Appointments

entropy

Well-known member
Trusted Member
I had my MRI appointment scheduled for next week for my back and I’ve been waiting anxiously for it. I got a call today saying that I missed my appointment. I argued for a long time and they kept saying that what they see in their system and that I owe them a no show fee plus I cannot make another appointment. Some bitch just would wanna understand that I didn’t book it and was trying to brush me off. After a simple threat of social media/lawyer/CBC’s Go Public, I was put through some manager of some sort. This manager was supposed to contact me but didn’t. I called again and now they’re saying tomorrow he’ll call and try to sort this out although they can’t guarantee because they booked me down and that’s what the system says. I have a calendar full of appointments for my mother and myself and since May I’ve been taking her and myself to get medical care regularly. There is no way that I made a mistake because my mother was with me when they called and gave me the appointment.

It seems to me that people with money buy a bunch of equipment and open up clinics and are operated by incompetent fools. Fools with zero medical knowledge, zero education, and zero will to learn and help patients. Now I’m left with nothing but anger and frustration. I had other imagining tests done for my shoulder and ankle today and the people in that clinic couldn’t believe what had transpired with the MRI place. I was literally waiting in line for my ultrasound and X-ray when all this happened and I forgot to get the X-ray done from all the fucking anger.

Total bupkis.
 
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Free healthcare. You are treated like shit because you need them and not the other way around.
Our healthcare system is a joke.
Agree. There’s ways through these things ; but if you want something done right; do it urself or make damn sure it’s done right lol
 
I think he went to a private clinic.
"It seems to me that people with money buy a bunch of equipment and open up clinics and are operated by incompetent fools. Fools with zero medical knowledge, zero education, and zero will to learn and help patients."
 
I made the mistake of going there for the quick appointment date and took my mother there recently with no complaints.

When receptionists try to mock you it gets frustrating. You’ll never deal with shit like this at a hospital. But these guys are a part of our system. I’m not paying from pocket or through any insurance coverage. I don’t know how these operations work but to me it seems like they should up their game because they’re dealing with patients, not customers.
 
I made the mistake of going there for the quick appointment date and took my mother there recently with no complaints.

When receptionists try to mock you it gets frustrating. You’ll never deal with shit like this at a hospital. But these guys are a part of our system. I’m not paying from pocket or through any insurance coverage. I don’t know how these operations work but to me it seems like they should up their game because they’re dealing with patients, not customers.
Hit and miss sometimes.
 
Fortunately, I've never had a bad experience with our healthcare. Broken wrist (surgery with plates and pins), Broken ribs, Hand surgery, knee scopes, multiple MRIs, and ultrasounds (I even got a mammogram when I complained of spicy nips).. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Nothings taken longer than a few weeks to get done.... It's all been roses in Winnipeg.
 
There is no way that I made a mistake because my mother was with me when they called and gave me the appointment.
I hate to say it, but there is certainly a chance you made a mistake putting the apt into your calendar. There's also an equal chance that they made a mistake putting it into theirs. I deal day in and day out with appointments made and see missed appointments literally every day. I've also gone back and pulled logs when customers are adament they didn't make the mistake. 9/10 it's the customer that wrote the wrong date down.

I'll offer one piece of advice.... losing your shit at them will only make them shut down and stick to their guns. Admitting the possibility that either side might have made the mistake, being disgustingly nice and polite and offering to "work with them" to find a "solution" will normally get you rebooked with the fees waived.
 
Fortunately, I've never had a bad experience with our healthcare. Broken wrist (surgery with plates and pins), Broken ribs, Hand surgery, knee scopes, multiple MRIs, and ultrasounds (I even got a mammogram when I complained of spicy nips).. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Nothings taken longer than a few weeks to get done.... It's all been roses in Winnipeg.
That sounds like my experience, sans mammogram, in TO and Barrie.
 
I hate to say it, but there is certainly a chance you made a mistake putting the apt into your calendar. There's also an equal chance that they made a mistake putting it into theirs. I deal day in and day out with appointments made and see missed appointments literally every day. I've also gone back and pulled logs when customers are adament they didn't make the mistake. 9/10 it's the customer that wrote the wrong date down.

I'll offer one piece of advice.... losing your shit at them will only make them shut down and stick to their guns. Admitting the possibility that either side might have made the mistake, being disgustingly nice and polite and offering to "work with them" to find a "solution" will normally get you rebooked with the fees waived.
The reason I’m sure is because they gave it for the 2nd of August and I asked if there was anything available this month, they said no. I wanted to get it this month. Either way, you’re right about what I must do. I have been stressed out for several months now and acting like an ass will not make things better. Hopefully I get that call tomorrow. I’m gonna call the hospitals near me. I’m not gonna go through with these people. Bad vibes.
 
Regardless of who made the mistake, you need the MRI and don't want to pay for it so just a suggestion and it might be hard but do it anyway. Take 10 deep breaths before you call, make sure you are prepared for frustration, and there is no sense arguing as you may be right but someone is just reading a computer screen.
Explain you made a mistake and feel awful about it but need the imaging done, are willing to be there if there is a cancellation and ask for another booking. If they say they won't, talk to the doctor that ordered it (they send the instructions and the technicians carry them out) - I have only heard to imaging being refused to people who are chronic no showers or late all the time.
Trust me, I understand your frustration and if you can't do this I get it but if you want success sometimes you have to play chess with people.

Best of luck to you.
 
Speaking of appointments. Was supposed to have a significantly important phone call with a legal representative today. Turns out he decided to fuck off for the weekend.

Like you said, they don't give two fucks about anyone
Keep in mind you are just a name on a computer screen - it is the doctor who ordered who hopefully gives two fucks and can get things done. I have two friends who are specialists and it is amazing the power they have to get imaging done. At an oral surgeons and told them about the MRI for my back, he asks me how long and I say 6 months. I was in constant pain - he said that is terrible and is at the hospital doing surgery all the time and will stop in at radiology.
I receive a call in two days and have an appointment in 3 weeks. This gent is a friend and cared. He also won't take no for an answer and is one of the most assertive people I know.
 
Regardless of who made the mistake, you need the MRI and don't want to pay for it so just a suggestion and it might be hard but do it anyway. Take 10 deep breaths before you call, make sure you are prepared for frustration, and there is no sense arguing as you may be right but someone is just reading a computer screen.
Explain you made a mistake and feel awful about it but need the imaging done, are willing to be there if there is a cancellation and ask for another booking. If they say they won't, talk to the doctor that ordered it (they send the instructions and the technicians carry them out) - I have only heard to imaging being refused to people who are chronic no showers or late all the time.
Trust me, I understand your frustration and if you can't do this I get it but if you want success sometimes you have to play chess with people.

Best of luck to you.
I’m going to do that breathing exercise and preparation all the time now. This is something people like me benefit from 100%. Thank you @Goldenrod.

Just an update.

I called the hospital near me and talked to them. They said get the referral sent from your doctor and it might be done in a month, depending on availability and urgency.

5 mins later I got a call from the MRI people and the lady who originally booked me in for August apologized for the mistake. She said she even remembers talking to me and they don’t know what happened. I apologized for being angry and yelling at the receptionists. But I did say that what upset me the most was the fact that the receptionist laughed when I asked for her superior and tried to force the mistake on me. This is what got me the most. I had to say “why’re you giggling? What’s so funny!?!” She was so confident that I was some sleazebag who missed a 5:40am appointment.

Most of the issues between people are due to miscommunication.

Fun fact: 75% of science and engineering is communication, the remainder is technical stuff.

Thank you everyone for giving me great advice. This was truly a learning experience.
 
I had a doctor want me to get a MRI and I agreed. He said he would arrange it and the MRI dept would call me. No calls.. nothing.. No messages left.. Nothing... Probably 3-4 months later one day at like 3 pm I get a call "Hi this is so so just confirming you have a MRI tomorrow at 8am".. I Was like "ummm this is the first I have heard of this.. I know I am supposed to get a MRI, but I was never made aware I had a date booked".. Her "oh... no one called you?" .. me "nope, but I can be there tomorrow at 8am"...

This was provincal health care at a university hospital..

The drive is 6 hour round trip for me.
 
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