why are medical receptionists so rude?

[Anonymous]

They are following dr's orders. Also, they are grossly underpaid, have to put up with snot-nose bratty children and their obnoxious, entitled mothers who think the Red Sea should part because precious Algernon and/or Honoria have a sniffle.

[Anonymous]

I've seen moms try to corner doctors for their private c3ell phone numbers. I'm pretty sure there is a reason that the staff is this way. It is the ridiculous parents who are to blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some are super nice. It's just the nasty ones that stand out in our brains.

Our pediatrician had nice receptionists. But at Capital Women's Care there was one nasty lady. I tried to be extra extra nice to her. Like obnoxiously nice.

Which CWC? There is one at their Fairfax office who is so nasty. I try to be as kind as possible to her, but she is unbelievably rude and downright bitchy at check-out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because those who usually go into medical reception do it because there is nothing else for them to do....they are uneducated, bitter and angry and think the world owes them.

I have the same experiences as you do, and it is rampant. not matter how great the doctor is, the support staff are usually nasty and unskilled.

This pretty much sums it up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because those who usually go into medical reception do it because there is nothing else for them to do....they are uneducated, bitter and angry and think the world owes them.

I have the same experiences as you do, and it is rampant. not matter how great the doctor is, the support staff are usually nasty and unskilled.

I bet you are extremly educated and very kind hearted Yourself to make such a statement.

[Anonymous]

They deal with the public and the sick. And sometimes with rude and demanding people. It may be the one little universe where they believe they are king. Be glad you don't have to live in that kind of kingdom.

[Anonymous]

I've seen this in MANY practices. Foxhall obgyn stands out as being a particularly negative experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to work in doctors offices and PP's post about them being un/under-educated and bitter is somewhat true (although I was in college at the time my coworkers were like this).

Also, they tend to be underpaid and treated very poorly by the doctors so if you sense tension in the office 99% of the time that's why. How the doctor treats you in the exam room is not a reflection of how they treat their staff. Just food for thought.

But still no excuse to be rude to the patients, I NEVER was, I actually adored our patients.

This is true. The way they act is a reflection often of how they are treated. If the owners/directors would treat them well and work on boosting morale, then they would have more of a reason to be happy. My family has worked in the medical field for years so I've seen so many different places (private, hospital) and this holds true most anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:because those who usually go into medical reception do it because there is nothing else for them to do....they are uneducated, bitter and angry and think the world owes them.

I have the same experiences as you do, and it is rampant. not matter how great the doctor is, the support staff are usually nasty and unskilled.

I bet you are extremly educated and very kind hearted Yourself to make such a statement.

Nah all I have is a little old BS degree - dunce that I am. I am however VERY kind-hearted, empathetic, sympathetic, make it a point to always smile and say hello no matter where I am or what I'm doing. In general, front office reception employees are nasty, negative and do their best to make you feel unwanted and uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen this in MANY practices. Foxhall obgyn stands out as being a particularly negative experience.

YES YES YES?! Kept me waiting for two hours to do first confirmation of pregnancy. I was throwing up in trashcans. Their excuse, "Well the couple before you had some questions?" For two 1/2 bleeping hours? I voted with my feet and changed practices that day.

[Anonymous]

If you are nice to the receptionists, most are nice in return. It's all about your attitude in the moment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've seen this in MANY practices. Foxhall obgyn stands out as being a particularly negative experience.

YES YES YES?! Kept me waiting for two hours to do first confirmation of pregnancy. I was throwing up in trashcans. Their excuse, "Well the couple before you had some questions?" For two 1/2 bleeping hours? I voted with my feet and changed practices that day.

Same here. Was new in town and they were the only doctor I had. Had a horrible UTI Sunday night/mon morning and showed up there first thing on a Monday morning. all I needed was a Rx and the medical receptionists treated me like crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are sick. Very. The last thing I need right now is a snobby attitude from the receptionist at the doctor's office.

Thanks for a space to rant.

Peace be with you.

When we went to Pediatric Village, the receptionists were extremely rude. It's one of the reasons, along with a long wait every time, that we quit the practice.

Us too! Words cannot describe how much I loathe PV. I can't believe we spent two years with them. Love the peds practice we switched to, including the office staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They deal with the public and the sick. And sometimes with rude and demanding people. It may be the one little universe where they believe they are king. Be glad you don't have to live in that kind of kingdom.

This! Plus dealing with insurance companies makes you want to kill yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over worked, poorly compensated, and poorly educated.

There is little money in those doctors' offices to pay support staff. Things are bad, look at your bils and see what the insurers pay these practices.

Overworked? They sit in a chair and take calls! Seriously strenuous work there.

They take calls from worried people that throw fits the minute they don't get their way because they or their children don't feel well. These appointments are made around doctors that double book themselves, mind you. They are then trying, in between these calls, to call and verify insurance. Have you ever called your insurance company to verify benefits? Do you realize how time consuming that is? Then if they're unable to, they must call back the patient and sort that out. In between the calls and everyone else's insurance. This is all between checking double booked patients in and out. Now between any of those tasks file those insurance claims. And at some point, be sure to have time to grab insurance checks from the mail and apply them to patient accounts. Then make sure you flag all the accounts whos claims were denied and resubmit or invoice the patient. Don't let the phone ring more than 2 times when doing this all, by the way, and don't leave someone waiting too long before you check them in or out. And that is all done between getting random requests from the doctor such as refilling, restocking, cleaning, filing, changing - really anything - from an unappreciative doctor/boss that gives a 30 minute lunch, pays a pittance of $8 an hour and ironically enough do not provide health insurance to take care of themselves or their families.

You are out of your mind if you think all medical receptionists/clerks do is sit around taking phone calls.

You sound bitter. Go be a Walmart Greeter

NP here. Why are you such a bitch?