The receptionist didn’t identify herself & seemed reluctant to talk to me from the moment she answered the phone. It wasn’t until she informed me that I had dialed her direct line that I understood her reservations. I told her I’d found the number online. When I asked to speak with you, she inquired about who I was & what I wanted. I explained my situation and she was immediately defensive.
I asked if you were accepting patients. Her reply was laced with exceptional sarcasm & rudeness:
“Well, you can’t just make an appointment. Your Oncologist would have to discuss it with Dr. Lategan & they would decide what would happen.”
I explained that I was aware of that &, as I had been informed before, I wanted to know if you were accepting ANY patients at all.
Rather than typing impatient, sarcastic, rude, harsh, aggressive & nasty over & over again, just keep in mind those tones for the duration of the conversation.
“Yes, he is taking patients.”
My next question was an inquiry as to how long you’ve been practicing medicine.
“Well, I don’t really see how that is relevant.”
I explained that I certainly did & obviously you are qualified, but I would also like to know how long you’ve been practicing for.
“Long enough”, was her reply.
Okay, is long enough 1 year, 5 years, 10, 20?
“I really don’t see where this is going”, she said. She eventually said she thought you had been in Canada since 2001.
I explained that I have taken the initiative to research & find out as much information as I can about my treatment & that included the Doctors. When she didn’t want to share any information, I asked where I could go to find out.
“The Medical Registry.”
“Okay. Do you have a number?”
“No, I don’t.” Nor could she offer anywhere to find a number.
I then chose to inform her that some of the receptionists I’ve encountered have sure made things difficult. She took this very personally. She made sure I wasn’t indicating just her. I told her, no there were several receptionists that were difficult to deal with.
“I’m NOT a receptionist. I’m a Medical Secretary.”
She went on to explain that there was a difference & she has been doing this job for 28 years, at which point I brought to her attention that it was a bit odd that she could tell me the number of years that she has been working, but could not elude to the number of years that you have been practicing!
After that statement she told me, “You know, I really don’t like where this conversation is going.”
“I really don’t like where it’s come from!” I replied, in complete & utter shock!
At this point she terminated the conversation abruptly.
Additionally, at some point, she asked for my name. I gave her my first name. She asked for my last name. I gave her my married name, which is not on any Canadian paperwork. She inquired about the number I was called from & why it was a different last name. I didn’t bother to tell her I wasn’t calling from my regular phone. When I asked her name, she refused to even share her first name, citing that it was for ‘Privacy reasons’.
I understand that everyone has bad days. However, considering the job she does, she should be accustomed to dealing with people in a FAR GREATER compassionate way than what she did with me. I am fairly tough skinned, but I don’t appreciate being disrespected for asking a few simple & completely relevant questions. There is no reason why I should be treated by a complete stranger. I have every right to inquire about someone’s experience, especially when my health & future are at stake.
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