Ot Vent

[peglem]

I called my daughter's ped office today, to find out about a referral that was supposed to be made Friday...no answer, but I can leave a message and they'll get back to me. I called the neuro's office to confirm her EEG appt and see why the MRI has not been scheduled yet...no answer, but I can leave a message and they'll get back to me. (I did the same last week-nobody got back to me yet!) I desperately need an eye exam- but the vision insurance at my husband's job is contracted out and I have no idea who to go to or how to use the insurance for eye exams. So hubby calls the insurance person at work....guess what? NO ANSWER, but you can leave a message and they'll get back to you. This is crazy! I wonder what dr.'s offices would do if patients had the same kind of phone systems? They wouldn't have any patients- nobody would ever actually speak to each other. Sometimes technology is not so helpful. If they ever get back to me, its usually when I have stepped out to run an errand, so then I have to do it all over again.

[milivica]

That's so frustrating. Is there any way you can become such a nuisance they'd rather answer your question than have you call again? It's probably a bad tactic, but it's one of the few I have. I've waited days or WEEKS for responses, then take a whole day to GO TO the places and ask them. I go to the first person at the desk, who always asks me to have a seat...I wait five minutes then ask the second person at the desk and so on. Not cause I enjoy being disliked, cause it's the only way I can finally round up all the answers and schedule everything for Vince.

As far as your husband's insurance company...I try dialing different numbers. If for instance the end of the number is 1000 I'll dial 1001, 1002, 1010, 1020. You usually wind up getting someone in the office that knows nothing about what answer you need, but can get you to the right person, and, if they don't call them again and just to get rid of you they'll get you the right person. Again, I'm not fond of being annoying and disliked but I do seem to have a knack for it as all spectrum people do, so I go with it.

Also, I've found that when I finally get my answers, I will try to explain and apologize if I was annoying, but it's been weeks and I don't get calls back, etc.... and that generally is a waste of time, folks don't care how desperate you feel for answers for your kid, just how much gossip time you've interrupted - oh yes - I do mention that when folks are talking about a tv show from the night before while I wait patiently, that's not fair and not polite either.

Good luck, I feel for your frustration. I hope you miraculously get call backs form everyone tomorrow and can finally schedule all you need to.

Mili

[AKF]

Oh, I so understand where you are coming from!! You remember a few weeks back when the sitter stole money from us? Well, the respite agency reported her to Adult Protective Services. They called us last week and left a message to return their call. (Hello, I work during the day, that's why we had a sitter!!) I've called three times at different times of day and gotten voice mail each time. Left messages to call me back and told them what time I get home from work. Have I heard a word? Noooooo! The message I get is "Hi, I'm in the office today, but I must be away from the phone for a minute. Please leave a message." Yeah, right!!

It's so frustrating. I sure hope you get some calls back and get everything done.

[peglem]

Well, the insurance lady called back and I now have an eye appt. I'll just have to call these other people everyday, until I can either talk to somebody or they get tired of hearing from me and actually call me back. The thing is, I'm home almost all day now...just pick up my teens from HS, or just recently have a pt tutoring job for a few hours every afternoon. Its useless for them to talk to my husband or leave a message.

[Isabelle]

I don't know if you have try this before, but it happened to me by accident.
I had to get some information from some "busy" person, so I called left a message and guess what! I dialed again ( I think my memory was traumatized ) and voila!.. the person answered.
From then on I did that trick again and most of the times... magic!
Be a nuisance with the sweetest, polite voice, while your Allie is young, after when she is older some professionals are going to question your mental state or patronize you.

[peglem]

I don't know if you have try this before, but it happened to me by accident.
I had to get some information from some "busy" person, so I called left a message and guess what! I dialed again ( I think my memory was traumatized ) and voila!.. the person answered.
From then on I did that trick again and most of the times... magic!
Be a nuisance with the sweetest, polite voice, while your Allie is young, after when she is older some professionals are going to question your mental state or patronize you.

I sometimes question my mental state.:D Usually, I think the actual doctors have no idea that their office staff is doing such a poor job of following up on the tests and referrals they have ordered. If I don't get these things resolved by Friday, I'm going to leave a message for the Doctors to call me...same deal, I'll have to wait for a call back, but at least I know its because they are seeing patients. The office staff is getting paid to set these things up...so why isn't it happening?

[tgrimes]

Sometimes I think they drag their feet so you will take care of it... can you call and make the appointment yourself?

[peglem]

Sometimes I think they drag their feet so you will take care of it... can you call and make the appointment yourself?

I can't- tried that, but they have to get their person to pre-approve with the insurance company. I'd happily do it myself if I could.

[Pamster]

Sounds like a real pain in the backside, but you gotta do what you gotta do to get the appt so don't give up! Hang in there peglem. :)

[peglem]

Okay, well...maybe i got upset too soon. :o Allie's ped called back this AM and scheduled the ENT for the 30th. Then neurology called and scheduled the MRI for MONDAY! My guess is that they screwed up and forgot to schedule the MRI when they were supposed to, so they quick found a cancellation to fit me in sooner...but it'll be okay.

[Pamster]

That's awesome, I am glad that they worked you in like that. :D