I HAVE A RIGHT
Can we talk about a little bit of nothing? (It may ease your distress if you imagine me saying this with tongue in cheek.)
I have a right to be irritated, perhaps even a bit angry, about this. However, it is not all that important, thus there is no need to push for my rights. All I need to do is report the issue to the receptionist and allow him or her the space to repair the broken system.
It happened again this morning. I have a new medical office. When I made the appointment she asked for lots of information, but did not tell me why it was needed. My assumption was that it was required by the government or by the insurance company. It wasn’t. It was so I could be bothered at home.
I’m not Gen Z or from any other crazy era where forgetfulness reigns. Even some from my generation are lax about appointments, I suppose. However, I am also from the generation which used to write things on the refrigerator calendar (I still do). I don’t forget appointments; never have. There are some younger folk who think if they snap a picture or post it to their phone calendar they will remember (and they still don’t). In fact, once I became an adult (circa age 18 or 23) I have never missed a single appointment (although once long ago I underestimated the drive and arrived late). I never forget appointments. Can I mention that at least 3 times the doctor didn’t show up! Maybe they should send a reminder to the doctor instead?
Even when scheduled, there have been times the medical office has called to change the appointment. I have gotten resistant to those. I have to re-arrange my schedule and search for the White Out. It is seldom in my best interest to move.
I fully understand that medical professionals are also running businesses. A missed appointment is missed money. They have some anxiety about that. After all, they have payments…perhaps a boat, home in a gated community, a few expensive cars, club memberships, and foreign vacations…those take loads of cash I have heard. So, I understand how they could become anxious about a missed appointment. It isn’t about time…
Time? I’ve never gone to an afternoon appointment when the doctor’s appearance in the exam room matched the scheduled time. He or she could “use” a missed appointment about 1:15 every day.
I didn’t give them my email (I’ve learned that they only use emails for reminders). Four years ago I volunteered my email and as a result received a total of 7 (seven) reminders via phone calls, text messages, and emails for a single appointment. It took 3-4 complaints to get that problem to end. I spent more time dealing with all the reminders than I spent with the doctor. I had a right to be irritated. They might be anxious about the appointments, but that doesn’t give them a right to make ME anxious.
Just off the topic: We do have the technology to stop this. That is, the medical facilities HAVE the technology to stop this. On rare occasions, I have had the pleasure of working with a medical office which merely sent ONE text “Prepare for your appointment tomorrow at 2pm.” So, the technology exists. There is no need to send seven, or three, or even two. Sloppiness is the issue. If they are sloppy about this minor issue, what else are they sloppy about (that could keep me up at night if I thought about it)? Update the tech, people!
I’ve noticed that some people have lamprey phones perpetually sucking nutrients from their bodies. I don’t. At home it sits on the kitchen counter (why not?) Phones used to be that way for everyone until cellphones became the common. Phones also used to continue to ring 7 or 8 times. Now they stop ringing after 3 ½ times. No help for that, I’ve tried. So, usually I can’t get to the phone in time to answer. I also don’t answer when driving (couldn’t do that when the phone was plugged into the wall). If it is important the caller will leave a message. (Don’t call if it isn’t important enough to leave a message!)
I happened to be getting up from my chair this morning when the phone rang. I answered in time to hear a reminder call with an A.I. voice. It said, “Press 1 if you will be keeping this appointment.” I pressed 1. Two minutes later I got a text from the same medical unit (maybe from their A.I. employee) asking me to respond “yes” if I was going to keep the appointment. I’m sure, had I volunteered my email I would have received a third reminder for the same appointment. How many reminders does one need these days? I don’t need any.
So no one will misunderstand, I don’t mind a single reminder because that gives me assurance that THEY are on the same page as my calendar. Then I don’t have to be anxious worrying that THEY might not show up.
So, medical professionals, please update your reminder systems. Send ONE reminder if you are anxious. Don’t sent multiples. It is only ONE appointment.
I just changed pharmacies. They wanted my email (nope!), and my phone number (which I gave, then told them I did not want any reminder messages). Sure! Call me if there is a problem, but don’t contact me if my prescription is ready as ordered, since that is EXPECTED.
I have a right to be respected. Respect my time. Don’t allow YOUR anxiety to become MY problem. Your mental health is a private medical issue … let’s keep it that way!
Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]
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