I really like my doctor. He takes a lot of time with patients and really listens, has lots of ideas, is willing to work with patients, etc.. He's also very busy because he does all that.
I phoned this morning to try to get an appointment with him, but he's booked 2 weeks out--solid! So I was asked if I wanted to leave a message with the doctor's nurse (I'll call her 'Lee'). So, I did, explaining as best I could what was going on, more problems with nerve pain, and some unusual symptoms I hadn't had before. I think I did okay--fairly short and to the point. I waited....and waited...all day. Mostly stayed on the main floor of the house, since I can't get to the phone quickly with the pain in my feet. I phoned at 8:30 AM, and it is now 7:39 PM and no return phone call. :( Nothing! 
This isn't exactly par for the course for Lee, but she does have a habit of waiting more like 8-9 hours to return phone calls (with rare exceptions, such as once it was 2 hours). She did tell me a few times that she's super busy there, and I can tell it's too much for her. However, she is the only nurse there who calls the patients, to my knowledge and it's what she now seems to be doing all day; she has a desk in the hallway between the examining rooms and she's always on the phone. Unless there was some kind of lengthy emergency, am I to believe she made phone calls the entire day and couldn't spare a quick return call to me??
She is in her early 60s, I think, and did have knee replacement surgery several months ago, and I know from the way she walked that she had been in BAD pain with her knees before that, which doesn't put her in the best of moods, I'm sure. I also know she was depressed about her son getting divorced and worried about him, and was also depressed about her daughter moving out of state. I get along fine with her when I go in to see the doctor, but she seems to be one to take her personal problems to work. She also chewed me out once when I called for a prescription refill for not telling her right away it was a mail-in through my insurance company (I didn't realize it made a difference, but she was NOT happy with me and made it a huge issue like it ruined her day or something!). I don't think this lady is a happy camper, and there might be more going on in her life which is negative that I'm not aware of.
I have to say I'm pretty upset no one even bothered to return my phone call--no one. I know it's a Monday and I'm sure the clinic is busy, but no one could call me back?? I'm in a real limbo lately, and just not sure what to do, so I thought it would be wise to phone the clinic and ask. Is it asking too much to get a call back?? (As my husband said, if you think this is bad, wait until Obamacare kicks in!). I live in a fairly rural area, and yes, the clinic is busy but not that huge and not THAT busy.
I guess I'm just venting, and I'm wondering what to do. Probably tomorrow morning I'll (maybe?) get a call from Lee, and I don't know if I should say I'm upset or not. I don't want to make waves, but on the other hand, it seems too often I get treated like a doormat by this nurse. Pretty unprofessional of her, I think. She has worked with my doctor for over 20 years, so I hesitate to say anything to him about her unprofessional manner, but this really bugs me. Suggestions?
Post Edited (Luvzminis) : 10/8/2012 7:39:11 PM (GMT-6)