OBG! Will You Listen!
MEDICAL OFFICE, USA, WORDPLAY | HEALTHY | FEBRUARY 11, 2020
(I am a female veteran and need to make an OBGYN appointment. I call the appointment line to schedule. To help with understanding, I have a female primary doctor, “Julianne Smith.” For my OBGYN, I see another female doctor, “Rita Wilson.”)
Me: “Hello, I need to make an appointment for the women’s clinic.”
Scheduler: “Okay, you need an appointment with your primary provider?”
Me: “Yes, for the OBGYN.”
(In VA hospitals, the women’s clinic is not just for OBGYN, but other health-related issues, where the staff and patients are all female. I see both my doctors in this space.)
Scheduler: “Okay, so that’s with Julianne?”
Me: “No, not with her, the other one.”
Scheduler: “Oh, you meant your primary provider, Dr. Smith?”
Me: “No, please, I need the OBGYN.”
Scheduler: “Yes, Julianne?”
Me: “No, I need an appointment with Dr. Wilson.”
Scheduler: “Yes, Julianne?”
Me: “No! I need… Wait, are you saying Julianne or OBGYN?”
Scheduler: “OBGYN!”
Me: *now half deaf* “Okay, yes, the OBGYN. That’s the doctor I need to see.”
(The rest of the call went more smoothly after that!)
|