Our poor lady at the front desk deserves a raise. A woman walked up to her today and said, "I need to make an appointment with Dr. P------." Her name did not appear in the system, so she was asked who had referred her. No referral. Which begged the question, "Why are you here, then?"
The woman stated she had to see me urgently as she has a brain tumor. No imaging studies, no referral, and no physician who told her she has a brain tumor. She just knows.
Now, our receptionist has over 20 years with us and has seen the myriad ways a brain tumor can manifest itself. The woman standing before her displayed none of these signs.
She clearly explained the process - that you have to have a diagnosis, imaging studies, and a referral before I will see you. The offer was made to contact her primary care provider for an evaluation, but that wasn't acceptable. She had to see ME, and immediately, as she heard, "I was the best." (I may have suggested a referral for psychiatric evaluation, but in the absence of any clinical findings there's not much even the best can do.)
At this point actual patients were queueing up, and this woman was refusing to take no for an answer, becoming increasingly more demanding. So she was asked to have a seat, and security was called. I wish I had been there.
In walks Mario, the head of security, with one of his people. I'm told their eyes rolled and they put their hands on their head when they saw the woman in question. Apparently she is a frequent-flyer at the facility, showing up every few months with another self-diagnosed ailment, demanding to see a specialist. Our number came up, apparently, and this morning she decided it was a brain tumor.
Apparently the referral to psychiatry wouldn't be such a bad idea - suspected chronic hypochondria.
I suggested a staff betting pool - when does she come back, and what specialist will be her next target?
Loading comments...