Thank you @spdif . I do typically schedule my next visit on my way out - it’s when I need to make a change that it can be problematic: If no one answers the doctor’s main line it rolls over to the call center where you can leave a message for your doctor or schedule an appointment. But the delay in response has been a week or more on occasion, and one time I didn’t get an answer at all. I said I needed to leave a message and they followed up several days later to ask if had gotten a response - I had not. The woman said “Oh dear” - she would try again - but it did not leave me with a feeling of confidence that they had even reached the doctor in the first place. I’ve sent patient portal messages thinking they went directly to the doctor or their office - have gotten a message back with only someone’s name - I guess it was the person the message was assigned to, I don’t know. Actual replies are slow to come if I get one at all - I know doctors have other things to do besides read those messages but you would think someone in their office would answer within a couple of days. Sometimes I never heard back. Let’s face it, for patients who are new (so not me!) or panicking (definitely not me) and need to know “What do I do???” or whose pharmacy needs them to contact the office because they have not been able to order a refill or get a preauth (has happened)- it could be catastrophic. And hers is not the only office where this has happened.
Her office has started submitting lab orders electronically and I’ve gotten notifications from Labcorp that they received them, just too late - I’ve had to reschedule two visits that I can think of. I don’t know why I wait until a few weeks before my visit to request lab orders - I’ve done it that way as long as I can remember (and you know how long I’ve been doing this
) but requesting them as I’m leaving the appointment is a good idea: old habits die hard but wherever I end up I will give it a try. Thanks.
In the past those things were bothersome but not the end of the world as I was likely in the building or could make a special trip to take care of things in person anyway. But now it’s not so convenient or easy and I’m less willing to go out of my way. Family Practice physicians may be stuck with the service the hospital has contracted to handle patient messaging, I don’t know. But if that’s any indication it’s no way to run a service. Thanks Chris!