http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5811562Oh my.
The dental office receptionist, or dental office cleaning lady:
Mika (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:32 PM
Original message
One of my patients did not show up for a 4 hour appointment! Who should pay?
This patient had confirmed this appt yesterday. Killed my whole afternoon that could otherwise have been productive treating other patients.
My office staff have been busy trying to fill the afternoon with other patients (with appointments later on in the week/month) who might feel like coming in at a moment's notice. No luck so far.
Who should pay for this contemptious act of not showing up for an intensive surgical appointment.
Just me?
MineralMan (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:34 PM
Response to Original message
1. Was your staff able to contact the patient?
There easily could have been some emergency. Or the patient just succumbed to fear.
undeterred (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:34 PM
Response to Original message
2. I guess it depends on the circumstances.
Did they just blow it off or did some kind of emergency come up?
Most places reserve a right to charge for last minute cancellations but don't always enforce it.
graywarrior (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:35 PM
Response to Original message
3. Has he/she called with a reason?
Maybe car accident or something like that? I'd find out first, and if he/she just blew her off and you have a policy that states patients will pay for missed appointments, then that patient should pay you.
Okay, that's the general tenor of the bonfire, and as the bonfire's a pretty big one, I'll just stick with quoting Primitives of Prominence, if any showed up.
The vindictive primitive, who's seeking a third-world country with free medical care for all, so as to get a hip replacement.....provided the third-world country has beaches:
Vinca (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:40 PM
Response to Reply #9
15. Patients should have doctors sign a form that if they have to wait longer than 10 minutes their appointment is free.
ayeshahaqqiqa (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 03:33 PM
Response to Reply #12
56. I understand why you have to do this
Most folks don't realize that a doctor's practice has certain bottom line expenses that must be met. They only think of doctors as gouging their patients so they can have lots of money to go on vacations. They don't think about the fact that even specialists can, and often are, hounded by people day and night seeking medical advice. And they get mad if the doctor suggests they go to the ER because they will have to pay money. They want the doctor to "fix it now" and for free.
What the fudge is that, a primitive speaking non-primitivese?
The Rita Hayworth primitive, who lost her baby-teeth back when Calvin Coolidge was president:
Tangerine LaBamba (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:45 PM
Response to Original message
19. I hope you have a stiff cancellation policy, and I hope you enforce against this patient. If there turns out to be a solid reason for the cancellation, well, that's a bit of a comfort, I suppose.
But I am astonished at the vitriol here towards physicians and dentists by people who have been kept waiting. We've ALL been kept waiting. Medical people never know what's waiting for them in the next examining room, and expecting them to run like trains on a tight schedule is daffy.
My dermatologist friend puts it in perspective for people who bitch about waiting for him. He says, quite honestly, "When I see a patient, I don't know if I'm going to find acne or melanoma."
Then, he suggests to them that if they're unhappy with how he conducts his practice, they should find another doctor.
He's the top dermatologist in the DC area because he's so good and because he takes time with his patients.
Some people just don't understand the concept of human interaction combined with time.....................................
The rich kid grazing primitive:
jgraz (1000+ posts) Tue Jun-09-09 02:52 PM
Response to Original message
29. Q; Would you feel obligated to pay the patient if you had not shown up?
I think it sucks that your patient was so inconsiderate (apparently). However, no other business feels they have the right to charge customers for services not rendered.
I've shown up for appointments when the doctor double-scheduled. I've never been paid once. What would you do in that case?
That's all the Primitives of Prominence; most of the primitive comments abuse the dental office receptionist or cleaning lady, or whatever.
