Patient complaints

A patient complained that she had to wait 1 1/2 hours for her exam. I researched it as I do all complaints and she arrived at her appointed time. First of all the appointed time is the time that the mammographer is supposed to be taking the patient back, not the time you check in at the front desk. When this patient arrived we didn't have any insurance information on her, so she had to be registered. This can usually be done a couple of days before your appointment over the phone. There were also several people that arrived ahead of her and also had to be registered or sign papers or both. She had to wait 30 minutes before she could even get registered. So in the mean time, I'm taking other patients that were scheduled after her that arrived early and by the time I get her paper work I decide to put her in one of the few open slots I have for that day. I don't believe in making patients that arrive early wait so that I can do a late patient. So my suggestion to this patient is to arrive 15 - 30 minutes early for her exam.

By the way when one sends in a complaint with very little information, I can't research it. Therefore, it's not a valid complaint.

I had another complaint that I was "very cold". This patient also arrived late. I have very little time to chit-chat when my patients are here in a timely manner. I have no time to chit-chat when they get here late.

These complaints are few and far between.

Please arrive for your appointments at least 15 minutes early.

Have your I.D. and insurance cards ready.(don't leave them at home)

Shower the night before or the day of your appointment.

Don't wear deodorant, lotions, powders, or perfume in your armpit or breast area.

Wear a 2 piece outfit. Our full gowns don't fit everybody .

Please, please cooperate with your mammographer. It's really frustrating when I'm trying to pull a patient into the machine and they're trying to pull themselves out. I don't get a very good exam when this happens.