Mejojac's Memos

Incompetence
Yesterday Little Bug had a sports physical so that he can do the horseback riding therapy. First of all, the kids did great. I wish I could say the same for the receptionist and the doctor. We got there 10 minutes early to fill out paperwork. No one was there. The office was locked up. We waited for a few minutes and then they came. We walked in and I thought the office looked a little odd, but couldn't put my finger on it at first. We signed in, filled out paper work and then I looked around. This "family doctor" was running a "medispa" on the side. The furniture was amazing - high back chairs with hand carved wood. Beautiful hand carved tables. Silk draperies. A china cabinet full of spa type products. As more and more people walked in, I realized we had chosen the wrong doctor. This became even more apparent as we waited. There were no other children in the place. So, we waited. And waited. And waited. There was one man with an 8:30 appointment and then we had an 8:40 appointment. He didn't go back till almost 9:00. And we waited some more. Around 9:30 she calls me up to make the payment since my insurance doesn't cover sports physicals. I ask how much longer we will have to wait and she snaps "She's waiting for you right now! Just make the payment!" Grrr... we get in and the nurse was great. Very interested in the horseback riding program and asks some great questions. The doctor comes in and we talk. She starts to insist that we take Little Bug for a psychiatric evaluation. He's already had one. But she really doesn't want to take no for an answer. So, she pushes and pushes and pushes. Finally she gives up because I won't give in. Sigh... then we go to leave and the snippy receptionist catches me and the conversation that followed went something like this:
"You need to pay your co-pay before you leave."
"I already paid for the visit. My insurance doesn't cover sports physicals. I gave YOU the check before I went back."
"Yes, that was for the physical, now you need to pay your co-pay."
"But, I paid for the ENTIRE exam. You won't be billing my insurance for anything. I don't need to pay the co-pay."
"YES, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY THE CO-PAY!!"
"I ALREADY PAID FOR THE VISIT!!!"
A nurse jumps in at this point and says "She paid for the sports physical. Insurance doesn't cover it, so there isn't a co-pay." The receptionist storms off to their accountant/financial guy and wants to know who's right. He asks if I paid for the exam, she says "Yes, but what about the co-pay?" He tells her it's all taken care of. So, she comes out to me and says, "You can GO NOW!" ARGH!!! This is what I get for making an appointment with the FIRST doctor listed on my preferred providers list. Grrr...
Then we had to run to the bank. Baby Girl wanted to go into a store and get treats. We are sitting at the drive thru and I've sent the money to the teller when Baby Girl asks again for a treat. I say to her, "Baby, we're not going to get treats. I will give you a treat when we get home." The teller looks up and says, "EXCUSE ME?!" ACK! She thought I was talking to her!! I explain that my little girl is in the back and I babble on about how she wants treats and blah blah blah... the teller looks a little skeptical till she sees Baby Girl wiggling in the back seat and she smiles. Whew! I can laugh now, but at the time I was horrified! I don't even want to know what she thought of me. After that we ran to the post office and then we came home and I locked myself in! I don't think I will be venturing out very soon... well, at least not till this afternoon when I have to go get groceries. Anyone want a treat?