Doctor's office manners
So, we went to Gardner's 9-month checkup today (read all about it on the baby blog, if you like). While sitting in the waiting room, I glanced up at the manners list posted on the wall. I thought I'd share a few of them with you, and also add a few comments of my own, judging from years and years of eavesdropping to hear what doctors and their staff say about us patients when they think we aren't listening:
1. Please arrive on time for your appointments. There are patients who have called in emergency visits who will be seen before you if you do not arrive promptly. (IN OTHER WORDS....Do the right thing and at least pick up the phone and call if you will be showing tardy. Come on, we all know every one of you has a cell phone. Use it.)
2. Please bring toys from home for your children to play with. (IN OTHER WORDS.....Don't expect us to clean the snot, slobber, and other bodily fluids off of our own purchased waiting room toys. I know some of you would rather not think about it, but germs do exist, and they thrive on shared toys....especially in a place where 70% of the entrants are sick as a dog.)
3. Please be prepared to pay your part, with or without insurance copayment, upon your leaving your appointment. (IN OTHER WORDS.....our poor insurance and finance staffperson already has enough on her plate, thanks to uncooperative claims adjusters and lab personnel. Please don't make us add more paperwork to the stack when we have to turn you over to collections.)
4. Please put all books and magazines back when you are finished reading them. (IN OTHER WORDS.....pick up your slimy, slobbered-on periodicals and drop them back in their spots so we don't have to don medical gloves every night and do it ourselves. Please reference the "in other words" for question # 2, above, as well.)
5. Please leave the television on the programmed channel. (IN OTHER WORDS.....leave it on kid-safe, family friendly Nick Jr. Neither your child, nor anyone else's child, should be forced to sit and watch daytime soaps while in the waiting area. Dora the Explorer is much more believable....better plot lines.)
Anyone else had any ludicrous by-thoughts/personal rewordings when you see rules posted in medical offices? Do tell.
*Disclaimer* I am not making fun of doctors, their staff, or even the aesthetic decor of their office spaces. I thank God that we have doctors and nurses, and I am so thankful for their talent and know-how. I am merely stating the bizzarre and somewhat silly things which run through my head each time I am sitting in a busy waiting room with only Dora to keep me entertained.
1. Please arrive on time for your appointments. There are patients who have called in emergency visits who will be seen before you if you do not arrive promptly. (IN OTHER WORDS....Do the right thing and at least pick up the phone and call if you will be showing tardy. Come on, we all know every one of you has a cell phone. Use it.)
2. Please bring toys from home for your children to play with. (IN OTHER WORDS.....Don't expect us to clean the snot, slobber, and other bodily fluids off of our own purchased waiting room toys. I know some of you would rather not think about it, but germs do exist, and they thrive on shared toys....especially in a place where 70% of the entrants are sick as a dog.)
3. Please be prepared to pay your part, with or without insurance copayment, upon your leaving your appointment. (IN OTHER WORDS.....our poor insurance and finance staffperson already has enough on her plate, thanks to uncooperative claims adjusters and lab personnel. Please don't make us add more paperwork to the stack when we have to turn you over to collections.)
4. Please put all books and magazines back when you are finished reading them. (IN OTHER WORDS.....pick up your slimy, slobbered-on periodicals and drop them back in their spots so we don't have to don medical gloves every night and do it ourselves. Please reference the "in other words" for question # 2, above, as well.)
5. Please leave the television on the programmed channel. (IN OTHER WORDS.....leave it on kid-safe, family friendly Nick Jr. Neither your child, nor anyone else's child, should be forced to sit and watch daytime soaps while in the waiting area. Dora the Explorer is much more believable....better plot lines.)
Anyone else had any ludicrous by-thoughts/personal rewordings when you see rules posted in medical offices? Do tell.
*Disclaimer* I am not making fun of doctors, their staff, or even the aesthetic decor of their office spaces. I thank God that we have doctors and nurses, and I am so thankful for their talent and know-how. I am merely stating the bizzarre and somewhat silly things which run through my head each time I am sitting in a busy waiting room with only Dora to keep me entertained.
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