Diabetes? Why yes, I do have diabetes
Not that you'd know it from my blog posts of late. I have been slacking off a little with Smokey - going back to my old "eh, I think that's about half a cup" ways as opposed to my newly converted: "did you measure that? Are you trying to kill me? Why didn't you measure that?" zeal.
But I have one diabetes related victory to report. I am breaking with McClinic. This means leaving behind the world's nicest pump educator, but also hopefully leaving behind a track record of abysmal customer service and really, quite crappy care. When we moved here, I automatically went for McClinic, thinking that you don't get to be The Big Name in Diabetes Care for naught. But maybe you do.
In the three years that I've been there. I've seen three different doctors, two of whom were fellows. The third doctor bitched me out because she had never seen me before and why I was booked for a follow up appointment when she'd never seen me before?
I've seen two different nurse-educators, both of whom have left. I've had more prescriptions botched than I care to remember. I've had a pump-trainer-in-training I'd NEVER MET BEFORE call me back about my faxed in records and frantically ask me why I had suspended my pump three days ago - for about two seconds to cancel a bolus I realized was too large. I wound up explaining to her why one might suspend a pump momentarily and, to be honest, have not bothered sharing any records with them again. Why bother, when I seem to know more about my care then this supposedly world renowned diabetes chain?
Today, the camel's back broke. I called to reschedule my September appointment with Dr. Hello, Not My Fault Your Receptionist is Rude and Dumb, and was told the next available appointment wasn't until November. I then politely asked Rude and Dumb Receptionist whether it might not be a good idea to schedule me for a new patient appointment as Dr. HNMFYRD had reproved me last time for being unknown to her. "Well, I can't do that!" she sniffed. "You're not a new patient!"
Right. And now I'm not your patient anymore, period.
One of the fellows I saw previously at McClinic has opened up shop in the same office as my internist. I called to make an appointment - and got one for September - with an apology that they couldn't do anything sooner. "I know you said she's seen you before," the receptionist said, "but that was a while ago. I think we should schedule you for at least an hour consultation."
But I have one diabetes related victory to report. I am breaking with McClinic. This means leaving behind the world's nicest pump educator, but also hopefully leaving behind a track record of abysmal customer service and really, quite crappy care. When we moved here, I automatically went for McClinic, thinking that you don't get to be The Big Name in Diabetes Care for naught. But maybe you do.
In the three years that I've been there. I've seen three different doctors, two of whom were fellows. The third doctor bitched me out because she had never seen me before and why I was booked for a follow up appointment when she'd never seen me before?
I've seen two different nurse-educators, both of whom have left. I've had more prescriptions botched than I care to remember. I've had a pump-trainer-in-training I'd NEVER MET BEFORE call me back about my faxed in records and frantically ask me why I had suspended my pump three days ago - for about two seconds to cancel a bolus I realized was too large. I wound up explaining to her why one might suspend a pump momentarily and, to be honest, have not bothered sharing any records with them again. Why bother, when I seem to know more about my care then this supposedly world renowned diabetes chain?
Today, the camel's back broke. I called to reschedule my September appointment with Dr. Hello, Not My Fault Your Receptionist is Rude and Dumb, and was told the next available appointment wasn't until November. I then politely asked Rude and Dumb Receptionist whether it might not be a good idea to schedule me for a new patient appointment as Dr. HNMFYRD had reproved me last time for being unknown to her. "Well, I can't do that!" she sniffed. "You're not a new patient!"
Right. And now I'm not your patient anymore, period.
One of the fellows I saw previously at McClinic has opened up shop in the same office as my internist. I called to make an appointment - and got one for September - with an apology that they couldn't do anything sooner. "I know you said she's seen you before," the receptionist said, "but that was a while ago. I think we should schedule you for at least an hour consultation."
posted by art-sweet at 4:58 PM
9 Comments:
Good for you. Isn't it weird how some places continue to keep clients with crappy service like that? GRRR It makes me so mad.
Sounds like you found a good place! Good Luck!
Sounds like a good plan to leave. I recently switched endocrinologists and love my new doctor. So at the risk of telling you you just haven't found "Dr. Right", keep looking until you find a place where you're happy.
The more experience I get, the more it seems that the medical places with the Best Reputations have the *worst* customer service. That's always been my experience. Whereas the unknown places actually care abou tpatients.
Let me guess, McClinic starts with a J right? We went there once for my husband. The receptionist thought I was there for gestational, she didn't even APOLOGIZE when I said I wasn't pregnant.
Then the doctor looked at my husband and asked me questions, as if my husband was 2 instead of 30. Good riddence.
Ack - nothing worse than bad staff. This is my nightmare in searching for an OB. I am glad you found a place that sounds so sensible! Congrats on that!
I take O to McClinic (if it's the one that starts with a J) in Boston and they've been nothing but fabulous, going out of their way and bending over backwards for us. I'm sorry their sattelite clinics are such abysmal failures. Maybe a letter to the head of the clinic is in order.
Why this isn't the world famous Joslyn Center is it? There, I said it, not you! I am glad that you are out of there and going to someone you feel you can trust!
I hope this doc is what you are looking for! I think the big chains are sometimes the worst of the worst, instead of the "best of the best". At least that's been my experience.
Smart move, Art-Sweet.
Staying motivated has got to be more challenging when your clinic's caregivers don't really seem to care.
Good luck with the new (and better) clinic!
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