Having to ALWAYS be diplomatic at work is a real challenge on occasion.
At the pediatric office this afternoon, I met a mom I would be quite happy to never see again. Mom of 2 year old twins.
Last appointment slot of the afternoon - 4:45. She had called about 2:45. She booked an appointment for one child, and showed up with 2, demanding both be seen. A few minutes into examining the first child, she asked I couldn't please hurry it up because she was at the end of her tolerance. I wasn't even running late. First kid had croup. I got her an information sheet about this illness and started discussing it, and she said she didn't have time to listen.
Started examining the second child. Low grade fever. She had both kids on her lap, and was not helping to hold the "examinee" still so I could look in his mouth with a tongue blade in order to get a good look at the back of his throat. "Can't you just do it?" Yeah, sure, 2 year olds always cooperate when you want to look in their mouths. An another exhortation to hurry it up. I finally said to her that I was not willing to sacrifice accuracy for speed, and that I would really prefer that her child be held still enough so I would only have to attempt this once. Kids do not like it when you have to try 3 r more times. She rebuffed any attempt at discussing fever management, again saying she didn't have time. They had to get home for dinner!
To top it all off, her kids had strewn crushed M&Ms and cookies all over the exam floor, and torn up the table paper and left shreds everywhere. I said to myself, "She's just gonna walk out of here and leave all that shit on the floor." That is exactly what she did.
1. It is thoughtless to make an appointment for one child, and bring 2. If you need 2 kids seen, just tell us when you call. We never say no. We do appreciate having some idea of what the workload is going to be.
2. If it is urgent to be home for dinner, DO NOT book a 4:45 in the afternoon appointment and expect to be out in 10 minutes (especially if you are surprising us with an unscheduled second kid).
3. If you are getting a same day appointment 2 hours after calling, DO NOT repeatedly ask the clinician to hurry it up because you don't want to take the time to pay attention to what you need to know about how to manage the illness.
This family is relatively new to our practice. She claims they left the previous practice because they were not attentive enough. I am wondering if she was dismissed because she was too difficult to deal with.
I am diplomatic by nature, and it is not usually difficult for me to be so. With a parent like this, I would so like to be able to say, "I am doing my best to treat you with respect. I would appreciate you extending the same courtesy to me."
I have been in pediatrics for 43 years. I fully understand that having sick kids is stressful, but one need not be rude, and one need not be a slob.
= new reply since forum marked as read
They left the previous practice because she is impossible!
Thank god it’s Friday!
