tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post2535639828696549701..comments2023-07-18T15:27:42.958+01:00Comments on A fortunate man: ReceptionDr Andrew Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13858213625632400403noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-57918710602814560372007-09-14T07:57:00.000+01:002007-09-14T07:57:00.000+01:00At our surgery we have a touch screen for checking...At our surgery we have a touch screen for checking in, which seemed like a good idea. It's sensitivity to touch seems rather erratic and I notice that people prefer on the whole to speak to a human.<BR/><BR/>Online bookings - I wouldn't want to say why I was seeing the doctor. I wouldn't want to tell a receptionist either. We had a breach of confidentiality at work with someone who should have known better so perhaps I am over-sensitive.A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04709794851766685322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-8501550101233943672007-09-13T23:40:00.000+01:002007-09-13T23:40:00.000+01:00Janeway: yes, I meant "suffering from dementia" no...Janeway: yes, I meant "suffering from dementia" not "going beserk". If in doubt, assume I'm being technical. :-)<BR/><BR/>Elaine & Clare: thanks for the support. On reflection it may sometimes be better for the doctor to give some indication of how he is feeling, rather than appearing robotically cheerful and eager to help. And patients are often (though not invariably) kind to their doctors. That is one of the things that gives me hope for the future of mankind.<BR/><BR/>Annehelene: we have an irritating sign that flashes up messages about checking in along with other patronising exhortations. Many people don't look at it!<BR/><BR/>Harry: thanks for the support. I'm not completely lacking in confidence, and I hope that I appear fairly normal (whatever that is) to the casual observer, but I certainly have my fair share of doubt and anxiety on the inside. My privileged position has allowed me to discover that a lot of other people do too.<BR/><BR/>Steph: that's a good way of putting it. It does feel a bit like doing two exams a day! Some go well and we remember our stuff, others are a bit more trying. But you have to answer all the questions, and divide your time evenly between them. Yes, this analogy could run and run. :-)<BR/><BR/>Cate: that's a good idea. I don't know why they don't implement it.Dr Andrew Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858213625632400403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-63958037877816530522007-09-13T19:37:00.000+01:002007-09-13T19:37:00.000+01:00My surgery has moved to online bookings and I have...My surgery has moved to online bookings and I have wondered why there isn't a space to say why the appointment is being booked. It would give the doctor a short time to prepare / set the tone at the beginning of the consultation. It might also prevent patients changing their mind at the last minute about raising an issue they perceive as embarrassing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-31056599247519927802007-09-13T15:00:00.000+01:002007-09-13T15:00:00.000+01:00Your worries over the bald surgery list are very u...Your worries over the bald surgery list are very understandable - it reminded me of doing exams - huge anticipation as to what questions would be asked but once they'd appeared, no problem!<BR/><BR/>No wonder you find it tough - you're doing 'exams' every day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-11008609312796570722007-09-13T13:10:00.000+01:002007-09-13T13:10:00.000+01:00I think that not sending that poor old lady to hos...I think that not sending that poor old lady to hospital was good doctoring, and a great example of when rules should not be stuck to.<BR/><BR/>I can draw a lot of parallels between your lack of confidence and myself, so your blog is almost therapeutic to read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-13316111828009986622007-09-13T11:47:00.000+01:002007-09-13T11:47:00.000+01:00Re the last lady - was it really a mistake? Maybe ...Re the last lady - was it really a mistake? Maybe it was for the best that she returns at a time when you are less tired?<BR/><BR/>Best wishes<BR/>ClareAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-87093985050174357622007-09-13T11:01:00.000+01:002007-09-13T11:01:00.000+01:00How about a couple of posters at the entrance and ...How about a couple of posters at the entrance and around the surgery, requesting patients to always check in with the receptionist when they arrive. <BR/>I remember when I was young, there were no receptionist and we just waited in turn. Unbeliveably, there was only one doctor on duty. God knows how he (always seemed to be a man!)coped. Obviously, that won't work now, but the surgery always seemed to run extremely smoothly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-73625510823824954272007-09-13T08:38:00.000+01:002007-09-13T08:38:00.000+01:00Okay, so you made a slight misjudgement about that...Okay, so you made a slight misjudgement about that last patient, but don't beat yourself about about it - nobody is perfect (and, however much you might wish it otherwise, that includes you.) Take care.Elainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06847149482684623481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-37586781936481161222007-09-12T23:46:00.000+01:002007-09-12T23:46:00.000+01:00'...a charming but fairly demented and immobile la...'...a charming but fairly demented and immobile lady...'<BR/><BR/> It took me a bit to realize that you probably meant demented in a clinical, rather than general, sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-16028694258762618062007-09-12T22:44:00.000+01:002007-09-12T22:44:00.000+01:00"All is good :-)"Thanks, Dr Pangloss! :-)It wasn..."All is good :-)"<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Dr Pangloss! :-)<BR/><BR/>It wasn't me who confused guidelines with the laws of the Medes and Persians in the first place, but I can see that I may have been subtly influenced.<BR/><BR/>You'll be getting me to think that I enjoy my job before too long. Dear me!Dr Andrew Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13858213625632400403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-8016812041639788182007-09-12T22:38:00.000+01:002007-09-12T22:38:00.000+01:00Oh, and glad that (1) you're realising you have co...Oh, and glad that (1) you're realising you have coped, are coping and thus can cope (good CBT in practice, that is) and (2) treat guidelines as guidelines not immutable law.<BR/><BR/>(1) makes life better for you and thus your patients, (2) makes life better for your patients and thus for you.<BR/><BR/>All is good :-)The Shrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10009039342346247138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-631567898928853978.post-73616753572431830172007-09-12T22:36:00.000+01:002007-09-12T22:36:00.000+01:00How could I send her to the busy, impersonal, inho...<I>How could I send her to the busy, impersonal, inhospitable hospital?</I><BR/><BR/>They're not <I><B>all</I></B> like that, you know :-)<BR/><BR/>Hmmm.<BR/><BR/>But then, although ours has grounds and wards and rooms that I'd be happy for me or my kith and kin to frequent, in truth I'd be shying away from our local acute Trust . . .<BR/><BR/>Ho hum!The Shrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10009039342346247138noreply@blogger.com