topic Re: Doctor communication overkill in Community Chat

Doctor communication overkill

gidgetgh — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 16:57:16 GMT

This is a good natured, no it's not an important issue, thread.

but really....

I had a routine dermatologist appt. This morning. I made the appt a year ago.

A week ago, I received the "please confirm that you're coming" text.....followed a few hours later by the same thing in email form. I replied to the text.

Then yesterday, I received another text, reminding me again. Then another text, informing me that I need to wear a mask. Ok, ok already.

I went this morning and, on the way out, scheduled my next appt for next April. Receptionist wrote the appt on the little card because I didn't feel like pulling out my phone and recording it. I didn't really need the card. I would have remembered when I got home.

Before I even got home, I received a text AND an email titled "appointment reminder" for April 18.....2023.

And an hour ago, I received an email saying there was an update to my file. Tried to login to their patient portal. However, as a first time user, they didn't provide me with all the information I needed to register.

Nope, I'm not calling them to get it. I ate a cookie instead. Better use of my time.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

gidgetgh — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 16:58:32 GMT

Next will be the appt. Follow up survey followed by a reminder to do that because I'm not going to do the survey.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

Cakers3 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:06:49 GMT

We do not receive emails but we do receive text confirmations by the time we get home and then as reminders. Also for hair appts.

Often there is the option to type STOP to get out of these texts but I do not mind them.

We always take appt. cards, too, and bring them on the day of the appt.

Why you ask?

Because the text reminders are not used by our PCP.

THREE TIMES our appts. were not entered into the computer. The cards showed we just didn't show up expecting to be seen.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

Love my grandkids — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:08:18 GMT

@gidgetgh Love your attitude! When someone on the forums gets nasty (which you are NOT) I always say "Have a cookie". Overkill for sure but what can you do!

PS: What kind of cookie was it?

Re: Doctor communication overkill

geezerette — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:08:58 GMT

How about the text about 20 minutes before your appointment reminding you that you have an appointment in 20 minutes?

Re: Doctor communication overkill

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:13:02 GMT

Yes, my mega medical group is the same. Reminders of appointment, remember to sign in, update contact info, update insurance, email reminder, text reminder, etc.

I do like the patient portal though. I can see test results, make appointments, email doctors with questions, request prescription refills.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

gidgetgh — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:13:12 GMT

@Love my grandkids wrote:
@gidgetgh Love your attitude! When someone on the forums gets nasty (which you are NOT) I always say "Have a cookie". Overkill for sure but what can you do!

PS: What kind of cookie was it?

@Love my grandkids - I stopped at Publix to do my grocery shopping on the way home from the appt and bought myself one chocolate chip m&m cookie in the bakery. My treat to myself for being a good girl at the doctor. Kind of like an adult lollipop.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

gidgetgh — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:17:01 GMT

@PinkyPetunia wrote:
Yes, my mega medical group is the same. Reminders of appointment, remember to sign in, update contact info, update insurance, email reminder, text reminder, etc.

I do like the patient portal though. I can see test results, make appointments, email doctors with questions, request prescription refills.

@PinkyPetunia - I decided I didn't care enough to go through all the hoopla to get the info needed for portal set up just to see that the entry was that I had an appt today. I'm well aware I had the appt today. I was actually at the appt., LOL. I use the portal for my pcp and the doctor that monitors my blood thinners, but I don't need one for the dermatologist. He removed one thing from me today, at my request, and they're going to biopsy it even though he's totally sure it's just a dry skin patch. He's going to call me with those results in 4-5 days. Phone call. Old school. My favorite.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

LIG1 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:18:11 GMT

I don't mind the reminders via text, email etc. because I sometimes have multiple medical appointments on the same day and it can get overwhelming for me at times.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

gidgetgh — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:20:59 GMT

@LIG1 wrote:
I don't mind the reminders via text, email etc. because I sometimes have multiple medical appointments on the same day and it can get overwhelming for me at times.

@LIG1 - everyone is different and I understand that. I actually get overwhelmed by all the pre and post follow up. It's too much for me. I decided this morning that in most cases it's not the actual appt. that I dread. It's all the communication surrounding it.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

Laura14 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:23:36 GMT

They need to do it to the doctor too.

I got stood up two years ago by my doctor of 18 years who called out at the last minute after I took off work and drove 45 minutes in a hurricane remnant downpour only to arrive at 7:45am as scheduled as a drenched rat to be told she was not coming in.

The kicker was they sent me an email the next day saying how dare I not show up for my appointment. Policy is 24 hour cancellation notice.

The email I sent back was epic and I now have a new doctor right around the corner.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

kitcat51 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:34:08 GMT

My communication overkill is the Annual Medicare Wellness visit...I see my Dr every 6 months so I explained over & over for years that I don't need it but the phone calls kept coming day & night until I demanded that Do Not Call be noted on my file & finally the phone calls stopped BUT it's not over...now I get the reminder mailed to me twice a month. UGH.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

ALRATIBA — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:39:41 GMT

@gidgetgh

My dentist does the same thing. I get text messages and email remnders starting a month before my next vixit - about once a week.

Then after the visit - I get an appt. card for next visit and by the time I get home there' an email and a text message renext visit. Ina day or so after the visit - inthe USPS mail ....there's another receipt for payment.

Great dentist, efficient staff - I've been his patient for about 12 years ... and the same routine every six months.

(He charges $50 for no-shows for confirmed appointments.)

Re: Doctor communication overkill

rms1954 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:46:00 GMT

@gidgetgh wrote:
This is a good natured, no it's not an important issue, thread.

but really....

I had a routine dermatologist appt. This morning. I made the appt a year ago.

A week ago, I received the "please confirm that you're coming" text.....followed a few hours later by the same thing in email form. I replied to the text.

Then yesterday, I received another text, reminding me again. Then another text, informing me that I need to wear a mask. Ok, ok already.

I went this morning and, on the way out, scheduled my next appt for next April. Receptionist wrote the appt on the little card because I didn't feel like pulling out my phone and recording it. I didn't really need the card. I would have remembered when I got home.

Before I even got home, I received a text AND an email titled "appointment reminder" for April 18.....2023.

And an hour ago, I received an email saying there was an update to my file. Tried to login to their patient portal. However, as a first time user, they didn't provide me with all the information I needed to register.

Nope, I'm not calling them to get it. I ate a cookie instead. Better use of my time.

Good choice.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

MamaWick — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:49:11 GMT

I understand. Last Friday, I was a new patient to an ENT. Starting that Monday, and going until the appointment, I received SIX texts and THREE emails. After the appointment, I received one text and two emails.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

CelticCrafter — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:35:04 GMT

My husbands podiatrist is like that, text, automated phone calls, e-mails.

If they do call because they need to reschedule, when you ask who it is that's calling they huff at you! Like how dare you ask who it is.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

icezeus — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:48:17 GMT

My dentist office can be overkill with the communication. However, I really like my dentist and his staff so I just go with it.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

granddi — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:51:23 GMT

I'm getting all this in English and then a second set in Spanish.

Re: Doctor communication overkill

Effie54 — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:54:24 GMT

Same experience here. When I have an appointment for the dentist or orthodontist, I get an email, texts, and reminder text an hour before. All in all, I must get between three and four reminders. I asked the receptionist "after all that, how many no shows do you get?? ". She said "you'd be surprised". Huh.....🤷‍♀️

Re: Doctor communication overkill

lgfan — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 20:07:50 GMT

I don't mind this communication overkill. I would rather have the constant texts confirming an appointment than calling to confirm an appointment and being told that I do not have an appointment on such day and time. I then have to make another appointment weeks to months in advance because the doctor is booked for the next few weeks/months.