I had an ultra sound on my right shoulder a few days ago. My appointment was to be Dec.20 but I had put myself on a cancellation list. So Friday morning at 7:53 AM I was phoned and asked I wanted an appointment at 8:30 AM. I thought for a minute. I really didn't want to go as I had no hair or beard combed. I didn't want a bad hair day! I hadn't brushed teeth or put in dentures. I had finished breakfast. I looked at the clock and was sure I could make it so said , "Sure I'll be there."
Most people have had an ultra sound. You know, plaster some slimy cool goop on the area and then rub a cold electrode over your skin while they watch a screen.
Well the young lady who took me was miss antisocial. No small talk from her. Not even a comment about the weather. Just business. Short brief commands as to where to put my arms hands or body. Rub more goop on and keep rubbing and searching for soft tissue someplace.
The ordeal didn't take long. She briefly told me that she had to see the doctor to see if she had been successful with the ultra sound. On her way out she put a towel on the stool for me to wipe the goop off myself. I picked up the towel. Ich! It had the horrible goo on it. I found a place without goo and wiped. The towel was so goopy it didn't seem like I got much off. I put my shirt half way on. Yuch! More goop.
I finally got enough goop off to finish dressing.
About that time, smiley face returned and informed me that things were alright and that I was good to go.
Some people just can't realize the miserable projection they give of themselves. Have they ever thought of enjoying their job by trying to be pleasant to patients? Have they ever thought of cleaning the patient off with a warm towel? Now after that I had a good day. I wonder if she had a good day?
Or am I being just a little bit cranky?
No, you are not being cranky. It makes me so mad when people that work directly with patients are cold and not helpful like that. I was a medical receptionist for 18 years and our patients meant everything to me. Especially in the medical field you need to remember that patients probably don't feel good and could be scared or nervous about their appointment. I'm sorry she treated you like that, you are NOT a cranky person!
ReplyDeleteI accept a wide range of behavior before I'm concerned.
DeleteYou are not getting cranky. It costs nothing to be pleasant.
ReplyDeleteI think if you are pleasant you come away with a much better feeling of achievement.
DeleteNo you are not cranky. Health Care people should be pleasant and take good care of every patient...you should have had a warm CLEAN towel to take care of the goo:)
ReplyDeleteYes, warm towel would have been so nice.
DeleteSome people are just in the wrong job. Sounds like she's not enjoying it very much. You don't think that towel had been used by other patients, do you? Yeesh.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first touched the towel I wondered who had been using it and then realized it had been used on me.
DeleteThese kind of workers really tick me off. They should not be working with the public if they cannot perform their duties without at least some perfunctory manners.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. There is a basic level of civility.
DeleteI should have added "no you weren't being cranky". I think we all have a right to expect a little common courtesy when attending the doctor's office, the hospital and so on.
ReplyDeleteNo. You are not being cranky. It is always nice to be nice. Niceness lubricates life and is much underrated. She should have rubbed the goop off for you using a fresh towel or disposable tissues. Perhaps if you had been a muscular thirty year old lumberjack with jet black hair and pearly white teeth she would have treated you differently.
ReplyDeleteYes, and my shirt was off showing my admirable physique.
DeleteI agree with you, she was not a good nurse at all, or she had a bad day. But she has to realize she works with human beings with feelings who come in with a bit of fear what is going to happen.
ReplyDelete...and I'm am easy patient. I think I make thinks easy for people because in the end it's about me.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI think these x-ray technicians could be a little social, just to help put people at ease. I have had a mixture of workers, some are real bubbly or not so much. I hope all goes well with your test. Happy Wednesday, enjoy your day!
I had an X ray right after the ultra sound and the x ray lady was a hoot. we had a good laugh.
DeleteWell, into every life a little goop must come ... esp. if you go to the doctor. Anyway, hope the shoulder is okay.
ReplyDeleteWell, if they hadn't used the goop, they would not have been able to look at my tendons etc.
DeleteYes, you're being a little bit cranky, but who wouldn't be? She was obviously not a happy person and seemed determined to pass her miserable feelings onto others. I would have felt just the same, Red.
ReplyDeleteNow that I think about it I was her first patient on a Monday morning!!!
DeleteNot being cranky at all, just being a human being in the moment wanting another human being to be kind and considerate. Maybe she was having a bad day.
ReplyDeleteShe looked like she would be the same way all the time, but it was Mon morning.
DeleteWell we all seem to be agreed that you weren't being cranky. One can be businesslike and efficient without being off-hand and anti-social. As for the used towel that was absolutely unacceptable in a medical establishment.
ReplyDeleteThe towel had been used on me but it's hard to get goop off your skin with a goopy towel!!!
DeleteSometimes a bad day or a good day can make all the difference, but it really makes a bad impression on someone who's in a position of being treated.
ReplyDeleteUltra sounds are a bit uncomfortable at the best of times.
DeleteI don't classify that as being cranky but simply as a normal reaction to being treated like an object instead of a person. It's a pet peeve of mine that there are so many people in "helping" professions who clearly aren't right for the job. There is more to being a doctor or nurse or medical technician or even a teacher than knowing the technicalities of the job, and if they don't like being around people, why did they ever choose that kind of job!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! Most people are already nervous and intimidated enough when they go to their medical appointments. An unpleasant person to deal with makes it that much more stressful. This is a pet peeve of mine, too!
DeleteYou are so right.
DeleteRed, I'm going to guess the Doctors who are in charge of the clinic would not want their Medical Assistant treating you like that. I think most folks would have reacted just as you did. Maybe you could send the Doctors a link to this post on Hiawatha House? :-)
ReplyDeleteHey , I'm not the person to rock the boat and complain. I don't get very many ultra sounds in my life.
DeleteFrom a person who kind of has the white coat syndrome every time I need to go to the doctors, I feel for you. I need a smile and a comforting word from a professional. It would make their job easier for a start, even though I am sure they are busy, busy people. A smile works wonders on both sides of this visit. No, you are not cranky ;)
ReplyDeleteA smile signals confidence and that's what's needed to feel comfortable during examination or treatment.
DeleteTruthfully, Red, you don't know what she went through that morning!
ReplyDeleteDid you ask if she had a bad day, or if this was her normal grumpy self??!!
Seriously, I have taken JB to 63 appointments, and we understand some people have to be brusk to get through their days. Others have a heart.
She looked like she just had her normal face on and it was not happy. I was her first patient of the day on a Mon. morning.
DeleteShe could have been experiencing a bad day herself but I think she has room for improvement dealing with patients.
ReplyDeleteYes, she has a long way to go.
DeleteI want to always look my nicest for the doc, not sure why
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your Doc appreciates your effort .
DeleteAll of the above? Cranky breeds cranky. I have recently realized about myself that I make an effort to have pleasant exchanges with people I don't know, perhaps even laugh a little. I'm an introvert, so if I can do it, so can others.
ReplyDeleteOn my bike I say hello to everybody. It does me good, even if people don't reply.
DeleteIt doesn't cost anything to be pleasant. Even if you're having a bad day, why take it out on someone who has nothing to do with it and ruin their day, too? Plus, as I wrote to Jenny above, it can be stressful and intimidating enough at medical appointments. Unpleasant service just makes it that much worse.
ReplyDeleteThere’s ni cure for crankiness and even less for un-niceness. Maybe that technician didn’t have her morning coffee yet.
ReplyDelete