Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada (INGRID NEWS) – Have you ever had to wait for an unreasonable length of time in a doctor’s office? It is so very annoying!
Recently, I went to a clinic in Niagara-on-the-Lake. My family doctor moved away, so things were in the process of being shifted around.
After I checked in, I waited for some time and then went back to the reception desk to see how things were progressing…I was then informed that their computer system was down and things were taking more time than normal.
I then gave them my name again and the time of my appointment. I waited for another half hour, went back to reception desk, to be asked again for my name. They didn’t know which doctor or health care provider I was to see or how long I would have to wait and didn’t care how long I had waited.
Another half hour passed, was asked again by the same receptionist, why I was there, what was my name, who was I to see and at what time. Waited for a while, went back to the desk to be told that they couldn’t tell me how much longer it would be before I would be able to see someone.
In the meantime, numerous people with and without appointments were in and out of the office. I finally gave up, told the receptionist I couldn’t wait any longer as someone had given me a ride to the office and I couldn’t keep them there any longer, since there was no way of knowing if I would have to wait 15 minutes longer or 2 hours longer, and they still didn’t know which doctor I would see.
When I phoned back a couple of days later to arrange to get back in to see a doctor, I was told that I would have to wait for at least a month before I could get an appointment. I then proceeded to explain what had happened 2 days earlier when I came in for my appointment and was told that I left the office voluntarily and they could not do anything to get me in earlier.
Once again, when they looked up my file, they didn’t know who I was to have seen, or why. I asked again if they couldn’t get me in any sooner because I really needed to have my prescriptions renewed, needed results of a current MRI and the lymphitis in my arm from post cancer surgery had swollen up to 3 times its normal size.
I was once again, so rudely and officiously informed that it wasn’t their fault that I voluntarily left the office, after waiting over 2 hours, and they would not work with me to get an earlier appointment. It wasn’t their fault that I voluntarily left, they said.
Just saying!!! I was so annoyed and am still annoyed about waiting time wasted, being dismissed when I asked about the wait time, rudely spoken to when I called back to get another appointment, and being told that it was my fault that I voluntarily left the office when their system was down. Waiting to get in for an appointment…Wow!!! Is it just me or is this normal these days?
The receptionist, who is much much younger than I am, was disrespectful, snarky, unsympathetic and downright mean to me, treating me like I was seriously lacking in the intelligence department. It wasn’t just me, I heard the way she spoke to other patients who came in as walk-ins and looking like they really needed a doctor immediately.
They were rudely and crassly dismissed by that receptionist too. She was so detached and uninterested in their situation. The woman’s elderly husband looked like he was about to faint, and the receptionist sent them away without a care for their needs.
I have been going to this clinic for about 13 years and my family doctor, who worked out of this facility, was very much loved and admired by my husband, myself and my family and in all those years. My doctor always treated us will respect and kindness.
Whenever I would go for an appointment, if he saw me waiting in the hallway, he would take me in immediately, even if others were scheduled before me because he knew I had difficulties walking and sitting for long periods of time. He was so considerate. Dr. K. King will be sorely missed by us.
I will admit, I am worried about how things will go from this point forward. Hopefully the new doctor, whomever he is to be, will be as good as Dr. King.
The patients in Prince Edward Island will be blessed, as we were, to have Dr. Kris King for their family doctor.
I regret that I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye to him because he left earlier than was expected. He was so good to us and he will be very much missed.
photo:worldofstock.com
