The Follow-up Doctor Visit

I’m not sure if everyone remembers me telling of my buddy Dan and his escapades over the years. He’s lived quite a full life and in his own way is a real character. We're both the same age within a few weeks, but when Dan was in his 4o’s he was dealt a serious blow, he had a stroke. With determination, he has returned to a full productive life. The stroke left Dan with a bit of a problem in reasoning and comprehension. This hasn’t slowed him down much at all, but when interacting with some people, it has been, … well, ... different, Dan doesn’t hold back what is on his mind. I often say, Dan is not responsible for his words or his actions.

This is a story that developed as a result of an earlier surgery, Dan had by the Dermatologist. I was asked, by my good buddy Dan, the other day, to accompany him on a follow-up visit, back to that doctor's office.

It turned out the previous visit was very frustrating for Dan. First off, he was asked to fill out a bunch of papers, which he said were the same thing he had already done on the first visit, then they wanted him to pay his co-pay before he had even seen the doctor. He couldn’t understand the logic behind all this. He went on to say that while he was waiting, there seemed to be a lot of others there too, just waiting. He noticed there were people being called into the office before him that had not been there as long as he was. Things were confusing for him and all he really was sure of was that his appointment was for 1:30pm and he had been there almost an hour already. He said if he hadn’t already given them his co-pay he would have gotten up a left. He was not called in until 2:40pm. Well that was the visit for the surgery.

Now, back to the events of this last visit. At the time, I was thinking I was along for support, should there be additional bad news and to help understand any further instructions the doctor may pass on. I wasn’t quite ready for all that unfolded as we entered the waiting room of the doctors office. I held the door open for Dan and he entered the waiting room, he looked around and in a voice that penetrated into the next room he said, “How many of you people here for a 2 o’clock appointment?” Heads turned and 4 other people indicated that their appointment was at 2 o’clock. My brain is kicking into high gear, wondering what will be the next thing on his mind and how can I head it off before he blurts it out. Too late. Dan say’s, “How do you think he’s going to see all 5 of us at one time?”

We weren’t even half way into the waiting room at this point and already the receptionist had the sliding window open, “May I help you?” she says in a loud voice to get Dan’s attention.
I attempted to guide Dan toward the receptionist at the same time saying, “Come on Dan, their waiting for you over there already.”

Dan took about 2 steps and turned back toward the waiting patients and ask, “How many of you had to pay your co-pay already?” Everyone nodded their head in agreement.

Now it came to me, the reason for my being asked to accompany Dan on this particular visit. He has been fretting over what they had done, making him wait so long the last trip, and all the other frustration associated with that trip. I was there to keep him from getting into big trouble. I’ve been down that road with Dan before. “Come on Dan, let’s get you checked in.”

When we walked up to the receptionist window, I looked back into that office area and could see everyone in there had been listening to the conversation in the waiting room and now were looking to see just who was the source of it all. “Hello Dan, would you please sign in?” was the greeting from the receptionist. “Now, if we can have your co-pay, then you can have a seat and we will call you back in a little bit.”

This was the moment of truth, I just knew was coming. In a very firm voice and a hand slap to the counter top, Dan says, “NO, you will get the co-pay when you call me to go into see the doctor and not before!”

The receptionist was totally caught off guard, a look of disbelief and wonderment came over her. I looked where the other staff members had been in that room, and they were all gone. They deserted this defenseless young receptionist to fend for herself.

I took Dan by the elbow and turned him toward a couple chairs along the wall there in the waiting room and said as we walked away form the receptionist window, “OK, Dan, you’ve made your point, now lets settle down here and wait our turn.” In my mind I’m thinking, well wait and see what develops out of this last 3 minutes.

As we sat down, the receptionist was sliding the glass window shut. She had already gotten up from her chair, and now was walking toward the back of the room where the other staff members were earlier.

The waiting room was an odd quiet for the next few minutes. I sensed the others were hesitant to even cough for fear of retribution of some sort from Dan.

We didn’t have to wait very long, a nurse opened the side door, which lead to the back of the office area. She looked our direction and nodded, “If you will follow me Dan, I’ll show you to the examination room.” As we got up to follow her, I looked over to the receptionist desk, but there wasn’t anyone there. It was as though that part of the office had closed for the rest of the day. I wondered who we will give the co-pay to now. The nurse must have seen me looking for the receptionist. She said “You can settle up the account on the way out.”

In a while the doctor walked into the room, and at the same time, trying to ease some tension, said to Dan, “I understand you have been busy out there, putting my staff on notice.” Dan’s reply was brief, “Well, Doc, They needed it!” Dan said it in a way to indicate there wouldn’t be any further discussion on the subject.

The doctor gave Dan a clean bill of health, and saw us out to the hallway leading to the appointment desk, which is also the last link to the accounts payable office. As there were no follow up appointments necessary all was left was settling the bill. Dan wrote out a check for the co-pay, not a word was exchanged.

As we walked out and through the waiting room, I glanced back to the receptionist window, still no one was there, but I could see the figures of some of the staff further in the back of the office. As for the others in the waiting room, they were all new faces there now. They weren’t witness to the lessons of Dan in dealing with an over booked doctors office.