patient etiquette

so i was a secretary for the past 8 years - i was good at my job - i knew what it meant to be on the other end of the phone.. and was very empethetic to those who really were sick -

but man there were a few patients who could send me to the moon just by the sound of their voice - their was inevitably the terrified, already maimed by society patient who would fall into the victim roll as though there were no other parts to play - these people aggravated me most - illness is an opportunity to pull yourself through extraordinary situations..

i always equated it to being a warrior - i had to figure out how to become a body of armor to overcome the physicalness of being sick, the experience of real horrific pain, and a ticket to ride the emotional roller coaster of success and defeat - you have to figure it out for yourself - you have to figure out a way to get thru it because the situation is not going to change

on a lighter note - a few suggestions as a patient when dealing with doctors offices:

please have a calendar in front of you when calling to make an appointment - please don't call only to tell me you have to go downstairs to look at your calendar - BE PREPARED!

please do not assume you are getting a call back with test results - especially in a busy office - be proactive - call and ask for an update

leave one message, do not keep calling back - allow 24 hours for a call back from the office unless of course it is an emergency

and be pleasant to the other person on the phone - they are doing the best they can - yelling, smarmy remarks, and flat out rudeness gets you know where