non-answering waiting room and theres lots of gaps between patients at the desk.

It’s all about saving a buck by not having someone to answer the phone when you call back OR having too few employees to handle the work load.

The happens because people allow it to happen. We all need to insist on better treatment. As you stated, we are paying for their services. Whether it’s paying out of pocket or paying insurance premiums and copays.

I would love to see someone like Mark Cuban tackle this and make the positive changes that he’s made for the drug industry.

I'm having an emergency to cancel, and reschedule, and you get to call me back in a few business days? Fuck that.

I literally just called them at 901 am. Got VM. Now I'm on a mission. Call, hang up, redial, over and over until it drove them nuts enough to answer. I've spent $1000 there so far.

If I miss the scheduling call, they leave a VM telling me to call back at xxx-xxxx. I do so 2 mins later. VM. Its obscene. And yes, pts have the right to not like the portal and not use it.