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A better way of handling it imo is make the person give a small deposit which is refunded on appointment or cancellation with adequate notice. That way no need to bother with a phone call or email or sms. Not everyone has the time or forgets to respond to them.
Really...now that would be hassle. A hassle for the patient and a hassle for the office.
Did they ask for or agree to receive and reply to confirmation requests? Or are you of the mind that anyone who obtains your email or telephone number has therefore the right to contact you repeatedly and also to get a response? I wouldn't agree with that at all.
I agree with the person who said you have confirmed your appointment when you made it. If they cancel it, they, not the patient have reneged on the agreement.
I also think the OP can and should opt out of unwanted confirmation requests. Whenever I get a text confirmation request it says something like "reply STOP to stop these texts."
Why is this even a problem. When I get a phone request to confirm an appointment, or a text message to confirm an appointment, usually it take me hitting either y or n OR 1 or 2. I don't see why this is so difficult for a reasonable person to accomplish.
From time to time I've had to wait in the waiting room because my dentist had to take extra time with a current patient because of complications. I had no problem waiting because the other person matters too. And yes, I did once receive a call from my dentist asking if I could reschedule my appointment because of some problem which I don't remember. Again, I was happy to do so.
You see, I realize that it's not all about me. Plus, I like my dentist and my hygienist. They are both very nice people and I wouldn't think of inconveniencing either of them. But maybe that's just me.
When you pay someone to do a job, do you expect them to stick by the terms of their job?
So, for example, one day I had an appointmet at the cardiologist. The appointment was for 3 p.m., and he didn't see me till 4:15. You think that's inexcusable?
I mean, SEVEN messages?? Why does your wife even have a cellphone? She can't take it into work so you'd think she'd immediately check it when she got out of work to make sure you haven't, you know, died or something during the day.
Look, the doctors aren't creating extra work for fun. They obviously did it to address a problem. Every one of my doctors/dentist/even hairdresser have some sort of confirmation system. Some are old-school - the receptionist calls, leaves a VM if I don't answer, says to call them back "if I have any problem" with the appointment. I've never tested the system by not showing up for an appointment.
Two of my doctors now do on-line confirmation as well as check-in. The check-in was a pain in the beginning but now most of the answers default in from the last time.
Yes, I recently found that,too. Much less paperwork.
And you did not inquire about the reason for the wait and the option to reschedule? You must have been on CD
Its the same excuse as every time. Dr is backed up, he is behind, he came in late, they overbooked. Standard excuses. Funny enough, the VA is the only place where they are almost always on time for appointments.
So, for example, one day I had an appointmet at the cardiologist. The appointment was for 3 p.m., and he didn't see me till 4:15. You think that's inexcusable?
Yes. If you were doing a job for someone and you told them you would be there at a certain time, do you think its ok for you to be hours late to do it?
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