She is worth the wait

Monday night I had a doctor appointment that was so horrendous that I swear I had to have been on some ridiculous reality tv show where they set people up to see how they will respond.

After deciding it was time for a routine blood draw and probably time to see a doctor for the first time since I moved to Arizona, I requested my medical records from my previous doctor.

Here is where I first messed up – I went to my insurance company’s website and picked a clinic based solely on the fact that it is close to my apartment.  They told me as a new patient I would need to have an appointment no later than 3:30 to ensure enough time with the nurse/doctor. I hated this policy since it meant I would have to leave work at 3, but I agreed.

I arrived 15 minutes early to my appointment, as requested, to file out the new patient paperwork and took a seat in the waiting room.

Then I started to watch the minutes tick by. I flipped through two magazines, I people-watched. Until no more people were around. I played on my phone. I pulled out my laptop and did some homework. I wondered around. An hour passed. I finally decided to ask the receptionist if I or my insurance would be billed if I decided to leave at this point. She told me the nurse was ‘worth the wait.’ I told her I honestly didn’t care if this nurse was the top nurse in the universe. My appointment was an hour ago, I was on time, there is no one left in the clinic, and all I hear is ladies talking about their hair. Would I be seen today or not?

Little did I know the lady standing behind the receptionist was the head doctor of the 3 person clinic. She agreed to see me since the nurse my appointment was with wouldn’t be able to see me prior to 5 pm. I agreed, continued waiting another few minutes to be called back by the assistant and went through the vitals.

Finally inside a room, the doctor proceeded to offend me (by asking if I planned not to have children because I have celiac), cause fear (by telling me she noticed something that isn’t normal), and then left the room while I was asking a question (about the abnormal find and any potential risks).

So my 1 & 15 minute wait resulted in a <5 minute exam room visit with a doctor that couldn’t fake concern or compassion and clearly just wanted me out of her building.

That nurse may have been worth the wait but I certainly won’t be finding out. On to the next doctor.