Thoughts on doctors

So, Dr. Trajbar is filling in for Dr. Turalija, right? And for three whole days, nobody’s even picking up the phone. I need this medication urgently. I finally bolt from work today to head over there just so my nurse can send my prescription, and what does she tell me? "Just come by tomorrow." Tomorrow?! Seriously? I’m shaking from the withdrawal, and honestly, I'm also shaking because this nurse can barely manage to click a mouse three times. Is her pay that low? Maybe she should head to the unemployment office and retrain to be a forklift driver. Best of luck to the doctor, though.
Move this if it doesn't belong here.

The CEZIH system crashes on them constantly, leaving them totally paralyzed since everything relies on it. I don't get how most frontline medical staff can function when they're struggling just to handle basic phone calls or manage their emails.
btw. My sister isn't the one at fault here. Don't forget she went through medical school to actually provide patient care and nursing, not to spend her life tapping away at a keyboard, printing out referrals and prescriptions, and playing receptionist on the side.

On top of being stuck doing administrative grunt work—because printing out prescriptions and instructions definitely isn't her job, but hey, here we are—she’s hardly to blame when patients suddenly remember they’re running low on meds about two days before they're completely out of pills.

Btw. from what I understand, a nurse can't just authorize a prescription on their own; a doctor has to sign off on it first. I haven't once stood there next to a nurse waiting for a script only to watch her having to pester the doctor to approve it so she could finally hit print.

Jack Sullivan56 said:Dr. Trajbar is currently covering for Dr. Turalija, and for three whole days, nobody has bothered to answer the phone when I call, even though I have an urgent need for my medication. I finally decide to rush out of work today to head down there so the nurse can just send over my prescription, only to be told by the nurse that I should come back tomorrow. Tomorrow? I’m practically shaking from this crisis—and honestly, I'm also shaking because the nurse seems to find clicking a mouse three times to be an insurmountable task. Are they paying them peanuts? Honestly, someone should send her to the unemployment office and suggest she retrain as a forklift operator. Best of luck to the doctor, I suppose.
Move this if it doesn't belong here.

Who, what, where, when, how, why?
Setting aside the fact that we have absolutely no idea what is actually going on here, why is this medication so urgent, and how exactly is a nurse supposed to issue a prescription without a doctor? I suspect there is a very good reason the nurse told you to come back tomorrow.
You’re probably the 65th person this week to drop by "just for one quick thing." Everyone, please, let's try to maintain some level of composure. What kind of nonsense is this?

I’ve been looking this over too, and I have to say—I'm just as confused as you are.
Regarding Dr. Trajbar... 🤷 At the very least, they should have specified which part of the States we're even talking about.
The whole thing is starting to feel less like a critique and more like a personal vendetta against the medical staff.
If I decided to document every single little issue I encountered at my doctor's office, we'd have enough material here to write a whole book! 😬

It’s not about the doctor here; it’s about the nurse. You can clearly see the doctor is doing an amazing job, while the nurse should probably just look into retraining for a forklift operator instead. 😬 To me, this is right up there with people screaming at a pharmacist because they won't hand over a specific med when the doctor actually wrote the script for something else entirely.

Look, let's be real—I’ve been there too. I’ve forgotten to refill my meds and ended up cutting it dangerously close with my pills, unable to reach anyone by phone. In those moments, I don't blame the nurse or the doctor; I blame myself. Last time that happened to me, I went down to the clinic in person to grab my tablets. While I was sitting in the doctor's office, the nurse walks in complaining to the physician that she hasn't been able to find the telephone handset for two days. She's claiming someone practically stole it or that the battery died and she can't even get a call through. Then you have some random person coming in and nitpicking the nurse, even though she didn't do anything wrong.

melloworca6 said:It’s not about the doctor—it’s the nurse. You can clearly see the doctor is top-tier, but the nurse really needs to look into retraining for something else, maybe forklift operation. 😬 To me, this feels just like when people lose their minds at a pharmacist because they won't hand over a specific med, even though the doctor already wrote the script for something else.

Look, let's be clear—I've been there too. I've forgotten to refill a prescription and ended up running dangerously low on pills, unable to reach anyone by phone. In those moments, I don't take it out on the nurse or the doctor; I blame myself. The last time that happened to me, I went down to the clinic in person to grab my meds. While I was sitting there waiting for the doctor, the nurse comes in complaining to the physician that she hasn't been able to find the telephone handset for two days—claims someone snatched it, or it's dead, or she just can't get a hold of anyone. Then you have some random person coming in and nitpicking the nurse, even though she isn't even at fault.

Oh, really? Not at fault? Then why is it that they stubbornly refuse to answer the phones, forcing sick people—for God's sake—to make a pilgrimage to the hospital just for a damn prescription refill? It's pure arrogance. They're probably too busy sipping their morning coffee to bother answering a call from someone actually in need. What's the point of them even having phones if that's the case?

Justin Ortiz said:Oh, really? So they aren't at fault at all? Why is it that they stubbornly refuse to answer the phone, forcing sick people—actual patients, folks—to trek all the way to the hospital just because of some damn order? It’s pure greed. They’re probably too busy sipping their morning lattes to bother answering the call of someone in need. What's the point of even having a phone line if that's the case?

Look, it’s also likely because you aren't the only person calling. Even if it's ringing on your end, there’s a whole crowd of people on the other side of that switchboard, all trying to get something done, or maybe even doing actual medical work when they aren't swamped...
I have a family member who is an ER doctor, and they see upwards of 80 patients a day. Just do the math: multiply that by 10 or 15 minutes per person, then add in all the "blessings" thrown at them by people who just showed up without an appointment...
Like, hello? 😉

Angela Wright said:Aside from the fact that you aren't the only one calling—even if your phone is ringing constantly—there's a whole crowd of people there just trying to get something done, maybe printing a document, or occasionally actually performing some professional task...
I have someone in my family who is an ER doctor, seeing upwards of 80 patients a day. Just do the math—ten to fifteen minutes per person, plus all the "blessings" thrown at those who just happened to walk in...
Like, hello? 😉

So, I guess it's our fault then—the patients' fault—that the American healthcare system is a total disaster and they're all overworked??

I couldn't care less. If a doctor tells me after an exam to "feel free to call the office to schedule," then I fully expect them to pick up that damn phone. We are constantly expected to show this extreme level of deference to these doctors, yet most of them—with very few exceptions—treat us like cattle. Hello to you too.

Justin Ortiz said:Oh, really? So nobody's at fault? Why the hell don't they pick up the phone? People are actually sick and have to make a pilgrimage to the hospital just because of some damn order. Their greed is unreal. They’re probably sipping their morning coffee and can't be bothered to answer poor people. What's the point of even having phones then?

First off, calm down. We're all in the same boat here, but that's no reason to start throwing dirt at each other.

Second, please explain this "pilgrimage" and ordering thing to me. I've been trying to book a check-up for three months now and still can't get through. I'm furious, sure, but I'm not mad at the staff who answer the phones—they're the least responsible. I'm mad at whoever organized this entire mess.
By the way, it's administrators answering the phones at the hospital, not nurses. Those people have enough actual work to do without playing secretary.

You claim the nurses are out drinking morning coffee? Have you actually been hospitalized lately to know that firsthand, or what...? It hasn't been that long since I was admitted, and even back then, the system was a total collapse. You have to see it with your own eyes to understand how many patients are dealing with the same number of doctors and nurses. Honestly, if someone manages to sit around jerking off and drinking coffee under those conditions, more power to them. Since then, so many doctors and nurses have left the US. I just hope I don't end up back in the hospital, because I don't want to be treated by doctors who are pulling endless shifts or nurses working double turns or coming in for an afternoon shift right after a night shift (that happened while I was there; it's not legal, but when you're short-staffed, anything goes). So much for the coffee story.

I just got back from my primary care doctor. Not once did the nurse pick up the phone when it rang. You know why? Because some woman felt ill and they were running around taking care of her. Maybe if you called to order pills you should have ordered a week ago instead of waiting until the last two minutes and deciding it's suddenly an emergency, maybe those "coffee drinkers" would actually be busy saving a life.

I'm angry and frustrated too, looking at how this whole system works and how much I have to deal with it. And yeah, I agree there are all kinds of doctors and nurses out there, but for God's sake, there are all kinds of patients, too.

melloworca6 said:First off, take a breath—we’re all in the same sinking boat here, so there’s really no need to start throwing stones at one another.

Secondly, please, give me some insight into this whole scheduling mess. I’ve been trying to book a follow-up for three months now without any luck—and frankly, I’m livid. But my anger isn't directed at the people answering the phones; they’re the least responsible for this disaster. My frustration lies with whoever designed this entire broken system.
By the way, when you call the hospital, you talk to administrators, not nurses. They have enough of their own paperwork to deal with without pretending to be secretaries.

So, you claim the nurses are just sitting around sipping morning coffee? Did you recently spend time in a hospital to witness this firsthand, or is this just hearsay? I wasn't hospitalized that long ago, but even back then, the system was in a state of total collapse. You have to see with your own eyes the ratio of staff to patients to understand. Anyone who actually manages to sit around playing around or grabbing coffee under those conditions deserves a medal. Since the staffing shortages hit, countless doctors and nurses have left the US healthcare system entirely. I can only hope I don't end up back in a hospital bed anytime soon—I have zero desire to be treated by doctors who are pulling endless shifts because of the shortage, or nurses working back-to-back day and night shifts just to cover the gaps. It happened to me during my stay; it’s technically against regulations, but when you're short-staffed, anything goes. So, there's your "coffee break" reality check.

I just walked out of my primary care physician's office. The nurse didn't pick up the phone once while it was ringing. Do you want to know why? Because a patient felt ill, and they were busy running around actually providing care. Maybe if people called to refill prescriptions they should have ordered a week ago—instead of waiting until the last two pills are gone and suddenly deciding it's an emergency—those "coffee drinkers" might actually be saving someone's life.

I am frustrated, too. I'm angry at how this entire system functions and the hoops I have to jump through just to get basic care. And sure, I agree there are all kinds of doctors and nurses out there, but for heaven's sake, there are all kinds of patients, too.

"Scheduling a day or two before"? That's ridiculous. We are talking about booking an appointment for a mother with a heart condition who is currently in crisis—someone we were specifically told to call a month in advance. After a week of them refusing to answer the phone, we ended up driving her down there ourselves today.

I’ve spent enough time in hospitals over the last few years—sometimes for months at a time—to see exactly how they treat people. I once spent a night in the ICU with an elderly woman who was nearing the end, and the nurses were actually mocking her, placing bets on when she would finally pass away.

And don't even get me started on the "brilliant" surgeon at Mayo Clinic who operated on me. He lied straight to my face, claiming he had removed a tumor, only for it to turn out that he hadn't touched it at all. He opened my head up for absolutely nothing. Just pure negligence.

Yeah, our nurses and doctors are just wonderful. Truly a credit to the profession.👍

The intro for this thread is about prescription refills and general medical practices, not hospital stays—which is what I already covered. Comparing your point to the intro is an apples-to-oranges comparison.

Looking back at my own time stuck in a hospital bed, the staff was the only thing worth mentioning; everything else was honestly nauseating. Just because there’s some dead weight in a profession—and let's face it, there's bad actors in every field—doesn't mean you should trash the entire industry. That's exactly what you're doing. Like I said before, you find all kinds of people among patients, too.

And if this thread turns into nothing more than a punching bag for venting, I doubt it’ll stay active for very long.

melloworca6 said:The intro to this thread focuses specifically on prescription ordering and general practice—not hospitals, which is what I covered in my own post. There is absolutely no way to compare your point to mine and the introduction; they aren't even in the same league.

Lying here in this hospital bed, the only thing I can actually credit is the staff—everything else about this experience has been enough to make me sick. Just because there are a few deadbeats in a profession—and let’s face it, there are deadbeats in every field—it doesn't give someone the right to drag the entire profession through the mud, which is exactly what you're doing. It’s the same story with patients, really; you find all sorts of characters in there too.

Even if this thread ends up being used as a punching bag for everyone to vent their frustrations—which, let's face it, is likely—I highly doubt it’ll stay afloat for very long.

Ha, you really think that’s the extent of it? Please. Here is a little more insight into the supposed "expertise" of our local handymen:

When I was a kid, my parents spent three years dragging me from one neurology clinic to another—three long years of chasing shadows because I had suddenly lost my hearing, my sense of balance, and my ability to hold my head straight. Instead of simply ordering a standard CT scan, these so-called "specialists" decided to play philosopher rather than doctors. One "expert" actually sat there and told us my brain was somehow "drying up"—as if that were even a medical reality—while another had the audacity to suggest I had Down syndrome. It wasn't until I finally happened to get a CT scan that they actually found the truth: a tumor. Because those doctors preferred their own wild theories over basic diagnostics, I lost my hearing and my equilibrium during those three wasted years. Fast forward to today, and one of those geniuses is actually being honored with an award for "distinguished lifelong service" at a pediatric neurology department in Seattle. It’s almost poetic—I suppose he earned his doctorate in "dehydrated brains."

My cousin was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—the kind of news where doctors basically tell you to start settling your affairs and prepare for the end. We were all bracing for the absolute worst. Then, just a few days later, it turns out it was nothing more than a benign bile duct stricture. The man was literally preparing to die.

Don't even get me started on the whole "trusting the system" thing. Based on my own run-ins with doctors, I don't have a single kind word left for them—none whatsoever.