Ignorance at doctor offices

2/12/07
Since my mother speaks broken English, I (the non-verbal daughter) have to contact the doctor offices to schedule appointments or request prescription renewals. I do this either by faxing or calling the office through a relay service where the operator repeats what I type to the other party.

A few months ago, I faxed in a prescription renewal to a doctor’s office. After a week of not hearing anything back, I called the office to ask if the doctor had received the fax. The receptionist said it was on his desk and he would call in the prescription that evening.

After a few days passed, I checked with the pharmacy but they had not received the prescription. So I called the doctor’s office again and asked if the doctor had read my fax. The receptionist said she didn’t know, but she would make sure he’d read it. Like a child being told there’s a Santa Clause, I believed her.

Another week went by and the pharmacy did not have any prescription for my mom. Once more I called the doctor office. At first, I got the answering service saying the office was closed. How could the office be closed?! It was the only day that the doctor was supposed to be in the office! Maybe they knew it was me. Being hardheaded as always, I tried calling one more time. Guess what! The office was opened! When the receptionist came on the phone, she said she was tired of getting “these relay calls.” I asked her what would she do if she couldn’t talk and had to make calls. She became mute to that question.

Desperate and frustrated, I asked my girlfriend to help me get the prescription. When she called the doctor’s office, she said my mother speaks better English than the American-born receptionist! With persistence, however, my girlfriend finally reached the doctor!

Is it just me or has anyone else encountered ignorance at doctor offices?