Living and laughing with a disability - cerebral palsy; ordinary life, extraordinary circumstances.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Get that receptionist a computer!

We got a postcard in the mail a few weeks back addressed to "The Wittrens" saying that we had a dental appointment this morning. My wife had filled the card out at her last visit.

Jodie called. An appointment was made for all three of us. E begged us to not make him go today. He had a math test he didn't want to miss. We tried to convince him that no time is a good time to go to the dentist.

E was taken back first, and then me. My hygenist saw that E and I were last seen in August, less than 6 months ago. Insurance might not cover a visit prior to the six months. The receptionists tried frantically to contact the insurance company, but could not get past hold.

I decided to come back in February when my appointment is do. We had them clean Eric's teeth. with his braces there is a better chance that insurance will cover him. Jodie is on a different six month schedule, so she was due a cleaning today.

Six months ago when Jodie filled out the appointment reminder card, she put "The Wittren's" when she should have just put herself. What amazes me is that the appointment schedule is not on a computer, but a paper calendar with patient-written post cards as the reminder.

It's not until the patient is in the office and the hygienist is looking at the file that the insurance time frame is looked.

Very old school...but so is the receptionist.

Hard to be mad, but it is irritating.

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