I Haven't Been Here For Awhile

Hello all!

I have neglected you all for quite some time and I apologize. I suppose that I should probably just glory in the natural and small things in life and not worry that nothing huge happens in my life. I am going to try to be better about letting you know what's going on, but I've just been quite stressed as my high school life draws to a close.

So, what happened today?

So, I went to school. The biggest highlight of today's school was that we had our "IB DONE Party." It's like Sr. Breakfast, except that it's just for IB Diploma and IB Certificate of Merit students. We even have awards a la Sr. Breakfast. Like the "most likely to develop warts in the future" style awards. Except that the IB ones are all fairly nerdy. I won three, which is a lot. Some people didn't receive any. I guess I'm just extreme. I received, "Most Likely to Read Neil (our textbook) for Fun," "Most Likely to Become a Diplomat," and "Biggest Bookworm."

I then went to work. Since our receptionist has gone on maternity leave, I am officially the receptionist. It's excited but also frightening and difficult. Don't ever put down medical receptionists, I have a new found appreciation for everything that they do and how much they actually have to know and do and how much trash-talk they put up with. I mean, since watching our receptionist since I started working at Evergreen Diabetes and Endocrinology I've been noticing this, but I recognize it even more now. And I've also recognized that health insurance is the most screwed up system known to man. Medical receptionists don't just answer phones, people, okay?

And I've also noticed that people don't actually always listen to a word you're saying when you're a receptionist. And they talk down to you, but I think that this is a good experience for me. Even though I've gotten over being sensitive like I once was, I'm still a push-over and I don't stand my ground. I stand my intellectual ground, but this is different. I need to get the, "I'm the doctor's secretary. I know his policies, you don't. No, we can't do that. No, you can't. No, we don't accept DSHS even if you beg me and tell me a sob story. No, I don't have any appointments that I'm just 'not telling you about.' What? Do you think we have a pharmacist and complete pharmacy back here? Yes, we require a referral regardless of whether or not your insurance requires it. Yes, I'm sure that you have a $20 copay. No, I know that Regence isn't a no copay company." This is a valuable experience.

Comments

diane said…
How does a receptionist determine emergencies. The nearest appointment my friend could get for a lump in her breast which turned out to be an aggressive cancer was in two months. How do you make those determinations?
June 5, 2009 at 7:21 AM
george & clarine review said…
I am happy you surfaced in the blogging world again. gwh
June 5, 2009 at 3:13 PM
Hannah said…
A receptionist makes the appointments as she can. How we determine emergency goes like this: (since I work at a Diabetes/Endocrinology office it's SLIGHTLY different, but yeah).

1) If they're a returning patient, we give the first available
2) If they have a specific reason that they need to make the appointment and they're a returning patient, we write a note to the doctor/send any reports from other doctors and give them appointments as the doctor determines is necessary. We will MAKE room if he says they need to get in right then
3) If they're a new patient, we give them first available (usually two-three months out) and move them up if labs or other referring doctor's reports give us some information that the doctor determines is needing attention right now.
4) Pregnant women with thyroid issues get in the same week they call us, because with thyroids and pregnancy, to postpone it really at all is to risk losing the baby.

That's how. We also have a cancellation list which we call through daily for those who want to see the doctor sooner than when they have an appointment. People cancel all the time though.
June 5, 2009 at 6:50 PM
Hannah said…
To clarify, "first available" for new patients and "first available" for returning patients is ENTIRELY different. And then further, if I say we make room, that means that the appoints are at 7:30 am and stuff like that (outside of office hours).
June 5, 2009 at 6:58 PM
diane said…
Policies sound pretty good. My friend died by the way. If there are no existing labs etc. Doctors need to get less booked, because I can never get in earlier than 2 months.
June 6, 2009 at 7:59 AM
Hannah said…
Yeah, I can see how that'd be a problem. In Seattle it's usually not too big of an issue because even though the specialists (specifically endocrinologists) are booked to the hilt, the primary care providers are fairly accessible.
June 6, 2009 at 9:53 PM
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