Rescheduling appointments!

[Former-Member]

Hi there,

I had an appointment with my psychiatrist last Wednesday, and when I arrive, I have to phone her secretary or her directly, for her to come and collect from the main reception area. On Wednesday I phone her secretary and seem a bit confued on the phone- I just told her I was there for my appointment, and would my Dr come down and collect me.

A few mins later, I have never meet her admin person before, and she tells me that I don't have an apointment was obviously a mistake on their part and had not gone into the system. My previous appointment three weeks earlier- I had rang the day after this and sceheduled my next appointment because my original appointment was for that day and wanted the same appointment but I ended up with the same date but 30mins later- which is better for me because I have to travel to my appointment.

To cut a long story short, she said my Dr was in a meeting and she tried to ask her to fit me in or squeeze me in but she said she wanted the appointment rescheduled. I felt a bit anxious and upset about this because obviously it was not my mistake and to reschedulae appointment would mean that I was somehow in the wrong. But also I made an appoitment with my specialist around November last year, and she made the appointment herself and double booked herself and she had to cut my appointmnt very short to give a lecture to staff. Its not a one off incident and I have never had this hapen before.

I would just be interested to see what other people think and what would they do?

[JoseJones]

@Former-Member,

That all sounds very frustrating!  Sounds like human error, but very tough on you as a person just hoping to get help.  How do you feel about raising this issue?  Maybe in an email?

[mrkotter]

Do you like this doctor? If so like @JoseJones suggests I think you should raise it with them.

Otherwise I would think about finding another doctor if you can. 

[Former-Member]

I think it was nice,because her secretary was quite open and honest with me and tried to acommodate me, but she is not flexible at all. So I don't see the point in raising the issue with her. The day before my appointment I did send her an email filling her in and checking in with her, and also reminded her I would be seeing her tomorrow and would she collect me in the main foyer. So to me its not just an admin mistake, it was a mistake on her part too or lack of organization.

For me I feel like she doesn't care because the meeting took priority over a patients needs, and why she couldn't resechedule the meeting she was in, thats the question I would like to ask her. Because when her admin assistant came down to let me know what was happening, she just asked me for my number so that she could phone me with another appointment time, I ended up phoning them a few hours later to organize my next appointment. I thought with the mix up they would reschedule when I was there, it just seems all a bit hard.

Even though she as been my Dr for a very long time, I think its time for me to move on- its something I need to think about.

[MoonGal]

@Former-Member - when things like this happen it really throws me for a loop. I am sorry you were stuffed about by misscheduling. It is always hard 'fronting up' for another session (or I find it so I really have to steel myself) so ther eis an emptional cost to a stuff up like this - in the preparation, the getting there. To be suddenly cut loose and excuses made is difficult.

Sometimes though, mistakes do get made in life and it is not so much about us as other people having a bad day or alot on in their own lives (elderly Mums, kids in trouble at school etc) we are all human even our pyschiatrists.

Perhaps at the next appointment you could look your psych in the eye and ask the questions you seem to be thinking...
"Are we getting anywehere here?
"Should I seek an alternative practioner?
"What are your thoughts?"

And see what she says. If she is really truly disengaged you will know.

Then getting back to your GP and asking for a new referal might be an option?

[Sahara]

Hi @Former-Member,

I think I can understand your frustration. It's anxiety inducing enough to have to travel to see your doctor and then when something like this happens, you might feel very deflated - all that effort in traveling and getting nervous about an appointment, for nothing. 

I remember once I turned up to see my psychiatrist and it turned out there was no appointment written down for me. I felt a little bewildered as I thought I had the right time and date and I am usually very organised about these kind of things. I just had to turn around and go all the way home again - about a 30 minute walk for me. (which didn't matter all that much, I guess.)

But sometimes these events trigger our feelings of maybe feeling insignificant or unimportant or in some way inferior? Especially if we are emotional and anxious, too. These feelings are extremely upsetting and I somehow think you have to acknowledge them and not brush them aside.

I know I have experienced this myself - a minor thing happens but I feel kind of victimized - like it is some kind of personal insult. Other people might easily brush off something like this, but because of my emotional state I could end up feeling very low and shaky. 

Perhaps your psychiatrist could not cancel her meeting because she had to see her superior at work? Or it may have involved a patient who needed very urgent care? Someone in danger perhaps? 

She might not have wanted to 'squeeze you in' because it would mean that you would get a shorter appointment than you deserve?  It would have been good if they could have explained it to you, if that was the case. You have been left with some serious doubts. 

Like others here are suggesting, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about this honestly. When she becomes aware of your feelings, she will think twice about getting her office more organised.

[HelloAgain]

When ever I have an appointment that I have set up in advance  (ie a speciaist appointment) I always ring up and confirm the appointment a couple of days before .... just to make sure

As for the Dr being in a meeting and not being able to see you, I wouldn't have expected the Dr to walk out of a meeting to see a patient... that's just not going to happen..   There is nothing to say the meeting was even on site, it could have been anywhere.

Either decide it was a small admin error on thier end and let it go, or see a new Dr, simple decision.

[mrkotter]

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@HelloAgain wrote:

Either decide it was a small admin error on thier end and let it go, or see a new Dr, simple decision.

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I don't think it is always that simple. I've thought about changing doctors before and a lot comes into it. They have a relationship and history with you. You might have a relationship with them. They may, in every other aspect, be very good at their job but this one thing might be significant. Finding a new doctor can be hard and there is no guarantee you will like a new one any better.

It's a tough decision and I think it's something that needs to be thought about. 

[Chris]

I had a similar  experience two weeks  ago.  I turned up for my appointment  and the receptionist was busy so i sat down. When she was free i went up to her and asked if he was running late. She said i didnt have an appointment for that day. I was very confused as i always right my appointments straight into my diary. She checked and there was nothing booked for the next week. Obviously there had been nothing for the week befoe or i would have been billed. I checked my diary again and still that day. The only thing i could come up with was another young girl had booked the appointment and somehow it didnt lock in. So made i made another appointment for the next available.  They always send a text message the day before, which i didnt get and didnt think much about it.

So yes i felt very annoyed and frustrated. It was just as well i wasnt feeling fragile and really needing that appointment . I find it very difficult to ask for what i want, so this could have been very distressing. 

I think i have just put it down to a simple mistake. But i can understand how this would affect you. If you can talk to your dr about what hapened and how it affected you and what can be done to avoid it hapening again. Write it down if you need to, to have it clear in your mind.

Wishing you well.

[Former-Member]

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@mrkotter wrote:

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@HelloAgain wrote:

Either decide it was a small admin error on thier end and let it go, or see a new Dr, simple decision.

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I don't think it is always that simple. I've thought about changing doctors before and a lot comes into it. They have a relationship and history with you. You might have a relationship with them. They may, in every other aspect, be very good at their job but this one thing might be significant. Finding a new doctor can be hard and there is no guarantee you will like a new one any better.

It's a tough decision and I think it's something that needs to be thought about. 

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I agree with you, and your insight into my issue with my psychiatrist. You have covered some interesting ideas and thoughts on this issue, because a lot of things come into play here, and also the relationship history we share together. My psychatrist has been my treating doctor for 18 years, and it would be a tough decision for me to leave her or to think about changing Drs.