Don't try this with your dentist or your doctor...

[PCIntern]

this happens at least once a month: I'm sitting in my office awaiting my 6:30 A.M. patient and the phone rings. caller ID identifies it as the patient for whom I am waiting. I answer the phone and the patient says, with all sincerity, "I'm calling to confirm my 10:30 appointment with you today."

My response to this is traditionally DEAD SILENCE. the patient asks, "Are you there?" And I say, sure I'm here...say, if you have a 10:30 appointment, and you know that you do, then why are you calling me at 6:30 in the morning knowing that generally I don't answer the phone, but let the machine pic up, but that since it was you and I was waiting for you here, then of course I would.?"

"blsh blah blah..." in response.

I then say, "Please bring me your appointment card so I can reprimand the individual here who wrote 10:30 when they meant 6:30, please"

"Oh no I can't - I ripped it up/lost it/ threw it away."

"Well, we need to reschedule...what would be a good time for you? Perhaps 10:30 A.M. someday in two weeks or so?"

"No, I can never come at 10:30, I have to go to work"

"Oh, I see."


++++++++++++++++++

As I said, at least once a month...every year or two, the same person will try it again, forgetting that they did it once or twice already.

[LiberalLoner]

1. Shakes head in disbelief. K&R n/t

[EstimatedProphet]

2. I didn't realize you got so mad when I did that

You held your voice so steady.

[abelenkpe]

3. that person is inconsiderate

But their everyday must suck. They can't leave work for an hour to make a health appointment? Sorry that happens at all.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

4. Why Does That Person Do That?

People cancel doctor/dentist appointments all the time. Why doesn't he/she just call in and either say, "I'm cancelling," or if he/she feels he/she MUST make up an excuse, why not, "I'm not feeling well today"?

I don't get why this person feels the need to lie.

[NV Whino]

5. Because some people are compulsive liars

It is a disease.

I had (emphasis on had) a friend who was a compulsive liar. She just couldn't help herself. And everything was a secret--couldn't tell X about Y because.... So, of course, she would lie about X and sometimes Y as well. She came from a very dysfunctional family, by the way. I spent a couple of Christmases with her and her sisters. It was excruciating. The second time she swore she wasn't inviting all (3) of them. She lied of course, and that was the end for me.

[PADemD]

6. My dentist's office calls me a day or two before

my appointment to remind me. Maybe you could do that for this one patient and then charge them if they cancel on you.

[PCIntern]

7. Point well taken but i don't charge for missed appointments...

there's a big economic downside....if I were to do a crown, whatam I going to do, charge 400 dollars? If I charge 50, enough people will be mad at me and leave so it's not worth it...and enforcing it selectively is not fair either...it's a no-win

Rather, I take the time to post on DU!!!

And on edit: bleive it or not, each insurance company, when I signed the agreements back in the Bronze Age, had a clause that there was no code for the insurance compant ot pay for missed appointments!!! LOL.

[Coyote_Bandit]

8. Ummmm......

A reminder call informing the patient of the day and time of the appointment makes it a whole lot harder for them to plead ignorance. At the very least it would enable you to respond by pointing out that two days earlier XXX in your office had called and left a reminder of the date and time of the appointment. If you wanted you could ask the patient why they had not canceled or rescheduled the appointment since they had 24 hours to do so. It won't stop 'em from calling in sick though.

[marsis]

9. On the

reverse side, I had a 10:30 appointment but sat there until 12 noon before getting the priviledge to see the dentist. Kind of works both ways doesn't it? It costs us also when you're late but your time is worth more than mine, right?

[PCIntern]

10. that is not true, good buddy...

I run on time almost all the time..

Sorry to crap on your parade...better luck next time.